Report from Green Energy Committee, published in the Weekly, July 8, 2024
The Green Energy Committee is looking at ways to considerably reduce our energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. We know that members are eager for more information about what could be involved. However, we are in the midst of studies and applications, so we don’t have definitive answers yet. The committee will keep the membership up to date with information as it becomes available.
Our primary concern is the replacement of our ageing energy systems, which are approaching their end of service lives.
Since these systems need to be replaced we now have an opportunity to replace them with systems that are more energy efficient and that will reduce our greenhouse gas emissions, primarily by ending our use of natural gas. This will also reduce our energy costs.
Switching to more energy efficient systems, and especially getting rid of our natural gas-fired equipment allows us to access various grants that are being offered in an effort to reduce the effects of global warming/climate change.
We recently received a grant from CMHC to conduct various studies to help us determine what would be the best way to achieve these goals. These studies are nearing completion.
One of the studies was a new Building Condition Assessment (BCA) which has reviewed and provided recommendations on all components of the co-op buildings. The BCA has identified various energy consuming systems that should be replaced in the next five years.
These include (recommended replacement year in brackets):
The midrise domestic hot water gas-fired boiler (3 years, but it is already having problems)
- The midrise domestic hot water storage tanks. (3 years). The tanks don’t use energy, but they lose energy. The better insulated they are, the less energy they lose.
- Replacing the hot water system is a big undertaking and it makes sense to address the entire system at once.
- The midrise gas-fired make-up air unit, which provides fresh air to the common areas. (3 years)
- Midrise common area air conditioning units, including penthouse and offices (2 years)
- Midrise unit space heating systems (baseboard heaters) (no specific replacement date, but the radiator systems are failing)
- Townhouse furnaces (1 year)
However, in addition to these mechanical components, we have the opportunity to receive funding for other energy saving projects that we also need to get done.
This could include (recommended replacement year in brackets):
- Replacing and insulating roofs, both the midrise and townhouses (between 5 and 10 years, depending on the roof)
- Replacing and upgrading windows in the common areas of the midrise, including hallways, the office, and all the penthouse windows and doors (1 year)
- Replacing and upgrading windows in the townhouses and townhouse laundry (1 year)
- Replace and upgrade all exterior doors in the co-op with better insulated versions (5 years)
- Replace exterior caulking on townhouses (4 years)
- Replace siding, fascia and soffits on townhouses with materials with higher R values, and add insulation beneath them (1 year)
- Upgrade electrical panels (3 years)
- Replace townhouse domestic gas-fired hot water tanks with electric versions
- Upgrade stovesIn addition to the BCA, we are also conducting an Energy Audit and Modelling Study to assess the building’s current performance and identify our best strategies for improvement.Heat pumps are most sensible heating system to replace both the midrise and townhouse heating systems. They are the most practical and energy efficient systems available to us, as well as being better for the environment. There are also various grants we can take advantage of when switching to heat pumps.
An added bonus is that heat pumps will also provide cooling for all units and the common areas. Aside from the comfort of our members and lower costs and greater efficiency than current air conditioning systems, the City of Toronto is currently investigating whether to have a limit on the maximum acceptable heat in rental units. Other municipalities across North America are further ahead with this process, including Hamilton. This means that we are likely to be required to provide air conditioning in the near future.
Once the current round of studies is finished we will start working with CMS engineering, The Atmospheric Fund, and CMHC to come up with a viable proposal for the next stage of funding. We are also actively seeking other sources of funding that can be combined with the CMHC funding.
Next Week: An article about heat pumps