Greening the infrastructure at "Benny Farm" - pilot project

This pilot project concerns redevelopment of 183 vacant units at Benny Farm – an 18-acre site originally developed from 1946-1947 to provide housing for World War two veterans and their families. The units were occupied until 1998-2000. Most are now vacant. To maintain the affordability of the units, this pilot focuses on keeping utility costs as low as possible. Heating will come from a hybrid system that combines a closed-loop, water-to-water geothermal energy system and existing high efficiency gas boilers. Electrical upgrades, indoor air quality, water use and re-use, the development of existing gardens and waste management will be addressed. Because of the solid nature of the structures, the amount of material that can be reused and the incorporation of the geothermal community energy system, the project could meet the Leader in Energy Efficiency Design (LEEDTM) at the Silver and Gold levels. It is estimated that 313 tonnes of greenhouse gases can be saved and 6,700,000 litres of potable water conserved (50 per cent in the case of the renovations and 25 per cent for the new construction). Water treatment reduction is estimated at 11,000,000 litres per year. Storm water run-off reduction is estimated at 4,200,000 litres per year.