Tag: heating

Green Energy Committee – committee aims

FUN FACTS – COMMITTEE AIMS

  • The Green Energy committee is working towards reducing our energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.
  • We are seeking to reduce energy costs for all members of the co-op.
  • Although we have many different types of units with different infrastructure, we plan to benefit all members of the co-op equally.
  • We aim to increase comfort for members by providing more efficient heating as well as central cooling in all units.
  • We are looking for funding that will allow us to retrofit our energy systems at the lowest possible cost.
  • In addition to replacing our inefficient, aging energy systems, we are hoping to complete other major projects that need to be done, as indicated by our Building Condition Assessment (BCA).
  • Keeping disruptions to a minimum is a factor that we are always keeping in mind. There will, of course, be disruption, but we are aiming for maximum benefit for minimum disruption.
  • Have questions? Write to the Green Energy committee at greenenergy@woodsworthcoop.ca and we will answer in upcoming articles.

Green Energy Committee: An Introduction

Green Energy Committee: An Introduction

Published in the Weekly, July 9, 2023

The Board of Directors has created a Green Energy Committee to investigate how Woodsworth can reduce greenhouse gases (GHG) and use less energy to heat our buildings. Part of this will involve reducing our dependence on natural gas, which we currently use throughout the co-op.

We are fortunate to be starting this project at this time since there are currently many programs and funds that we can apply for that will greatly reduce the costs of these improvements. Much of our equipment and infrastructure are in need of replacement anyway, so this is a win/win for the co-op.

The committee has started to collect information on how we can achieve our goal of reducing GHG and energy use. We are working with CHFC consultants to find the best route for us. Part of this process is determining how we will pay for these improvements. For example, CMHC has just introduced a program call Canadian Greener Affordable Housing (CGAH) which may help us with financing the project. There are many other sources of funding as well.

Another part of the investigation is to look at cooling for all units, as well as heating. This is possible if we use heat pumps for our source of heat. A heat pump works like an air conditioner running backwards: if it is heating it takes heat from the outside and warms the inside and if it is cooling it takes heat from the inside and warms the outside. Cooling will become even more important in the coming years as our summers get hotter and hotter.

We look forward to working with members to make our home more comfortable and less of a burden on our environment.

The committee can be contacted at

greenenergy@woodsworthcoop.ca.