New Data from FortisBC Reveals the Impact of Making Older Apartments More Sustainable

EIN FortisBC sustainable 400

Nov 21, 2019

FortisBC released emissions and energy use data showing that simple energy efficiency upgrades in older apartment buildings have the potential to reduce carbon emissions in the province by about 200,000 tonnes annually or the equivalent of removing 43,000 gasoline-powered cars off the road. FortisBC estimates there are over 11,000 older rental apartment buildings in B.C. providing affordable housing, but poor performance within these buildings makes them less viable due to the pressure it places on owners’ utility and maintenance costs, community infrastructure and emissions.

“Rental apartments are so important in our communities, and our early research showed almost 80 per cent of apartments in B.C. were built more than 35 years ago to lower efficiency standards than exist today,” said Danielle Wensink, director of conservation and energy management, FortisBC. “Lowering energy use in these buildings is critical. Building owners already face so many maintenance concerns that we worked to simplify what can be a complex and overwhelming process.”

To address this issue, in 2015 FortisBC began its Rental Apartment Program aimed at installing simple energy-saving measures directly into suites and common areas on behalf of owners at no cost. The program also provides owners with a pathway and financial support when upgrading building equipment, such as replacing aging and lesser efficient boiler systems with high-efficiency equivalents to meet space heating and hot water needs. Since that time, more than 800 buildings across the province have received upgrades like energy-efficient taps, faucets and showerheads that reduce water consumption and energy usage. Owners have also received hands-on support to identify and make deeper retrofits such as upgrades to their buildings’ overall heating and mechanical systems.

“The results so far are substantial, and have proved very beneficial for participating owners, especially those who are investing in further upgrades,” said Wensink.

The basic upgrades alone reduce domestic hot water energy use by an average of about 12 per cent per year. As of this year, the water savings reached the equivalent of filling close to 110 Olympic-sized swimming pools or running a garden hose non-stop for over 20 years. It’s also lowered carbon emissions by almost 15,000 tonnes, or the equivalent to the natural gas use of just over 3,200 single-family homes. 

LandlordBC, which represents more than 3,300 owners and managers of rental housing in B.C., is a strong proponent of energy efficiency in rental buildings with their members and understands that support is a key element.

With the tremendous potential for energy savings and emission reductions, FortisBC is looking for more ways to help building owners, such as targeting support in the communities with the highest number of rental apartment buildings such as VancouverVictoria and Kelowna. It’s also evaluating promising new high-efficiency natural gas equipment.

Source

 

Related Articles


Latest Articles


Changing Scene

  • Skills Ontario Supports Ontario’s Investments in Skilled Trades in Budget Announcement

    Skills Ontario Supports Ontario’s Investments in Skilled Trades in Budget Announcement

    March 28. 2024 As demand for skilled trades professionals rises, Skills Ontario is commending the government for continued investments in skilled trades and technology programing, working to address the shortfall and need to build the workforce of the future in Ontario.  The skilled trades shortage is costing Ontario approximately $25 billion in foregone GDP. A… Read More…

  • IVRY Launches 7 New VR Lessons

    IVRY Launches 7 New VR Lessons

     IVRY Technologies, a division of IDEAL Electrical, is launching seven new virtual reality (VR) lessons in Canada as part of its Virtual Electrical Training (VET) Series 2 training module. The cutting-edge training will serve as a learning resource for International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) training centers across Canada. Read More…

  • PEI Budget 2024 Signals Continued Focus on Healthcare, Housing and Affordability for all Islanders 

    PEI Budget 2024 Signals Continued Focus on Healthcare, Housing and Affordability for all Islanders 

    March 28, 2024 Hon. Jill Burridge, Minister of Finance, presented government’s 2024-25 operating budget to the legislative assembly, outlining $3.2 billion in investments for Prince Edward Island with a continued focus on healthcare, housing and affordability measures. “This budget signals where we’re headed as a province and shows Islanders where we will be making key… Read More…

  • BC’s Budget 2024 Prioritizes Actions for Low-Carbon Economy

    BC’s Budget 2024 Prioritizes Actions for Low-Carbon Economy

    March 28, 2024 Josie Osborne, Minister of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation, and Brittny Anderson, MLA for Nelson-Creston, met with community climate leaders in Nelson to discuss how Budget 2024 can help support people in the region to transition to a low-carbon economy and meet shared CleanBC goals. “Our government’s budget this year reflects the… Read More…