Dunbar Community In-Fill Apartment Building
Type of initiative
FCM Green Municipal Fund - SAH
Sector
Energy
Project value$0
Project Type
Capital Project
Sub Sector
Building – New – Energy efficiency
Grant amount$1,392,995
Program type
GMF
Municipality
City of Ottawa, ON
Loan amount$1,392,995
Status
In Progress
Population
1,017,449
Project timeline
2023 - 2024
Project number
SAH-22-0027
Description
The Nepean Housing Corporation Inc. (est. 1984) builds and maintains affordable rental housing for a diverse population with low to modest income, while promoting strong, healthy, sustainable communities. This non-profit grew 559 rental units in nine communities and will undertake its first sustainable affordable housing project at Dunbar Court Apartments. The new in-fill apartment building offers a mixture of bachelor, 1-2- and 3-bedrooms units for a total of 31 units.
The proposed development design approach is built upon a Passive House energy strategy. During the study phase of this project (GMF17367), the applicant investigated the most cost-effective construction methods and systems to achieve maximum reduction in energy costs versus increases in construction cost. Study results indicated optimal building design and construction techniques to significantly decrease greenhouse gas emissions by 84%. Furthermore, the building’s design includes future rooftop solar arrays and electric car charging stations which would further reduce environmental impact.
Innovative aspect(s):
· This project offers the potential to fill an existing brownfield land with an energy efficient building.
· The building’s design minimizes circulation space and maximizes light to each apartment, while introducing solar shade canopies to minimize summer heat gain.
· The building’s structural system reduces concrete and wood use through long span open web wood joists, with a detailed wrap of exterior insulation at an optimal thickness to increase performance.
· The building’s configuration creates a sheltered outdoor common space, with grading and landscaping forming natural bio swales, using drought resistant planting and water collection to minimize water use and improve runoff quality.
The electrical HVAC system significantly reduces greenhouse gas emissions and includes a roof top equipment enclosure that prevents loss of efficiency at very cold temperatures.
Replicability:
· Nepean Housing Corporation may benefit from the tested methods and performance results of the Passive House energy strategy, adapting it to future developments.
· The applicant may share their experience in designing an economical and easy to replicate NZER building type with other housing providers, stakeholders, or networks.
Affordability
· All units will rent for less than 80% of the Median Market Rent (MMR).
· NZER benefits both the applicant and tenants in reducing utility and operating costs and will help preserve affordability in the
face of future economic uncertainty.
Eligibility: This application is eligible because it aims to achieve or exceed the following objectives:
· Applicants must be municipal governments, municipally owned corporations or non-profit housing providers
· 30% of the units must be at or below 80% of the MMR in order to be considered “affordable”
· New-build projects must aim for NZE or NZER to be eligible, with a maximum net-Total Energy Use Intensity (TEUI) of 80 kWh/m2.
The proposed development design approach is built upon a Passive House energy strategy. During the study phase of this project (GMF17367), the applicant investigated the most cost-effective construction methods and systems to achieve maximum reduction in energy costs versus increases in construction cost. Study results indicated optimal building design and construction techniques to significantly decrease greenhouse gas emissions by 84%. Furthermore, the building’s design includes future rooftop solar arrays and electric car charging stations which would further reduce environmental impact.
Innovative aspect(s):
· This project offers the potential to fill an existing brownfield land with an energy efficient building.
· The building’s design minimizes circulation space and maximizes light to each apartment, while introducing solar shade canopies to minimize summer heat gain.
· The building’s structural system reduces concrete and wood use through long span open web wood joists, with a detailed wrap of exterior insulation at an optimal thickness to increase performance.
· The building’s configuration creates a sheltered outdoor common space, with grading and landscaping forming natural bio swales, using drought resistant planting and water collection to minimize water use and improve runoff quality.
The electrical HVAC system significantly reduces greenhouse gas emissions and includes a roof top equipment enclosure that prevents loss of efficiency at very cold temperatures.
Replicability:
· Nepean Housing Corporation may benefit from the tested methods and performance results of the Passive House energy strategy, adapting it to future developments.
· The applicant may share their experience in designing an economical and easy to replicate NZER building type with other housing providers, stakeholders, or networks.
Affordability
· All units will rent for less than 80% of the Median Market Rent (MMR).
· NZER benefits both the applicant and tenants in reducing utility and operating costs and will help preserve affordability in the
face of future economic uncertainty.
Eligibility: This application is eligible because it aims to achieve or exceed the following objectives:
· Applicants must be municipal governments, municipally owned corporations or non-profit housing providers
· 30% of the units must be at or below 80% of the MMR in order to be considered “affordable”
· New-build projects must aim for NZE or NZER to be eligible, with a maximum net-Total Energy Use Intensity (TEUI) of 80 kWh/m2.
Applicant
Nepean Housing Corporation, ON