PRODUCT PROFILE: Enbridge

By NextHome Staff
June 25, 2018

Affordable Housing New Construction Program helps in designing cost-effective and energy-efficient buildings

With the costs of energy rising, energy efficiency is a critical tool for affordable housing providers to optimize consumption and reduce operating costs. Since 2016, Enbridge Gas has offered Affordable Housing New Construction Program (AHNC) to support energy efficiency in affordable housing. The program educates builders and developers on the opportunity to design more energy-efficient affordable homes, and provides financial incentives for building energy efficient units.Both multi-residential buildings and single-family housing developments are eligible to participate, says Cam Black, an energy solutions consultant with Enbridge."A project might consist of 20 townhomes, a midrise apartment block, or a highrise residential tower."The AHNC Program is designed to help housing providers who are looking for ways to cost-effectively increase the energy performance of buildings at an up-front cost they can manage. "The program provides participating housing providers with assistance from sustainable building experts and energy modellers in a design charrette focused specifically on their housing development. The design charrette allows participants to see how various design choices will save them energy and money," Black said.The design charrettes are comprehensive and project-specific at the same time, according to Black. They can include details on building envelope, mechanical systems, indoor air quality, storm water management, accessibility, green roofs or renewable energy options, based on what the housing provider identified in its pre-charrette meeting as being relevant.More efficient buildings benefit housing providers through lower energy operating costs, which helps to maintain housing affordability over the long term. Residents of more efficient buildings also enjoy increased in-home comfort and potential improvements in noise reduction and indoor air quality."Of course, there is also the reduced environmental footprint," said Black, "which ultimately benefits everyone."Enbridge covers the cost of the design charrette and also leverages its industry connections to bring specialists and energy experts to the table. In addition, Enbridge will provide financial incentives for building projects that achieve enhanced levels of energy performance. Single-family homes, for example, must meet the Energy Star for New Homes standard and multi-residential buildings must be at least 7 per cent more energy efficient than required by the Ontario Building Code.The first AHNC participant to complete construction on its affordable housing project was the Thorold Non- Profit Housing Corporation in July 2017. Thorold's 14-unit senior residence uses 35 per cent less energy than it would if it were just designed to meet Ontario Building Code requirements, Black said."This translates into more than $6,800 in annual energy cost savings, and means that Thorold's investment in enhancing the building's energy performance will be paid off through savings in just over five years of operation."Some of the energy-saving features of the new seniors' residence include improved wall insulation, high-efficiency heating and cooling equipment, programmable thermostats, and occupancy sensors, all of which are design options recommended in the design charrette.Feedback on the program indicates that the information participants get during the charrettes is really useful to them, Black said."Particularly the energy modelling," says Black, "because it spells out the benefits and the payoff of the design choices. Participants also appreciate the incentives because affordable housing projects are usually budget-constrained so the incentives, combined with the modelling really help them to make the case and get buy-in for improving the building's efficiency."Mohini Datta-Ray, dxecutive director of the North York Women's Shelter, would agree. She and her team participated in the AHNC Program in 2017."It was such a wonderful and educational day that brought forward critical information for us to consider in the design to actualize our vision for a healing, therapeutic and sustainable space."ENBRIDGEAffordable Housing New Construction ProgramCall or email Cam Black or go online to get more information about the AHNC Program.416.758.4748Energy-Savings-Programs.caCamBlack@Engridge.com

Have great ideas? Become a Contributor.

Contact Us

Our Publications

Read all your favourites online without a subscription

Read Now

Sign Up to Our Newsletter

Sign up to receive the smartest advice and latest inspiration from the editors of NextHome

Subscribe