Energy Efficiency News Residential
Ontario investing in energy efficient improvements for social housing

Ontario Minster of the Environment and Climate Change Chris Ballard, Minister of Housing Peter Milczyn and Green Ontario Fund board chair Parminder Sandhu made the announcement.

Along with existing provincial programs designed for larger social housing buildings, the government says this program will help improve the energy efficiency of social housing apartment buildings with fewer than 100 units across the province. Ontario is investing $25 million over the next three years to do so.

Improvements will include upgrades to energy-efficient heating and cooling systems, windows, lighting and insulation. The Ontario government says these renovations will also improve the living conditions for low-income and vulnerable tenants and the long-term sustainability of buildings.

Over the next three years, the province will also invest $2 billion in affordable and sustainable housing.

“Renovating older social housing buildings not only helps fight climate change, it improves living conditions for low-income and vulnerable tenants. These upgrades are made possible through capping the greenhouse gas pollution businesses can emit and investing the proceeds from our carbon market, through the Climate Change Action Plan, into projects that reduce harmful emissions,” said Ballard.
 
According to a 2012 Deutsche Bank study, every $1 million invested in energy efficiency-related retrofits in multi-family affordable housing buildings generated between $1.3 million and $3.9 million in energy savings.

The Green Ontario Fund offers programs and rebates that help households and businesses reduce their energy costs and fight climate change.