Benefits of Energy Efficiency for Affordable Housing

Reduce rising home energy costs

Low-to-middle income residents and housing providers can enjoy numerous benefits of greater home energy efficiency. Reducing home energy costs can make a big difference, for a single parent, a senior citizen living on a fixed income, a landlord trying to keep rent affordable, or for any others who struggle to make ends meet.

Rising home energy costs present a significant hardship for thousands of British Columbian families. A cost-effective one-time retrofit can reduce residential energy bills by as much as 30 percent or more - that’s a huge saving.

Choose from the list below to find out how energy efficiency might benefit your situation:

Non-Profit Housing Providers

As a Non-Profit Housing Provider you face many challenges including tight budgets and limited financial support. The good news is energy efficiency improvements offer up a ‘win-win’ situation. Money spent up-front means instant and long-term savings on utility bills, building operations and maintenance costs and provides a sound investment in the future health and sustainability of your building.

High Return On Investment

Investing in energy efficiency now secures strong future savings. This ‘return-on-investment’ is even more attractive when you figure in the present value of dollars spent protecting you and your tenants from the rising costs of home heating, carbon taxing, future HST expenses, building repairs and maintenance costs from aging mechanical systems.

In addition to improving the bottom-line for housing providers, energy efficiency building improvements can help to create healthier indoor air quality and more comfortable living environments for everyone, especially seniors, families, and individuals living with developmental disabilities.

Insulation, Energy Star-rated windows, and air sealing work to keep the air inside the building warm and dry. Mechanical ventilation systems (fans, heat recovery ventilators and air exchangers on heating systems) circulate the internal air as well as expel unwanted moisture and other pollutants. Properly sized, high-efficiency furnaces or boilers use less energy to heat buildings and, by controlling the air flow throughout the building, minimize the occurrences of hot and cold spots across all rooms.

Non-profits might want to review these programs for possible interest and eligibility:

>

Search the full list of incentive programs hosted by Affordable Warmth BC.

Co-ops

Co-op housing in BC is in a period of transition. The sector is getting older and with homelessness continuing to rise there is a strong need to preserve this essential supply of affordable housing – upwards of 14,000 units across the Province.

To support the impending end to federal operating agreements (and the financial subsidies attached to these agreements), the Cooperative Housing Federation of BC is encouraging all co-ops (especially those that were built under Section 95) to take on the 2020 Vision.

Improved durability and lower maintenance costs

An essential element to meeting the 2020 vision is improving the over-all health of buildings through energy efficiency upgrades, including – efficient heating systems, increased insulation, draft-proofing and Energy Star appliances, as examples.

Increase the value of the home or building

Additional financial benefits to co-ops that engage in energy efficiency upgrades include:

  • immediate reduction in utility expenses and building operations and maintenance costs,
  • improved building integrity as a sound strategy to manage the value of long-term assets,
  • protecting tenants from future rises in home heating costs, as well as carbon pricing schemes that may disproportionally affect affordable housing,
  • energy security.

Fewer greenhouse gas emissions

The added benefits of improved home comfort and indoor air quality and reduced greenhouse gases provide an added incentive to make energy efficiency a top priority when co-ops are developing long-term budgets.

Co-ops might want to review these programs for possible interest and eligibility:

Search the full list of incentive programs hosted by Affordable Warmth BC.

Top

Landlords Rental Market: 
Apartment/Townhouse/Single Detached Home

Maintain and protect existing buildings

Market rental housing plays a significant role in providing a source of affordable housing. The lack of newly constructed rental apartments and townhouses across the Province means it is even more important to find creative methods to finance capital intensive energy efficiency projects to maintain the level (and health) of rental stock for the low-to-moderate income population.

Minimize the costs of churn or tenant turnover 

The economic benefits of energy efficiency in the rental market housing sector include: 

  • immediate reduction in utility expenses and building operations and maintenance costs,
  • improved building integrity as a sound strategy to manage the value of long-term assets,
  • protecting tenants from future rises in home heating costs, as well as carbon pricing schemes that may disproportionally affect affordable housing,
  • reduction in administrative fees from tenant turn-over and utility disconnection fees,
  • increased protection and security from rising fuel costs.

Landlords might want to review these programs for possible interest and eligibility:

Click here to search the full list of incentive programs hosted by Affordable Warmth BC.

Top

Renters:
Apartments/Townhouse/Single Detached Homes

As a renter, you may not own your own home, but you still want to reduce your environmental footprint, and, if you pay utilities on top of rent, you want to find simple and cost effective ways to reduce your bills too!

Increased Comfort and Indoor Air Quality

Affordable Warmth BC is excited to announce that in BC there are several programs that can assist renters to improve energy efficiency. The benefits to renters include:

  • lower utility bills (if paid in addition to rent),
  • improved home comfort,
  • reduced energy demand,
  • and feeling great about contributing to the health of the planet.

The following programs can help renters reduce utility costs

Click here to search the full list of incentive programs hosted by Affordable Warmth BC. 

Top 

Owners:
Single Family Residential Homes/Duplexes

For most people, their home is their greatest asset and investment – it is also one of their greatest expenses. Few people can afford a newly constructed home. Older houses come with many challenges, including dated construction that lacks strong energy performance.

Maintain and protect home value

Through energy efficiency retrofits, the average home built 20 years ago has the potential to lower their energy bills by 30% – and to reduce the amount of greenhouse gasses the house produces by 4.5 tons per year. Lowering the total amount of greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere is an important step to reducing the impacts of climate change, both locally and globally.

Affordable Warmth BC is excited to provide information on programs and services that are FREE to low income homeowners that will immediately reduce costs – freeing up additional income to spend on other much needed living expenses.

The total benefit of energy efficiency for low-to-moderate homeowners includes:

  • immediate reduction in utility costs,
  • safety from increasing home heating costs,
  • improved home value,
  • healthier and more comfortable living environment,
  • reduction in greenhouse gases.

The following programs can help low-to-moderate income homeowners finance energy efficiency:

Click here to search the full list of incentive programs hosted by Affordable Warmth BC.

Top