Clintwood Co-Op Net-Zero Energy Ready Retrofit

Clintwood Non-Profit Co-op is a housing co-operative in North York, Ontario, that provides affordable housing to low- and middle-income persons, physically and mentally challenged persons, single parents, and new immigrants. It has 63 one- and two-bedroom units in need of repair. The planning grant would allow Clintwood to accomplish four main tasks: (1) review a Building Condition Assessment; (2) hire an engineer to conduct an Energuide Hot2000 audit (recommended by SAH’s Energy Modelling Specialist); (3) conduct a survey to all tenants to identify efficiency challenges in their units; and (4) bring the engineer and business services firm into meetings with the co-op board and staff to agree on next steps and produce a report on the best options for the Co-op. Step (4) is critical for the co-op to achieve consensus on the most appropriate next steps for the project. Innovative aspects: This project includes a tenant survey to better understand the inefficiencies in tenant units. Tenant input is often overlooked, and it will be interesting to see the effect of a high tenant engagement approach on the project’s ultimate direction. Clintwood Co-Op has no experience in energy efficiency technologies, let alone retrofit projects, and this plan builds critical capacity for the organization to make informed decisions about retrofit approaches. Replicability: As members of the Co-Operative Federation of Canada (Ontario Region) and the Co-Operative Federation of Toronto, the potential for this integrative, consensus-based project model to be shared is high. Affordability: At least 50% of the units are below 80% MMR for the region. (Project description from original funding application)