Higher energy-efficiency targets for a new affordable housing construction in Winnipeg

In response to the City of Winnipeg’s 2020 Comprehensive Housing Assessment, which identified critical housing needs across the city, the University of Winnipeg Community Renewal Corporation 2.0 (UWCRC 2.0 Inc.) will assess how a new affordable housing complex can be made more energy efficient. The building’s design currently targets a 26% energy reduction compared to the 2015 National Energy Code of Canada for Buildings (NECB). This initiative will allow UWRC 2.0 Inc. to explore additional options to achieve a 55% decrease in energy use or to be net zero energy ready (NZER). The proposed 224 units are all single-person households geared specifically at addressing the needs of recent immigrants, refugees, Indigenous persons, individuals 20–35 years of age or 55+ years of age, and people with accessibility needs. With the goal of increasing energy performance and unit affordability, the SAH planning grant will support UWCRC 2.0 Inc. on the following elements: · completing a preliminary heating and cooling analysis based on the latest conceptual architectural design; · conducting an hourly weather simulation on the building’s energy model to determine annual heating and cooling loads; · investigating a selection of mechanical and electrical systems that meet the building’s energy load; · for the selected solution, working closely with architectural, mechanical and structural engineers, as well as the construction manager, to estimate the costs of the proposed systems and building features; and · assessing the possibility of integrating a geothermal system and rooftop solar photovoltaics. This initiative has already secured Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) Seed Funding with its initial building design. Results from this assessment will feed into a more ambitious design and help the organization access additional CMHC and GMF funding for a capital project. Innovative aspect(s): Although a completed design and secured funding for the construction phase are already in place, this organization is going back to the drawing board in the hope of achieving even higher energy-efficiency targets than initially projected. Replicability: The results from this planning grant and subsequent capital project will be of value to other relatively large housing projects considering revisiting their design phases for better energy efficiency and affordability. Affordability: The existing project design will target 51% of units at 79% of local median market rent (MMR). However, if the project is successful in achieving a 55% energy reduction over 2015 NECB, the organization will qualify for an additional 5% contribution from CMHC’s National Housing Co-Investment Fund. With further operating savings, supplementary FCM support and Manitoba Green Energy Equipment tax credits, UWCRC 2.0 Inc will be able to reach a target of 51% of units at 59% of MMR while offsetting the additional design and system capital costs. (Project description from original funding application)