Plainsview Townhomes Net-Zero Pilot
Type of initiative
FCM Green Municipal Fund - SAH
Sector
Energy
Project value$10,950,000
Project Type
Pilot Project
Sub Sector
Building – New – with Renewable energy
Grant amount$500,000
Program type
GMF
Municipality
City of Regina, SK
Status
Fully Disbursed
Population
226,404
Project timeline
2021 - 2021
Project number
17740
Description
The National Affordable Housing Corporation (NAHC, founded in 2011) operates a portfolio of 256 rental units in Saskatchewan. It currently has a further 224 rental units planned for construction in 2020-2021. The pilot under review will be its first Net-Zero Energy (NZE) development to date.
Building on its success from a previous FCM Planning grant, the project under review will pilot six NZE units within a 48-unit housing development located near a medical daycare, parks, and schools. The units are made up of three 3-bedroom townhomes and three 2-bedroom walkout units. The development uses modular construction methods: panels are fabricated offsite and assembled onsite. The six pilot units will test the performance of pre-constructed NZE panels equipped with solar capacity.
These pilot units will achieve NZE through a high-performance building envelope, high efficiency modulating furnace and air source heat pump, improved domestic water heating and eco-drain recovery system, smart thermostats, and LED lighting. The plans also include ‘right-sizing’ roof trusses to handle potential future additions of roof-mounted solar panels. NAHC anticipates that the design will result in a positive annual energy generation.
Innovative aspect(s)
Building on its success from a previous FCM Planning grant, the project under review will pilot six NZE units within a 48-unit housing development located near a medical daycare, parks, and schools. The units are made up of three 3-bedroom townhomes and three 2-bedroom walkout units. The development uses modular construction methods: panels are fabricated offsite and assembled onsite. The six pilot units will test the performance of pre-constructed NZE panels equipped with solar capacity.
These pilot units will achieve NZE through a high-performance building envelope, high efficiency modulating furnace and air source heat pump, improved domestic water heating and eco-drain recovery system, smart thermostats, and LED lighting. The plans also include ‘right-sizing’ roof trusses to handle potential future additions of roof-mounted solar panels. NAHC anticipates that the design will result in a positive annual energy generation.
Innovative aspect(s)
- The organization will tailor its tried-and-true modular construction model to the higher performance and efficiency standards of NZE
- The replicability of this project is significant, as prefabricated panel design would accelerate effective deployment of NZE solutions across the province’s housing sector
Affordability
Eligibility
This application is eligible because it aims to achieve or exceed the following objectives:
- The two deeply subsidized units will benefit families whose children have complex medical needs and are attending the medical daycare across the street
- Based on their calculations, the applicant anticipates the prefabricated design will reduce construction time by up to 35% over conventional on-site construction
- Of the six units in the pilot, two are below-market and two are even further reduced for low-income families.
- Utility cost savings are anticipated at 75% compared to a control group of six units in the building
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 below 80% of the Median Market Rate in order to be “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
National Affordable Housing Corporation, SK