Natural Resources Canada announced an investment of over $2 million to three organizations that are advancing energy efficiency in buildings in Ontario.
“Reducing emissions from buildings is a key part of our efforts to combat climate change. Our government is pleased to support today’s investment in energy efficiency in Ontario, which will reduce greenhouse gas emissions, lower costs to residents and improve building resilience for folks in London, Woodstock and Markham,” Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Natural Resources.
These projects include:
- Over $1.3 million to Fanshawe College of Applied Arts and Technology, in London, to retrofit the Kestrel Court Student Residence, a 25-year-old complex, into a net zero-energy facility. Fanshawe College also contributed $1.25 million, bringing the combined project cost to more than $2.5 million.
- $365,000 to Indwell, in Woodstock, to support the construction of Blossom Park Apartments, a new, 34-unit, high-performing multi-unit residential building using the BuildSMART prefabricated envelope technology to help inform local and national net-zero energy codes. The Canada Green Building Council, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, Oxford Countycand Passive House Canada also funded the project, bringing the total cost to more than $7.3 million.
- $350,000 to Enwave Energy Corporation, in Markham, to support the development of the Enwave Geothermal Community Energy System, which will supply low-carbon geothermal heating and cooling to 300 residential homes. The project also received financial support from City of Markham, Mattamy Homes and The Atmospheric Fund for a total project cost of $818,367.
Federal funding is being provided through Natural Resources Canada’s Green Infrastructure – Energy Efficient Buildings Program. This program supports improvements to the design, renovation and construction of our homes and buildings. The government is advancing the development and implementation of building codes for existing buildings and new net-zero-energy–ready buildings through research, development and demonstration projects in London and across the nation.
“Existing buildings play an important role in helping us achieve our ambitious climate goals. By retrofitting Fanshawe College’s 25-year-old Kestral Court Student Residence into a net-zero facility, our government is advancing energy efficiency for Londoners, and all Canadians,” said Arielle Kayabaga, MP for London West.
“The Kestrel Court project offers a unique opportunity to provide a transformative model to reduce carbon emissions from existing low-rise housing throughout Canada. Fanshawe aims to demonstrate the savings to homeowners, industry representatives, building officials, code authorities and policymakers of sustainable retrofit practices,” said Alison Ewart, PhD, Dean of Fanshawe College’s Centre for Research and Innovation.
“We’re pleased to receive this very generous investment in our Geothermal Community Energy System, a system that creates a path for new-build single-family homes to achieve net zero,” said Carlyle Coutinho, CEO, Enwave Energy Corporation. “This system, which is now operational, is not only good for homeowners but also better for the planet. We are proud to bring our ambition, passion and expertise in designing, building and operating innovative and sustainable solutions to this project.”
Featured image: (Enwave Energy Corporation)
