Canadian municipalities in every region are staring down the triple threat of aging housing stock, rising energy costs and a surging need for affordable housing. There are plenty of sustainable options that can reduce heating and electricity costs for low-income individuals and families. That’s why we’re supporting meaningful transformation in the affordable housing sector. No one should be left behind as Canada moves toward net-zero.
Our SAH initiative supports affordable housing providers who want to retrofit existing housing units to reduce their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions or construct energy efficient new builds that are either net-zero or net-zero ready. In 2020-2021, we approved funding for 33 SAH projects (1 capital project, 1 pilot, 20 plans and 11 studies), representing more than 3,000 units. They’ll enable housing providers to better plan, build, operate and maintain energy efficient and renewable energy projects that improve the cost, comfort and quality of affordable housing and support municipalities in achieving their broader climate change plan objectives.
Why are we moving into this sector?
While there are many affordable housing providers are leaders in the field of energy retrofits, there’s a gap when it comes to medium-sized affordable housing providers in particular. They own significant assets, but don’t always have the skills or knowledge to integrate energy efficiency into their renovations. Working directly with housing providers is new for GMF, but it’s turning out to be a brilliant solution to a mid-level gap in the drive to energy efficiency in affordable housing.
To this end, we attended several online affordable housing events this year and released case studies about high-efficiency affordable housing. We’re also developing a new peer learning group for GMF affordable housing funding recipients so they can learn from each other.
Introducing Regional Energy Coaches
Regional Energy Coaches are a new SAH two-year pilot project launched in November of 2020 and delivered in partnership with the Co-operative Housing Federation of Canada, the Community Housing Transformation Centre and the BC Non-Profit Housing Association. The project focuses on supporting providers in British Columbia, the Prairies, and the Atlantic and Quebec regions, as well as the co-operative housing sector across Canada. These coaches work with housing providers — including municipal, not-for-profit organizations and housing co-operatives — to help them plan and initiate energy-efficient retrofits and new builds.
From walk-through energy assessments to one-on-one coaching to project management and technical support, RECs help evaluate the feasibility of energy retrofits, identify technologies and how to maximize the environmental impact and assist with preparing funding applications.
Regional Energy Coaches offer capacity building that responds to a clear need in this sector. While the demand for housing improvement and the desire to make it happen is there, sometimes the expertise and know-how is lacking. RECs offer providers coaching on where to start reducing GHGs once the basics, such as LED lighting and efficient showerheads, are covered. These types of retrofits can be surprisingly technical, and it can be hard for providers to figure out which option is best and where they should start in moving toward net-zero buildings.
Regional Energy Coaches are becoming trusted partners who can help incorporate GMF’s offerings into new builds and existing energy retrofit communities.