Heartland Housing NZE Capital Project in Fort Saskatchewan
Type of initiative
FCM Green Municipal Fund - SAH
Sector
Energy
Project value$17,386,190
Project Type
Capital Project
Sub Sector
Building – New – with Renewable energy
Grant amount$1,449,500
Program type
GMF
Municipality
City of Fort Saskatchewan, AB
Loan amount$1,449,500
Status
Fully Disbursed
Population
27,088
Project timeline
2020 - 2023
Project number
17536
Description
Heartland Housing Foundation (HHF) is a municipal corporation with a mandate to operate affordable housing in the municipalities of Fort Saskatchewan and Strathcona near Edmonton, Alberta. HHF currently manages four seniors’ lodge facilities, two affordable housing complexes, and five rent-geared-to-income self-contained seniors’ apartments.
The proposed Net-Zero energy project will add 83 units to HHF’s portfolio in Fort Saskatchewan’s Sherridon neighbourhood. Technologies to achieve this level of efficiency include solar PV arrays on the roof and parkade, a high-performance building envelope, high-performance windows, efficient lighting, a heat pump, and heat recovery systems. The design features modular shipping container construction on the building’s ground floor with standard wood construction on the upper floors. The building design also incorporates cost-saving measures to maximize affordability, such as basic finishes, no common amenity rooms, and reduced electrical costs from Net-Zero design.
HHF is partnered with local organizations to ensure social benefits beyond the inherent social supports provided through affordable housing. These partners include the Robin Hood Association, Family and Community Supports, and Families First Society. For example, the Robin Hood Association has a mission to assist individuals with disabilities to experience a quality lifestyle; it will be responsible for filling a portion of the project’s units and providing supports to those residents.
Innovative aspect(s)
The proposed Net-Zero energy project will add 83 units to HHF’s portfolio in Fort Saskatchewan’s Sherridon neighbourhood. Technologies to achieve this level of efficiency include solar PV arrays on the roof and parkade, a high-performance building envelope, high-performance windows, efficient lighting, a heat pump, and heat recovery systems. The design features modular shipping container construction on the building’s ground floor with standard wood construction on the upper floors. The building design also incorporates cost-saving measures to maximize affordability, such as basic finishes, no common amenity rooms, and reduced electrical costs from Net-Zero design.
HHF is partnered with local organizations to ensure social benefits beyond the inherent social supports provided through affordable housing. These partners include the Robin Hood Association, Family and Community Supports, and Families First Society. For example, the Robin Hood Association has a mission to assist individuals with disabilities to experience a quality lifestyle; it will be responsible for filling a portion of the project’s units and providing supports to those residents.
Innovative aspect(s)
- The project’s use of modular shipping container construction is innovative in the Net-Zero Energy context, such that it was selected for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC)’s co-investment funding
- The project will be the first Net-Zero Energy building in HHF’s portfolio
Replicability
- Modular buildings have high replication potential as tried-and-true modules are quickly fabricated and assembled
- The project’s very comprehensive proforma model will be shared with other nonprofit organizations
- HHF emphasizes knowledge sharing and use of local talent wherever possible, building local capacity for future highly energy-efficient projects
- 100% of the units meet SAH’s affordability target at 80% below Median Market Rate (MMR)
- 24% (20/83) of the units are more deeply affordable, targeting those involved in Alberta’s Assistance for the Severely Handicapped (AISH) program
- Applicants must be municipal governments, municipally owned corporations or non-profit housing providers
- 30% of the units must be 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
(Project description from original funding application)
Applicant
Heartland Housing Foundation, AB