Pine Tree Park: Transforming affordable housing with energy efficiency and solar power
SUSTAINABLE AFFORDABLE HOUSING
Retrofit of sustainable afforable housing
Case Study
This article is part of a series called Transforming communities with Sustainable Affordable Housing. The series demonstrates how energy-efficient, community-centered housing can foster resilience and well-being. Discover practical solutions for affordable, climate-friendly homes that improve lives and build a sustainable future.
New Dawn Enterprises’ Pine Tree Park project in Cape Breton, NS, has reached a transformative milestone. With deep energy retrofits complete and a solar array—a system of multiple solar panels that capture sunlight and turn it into electricity—now operational, the project is delivering tangible benefits to residents and reshaping the future of affordable housing for the organization. Supported by the Green Municipal Fund’s (GMF) Sustainable Affordable Housing (SAH) initiative, Pine Tree Park isn’t just about energy savings—it’s about enhancing quality of life, building community pride, and creating a sustainable future.
Immediate impact
For residents, the upgrades have made a noticeable difference. Homes that were once drafty are now well-insulated, offering better temperature control year-round. A switch from oil furnaces to high-efficiency heat pumps has added a new feature many residents never thought they’d need—air conditioning. This summer, with record-breaking heat in Cape Breton, having cool air was no longer a luxury.
“We experienced six weeks of temperatures above 30°C, which is rare for the region,” explained Erika Shea, President and CEO of New Dawn Enterprises. “Our tenants were able to stay comfortable during the heatwave—something that wouldn’t have been possible before.”
Beyond comfort, the project has brought significant financial relief. Monthly utility bills have been reduced by $200 per household, translating to annual savings of approximately $2,500 per family, or a reduction of about 78 percent from previous costs.
“We’ve also insulated residents from volatile energy prices,” Shea noted. “With the solar array powering the homes, tenants no longer feel the impact of rising electricity rates across the province.”
A stronger, more resilient community
The retrofits and solar installation have fostered a renewed sense of pride among residents and within the broader community. Pine Tree Park is now home to the largest solar array on Cape Breton Island—an achievement that resonates deeply with the residents, many of whom live in below-market rental units.
“What’s special about this project is that it brings state-of-the-art renewable technology to a low-income community,” Shea said. “This is the opposite of what usually happens, where new technologies are first adopted by wealthier communities. There’s real pride here—our residents feel like they’re part of something significant.”
The collaborative nature of the project was key to its success. New Dawn hosted community meetings throughout the process, giving residents the opportunity to engage with the project, ask questions, and voice concerns. This proactive engagement not only built trust but also reduced disruptions during construction. “Having those conversations early on meant fewer individual concerns along the way,” Shea reflected.
From overwhelmed to empowered: Organizational growth through innovation
Internally, the project has been a game-changer for New Dawn Enterprises. When the initiative was first introduced to the board, the scale of the solar array and the complexity of the retrofits felt daunting. “At the time, we had no in-house expertise in renewables,” Shea admitted. “But now, looking back, we feel empowered. It was a turning point—what once seemed overwhelming is now second nature.”
The success of Pine Tree Park has reshaped New Dawn’s approach to property management. Going forward, retrofitting buildings and integrating renewable energy will be standard practice for every acquisition.
“It’s like muscle memory now,” Shea said. “We’ve already completed feasibility studies for two more solar arrays, and we’re working toward net-zero energy across our entire portfolio.”
Expanding influence and inspiring others
The ripple effects of Pine Tree Park’s success are being felt beyond the Cape Breton Regional Municipality. Other organizations have reached out to New Dawn for guidance, including groups like L ‘Arche (Richmond County, Cape Breton), which provides support and housing to individuals with intellectual disabilities. “We’re an open book,” Shea explained. “We share everything—our funding applications, tender packages, and Indigenous engagement approaches. If we can help others follow in our footsteps, we’ll gladly do it.”
A blueprint for the future
As Pine Tree Park celebrates the completion of its solar garden and retrofits, New Dawn Enterprises is already looking ahead. The organization’s vision is clear: net-zero energy across all properties, new and old.
“This project transformed more than just homes—it transformed us,” Shea reflected. “Every decision we make now is guided by a sense of climate responsibility and a commitment to eliminating energy poverty.”
Pine Tree Park is a testament to what’s possible when affordable housing and sustainability intersect. It’s a story of innovation, resilience, and community pride—one that New Dawn Enterprises hopes will inspire others to take bold steps toward a sustainable future.
Related Resources
See All
Case Study
Sustainable affordable housing
Energy | Housing
Sustainable affordable housing
Energy | Housing
Aspen Heights: Redefining affordable housing in Saskatoon
Case Study
Sustainable affordable housing
Energy | Housing
Sustainable affordable housing
Energy | Housing
Heartland Housing Foundation: Building a sustainable future in Fort Saskatchewan
Case Study
Sustainable affordable housing
Energy | Housing
Sustainable affordable housing
Energy | Housing
Building a better future: CABN’s net-zero affordable housing pilot
Case Study
Sustainable affordable housing
Energy | Housing
Sustainable affordable housing
Energy | Housing
Rossland Yards: Transforming affordable housing in Rossland, BC
Tool
Sustainable affordable housing
Energy
Sustainable affordable housing
Energy
Transforming communities with Sustainable Affordable Housing: Article series
In a series of six articles, we highlight impactful projects funded by GMF's Sustainable Affordable Housing (SAH) initiative, demonstrating how energy-efficient, community-centered housing can foster resilience and well-being.
Case Study
Sustainable affordable housing
Energy | Housing
Sustainable affordable housing
Energy | Housing
YWCA Banff: Building stability and community through affordable housing
Tool
Municipal and community buildings
Energy
Municipal and community buildings
Energy
Guide: Equity and non-energy benefits of community building retrofits
Explore the equity and other non-energy benefits of retrofitting community buildings.
Tool
Sustainable affordable housing
Energy | Housing
Sustainable affordable housing
Energy | Housing
Regional Energy Coach list
Get in touch with a Regional Energy Coach in your region and start your energy efficiency journey
Webinar recording
Municipal and community buildings
Energy
Municipal and community buildings
Energy
Webinar recording: Accelerate your community’s net-zero transformation with new GMF funding
Watch our webinar to discover how GMF’s new funding can help you upgrade infrastructure and reduce local GHG emissions.
Webinar recording
Community efficiency financing
Energy
Community efficiency financing
Energy
Webinar recording: The real impact of home-energy efficiency financing
Watch our webinar to discover how you can achieve your climate goals by implementing a home-energy efficiency financing program in your community
Webinar recording
Sustainable affordable housing
Energy
Sustainable affordable housing
Energy
Webinar recording: Transform your approach to energy efficiency with the Housing Providers’ Toolkit
Watch the discussion on how to take advantage of the Housing Providers’ Toolkit.
Guide
Municipal and community buildings
Energy
Municipal and community buildings
Energy
Guide: Taking your indoor swimming pool to net zero
A guide with key measures and lessons learned to help you build a plan for net-zero indoor swimming pools.
Tool
Sustainable affordable housing
Energy | Housing
Sustainable affordable housing
Energy | Housing
Project cash flow calculator
Our energy project calculator is designed to aid housing providers in quantifying the associated costs of sustainable, affordable housing projects. Use the calculator to understand the viability of a potential project and make informed decisions.
Tool
Sustainable affordable housing
Energy | Housing
Sustainable affordable housing
Energy | Housing
Funders list for sustainable affordable housing
Access additional funding sources from across Canada to support your next affordable housing project.
Tool
Sustainable affordable housing
Energy | Housing
Sustainable affordable housing
Energy | Housing
Toolkit: Navigating energy efficient affordable housing projects
Discover a toolkit designed for affordable housing providers aiming to prioritize energy efficiency. This toolkit offers insights into the benefits of energy-efficient housing, addresses unique challenges, and provides practical tools to identify solutions.
Webinar recording
Municipal and community buildings
Energy
Municipal and community buildings
Energy
Webinar recording: How to start reducing GHG emissions in community buildings
Watch the discussion on how to create a GHG reduction pathway for community buildings.
Webinar recording
Municipal and community buildings
Energy | Housing
Municipal and community buildings
Energy | Housing
Webinar recording: How to get a project started, tips for small francophone communities
If you’re a small francophone municipality looking to develop sustainability projects and access funding, watch this webinar to learn how others overcame common challenges.
Tool
Municipal and community buildings
Energy
Municipal and community buildings
Energy
Factsheets: Community Buildings Retrofit initiative
Learn how to retrofit existing community buildings to lower GHG emissions and extend their life cycle.
Webinar recording
Municipal and community buildings
Energy
Municipal and community buildings
Energy
Webinar Recording: Enhance comfort and energy savings with municipal building envelopes
Watch this webinar to explore strategies for optimizing municipal building envelopes, enhancing both comfort and energy efficiency.
Webinar recording
Municipal and community buildings
Energy
Municipal and community buildings
Energy
Webinar recording: Energy efficiency for reaching net zero
Learn how municipalities can advance energy efficiency initiatives to reach net-zero targets.
Webinar recording
Energy
Energy
Webinar recording: Planning for net-zero emissions
Municipal leaders and experts discuss strategies for achieving net-zero emissions targets and scaling up climate action efforts at the local level.
Video
Community efficiency financing
Energy
Community efficiency financing
Energy
Video: Durham Region, ON launches novel financing model
A video showcasing innovative and accessible financing options for home-energy upgrades.
Video
Municipal and community buildings
Energy
Municipal and community buildings
Energy
Video: Retrofitting community buildings for maximum GHG reduction impact
A short video explaining the pathway approach of retrofitting a building - using an outcomes-oriented approach - to achieve (near) net zero carbon buildings over time.
Tool
Municipal and community buildings
Energy
Municipal and community buildings
Energy
Community Buildings Retrofit Advisory Service
The CBR Advisory Service is a new service that is intended to help smaller municipalities by matching them to industry leaders who understand best practices in the CBR field and can help provide personalized coaching and advice, including clarified goals, insights, and replicable results.
Guide
Community efficiency financing
Energy
Community efficiency financing
Energy
Community Efficiency Financing market guide
Guide to help Canadian municipalities assess potential home energy upgrade programs
Webinar recording
Local energy generation
Energy
Local energy generation
Energy
Webinar recording: An introduction to district energy
Learn how a centralized heating and cooling system can help your municipality reduce GHG emissions and save money.
Webinar recording
Municipal and community buildings
Energy
Municipal and community buildings
Energy
Webinar recording: Supporting small and medium municipalities through the Community Buildings Retrofit initiative
Watch this webinar recording to learn about successful examples of completed retrofits, how municipalities can choose the right funding options and to answer any questions about the funding process.
Webinar recording
Sustainable affordable housing
Energy | Housing
Sustainable affordable housing
Energy | Housing
Webinar recording: Affordable housing providers’ impact on energy poverty
The webinar will feature a housing project helping moderate income households while achieving high environmental standards.
Guide
Municipal and community buildings
Energy
Municipal and community buildings
Energy
Guide: Taking your indoor ice rink to net zero
A practical guide to get you started on your own net zero retrofit plan and to help you develop an actionable roadmap to net zero ice rinks.
Guide
Municipal fleet electrification
Transportation
Municipal fleet electrification
Transportation
Priority Municipal Actions to Enable Zero Emission Vehicle Adoption
GMF and Low Carbon Cities Canada (LC3) collaborated to create six priority municipal actions to accelerate zero emission vehicle adoption.
Guide
Sustainable affordable housing
Energy
Sustainable affordable housing
Energy
Understanding energy efficiency: A guide for affordable housing providers
This guide is for affordable housing providers, such as municipalities or housing cooperatives, interested in improving energy efficiency in their buildings.
Webinar recording
Municipal and community buildings
Energy
Municipal and community buildings
Energy
Webinar: Transitioning ice rinks to net-zero
Learn the basics of building retrofits for facility buildings
Tool
Municipal and community buildings
Energy
Municipal and community buildings
Energy
Resource library: Community Buildings Retrofit
Find practical case studies and guidance for planning your local community building retrofit.
Webinar recording
Community efficiency financing
Energy
Community efficiency financing
Energy
Webinar recording: Introduction to local home-energy financing programs
Learn the basics on delivering local financing programs for home-energy upgrades.
Video
Community efficiency financing
Energy
Community efficiency financing
Energy
Video: Saskatoon delivers Saskatchewan’s first local home-energy financing program
Learn how the City of Saskatoon designed its Home Energy Loan Program (HELP) to help residents retrofit their homes and reduce GHG emissions.
Video
Community efficiency financing
Energy | Housing
Community efficiency financing
Energy | Housing
Video: Nelson scales up local program to support home-energy upgrades
In this video, Carmen Proctor, Climate & Energy Manager at the City of Nelson, tells the story of the program’s success to date, shares key lessons learned from running the program, and highlights their next steps to scale up the program.
Webinar recording
Sustainable affordable housing
Energy | Housing
Sustainable affordable housing
Energy | Housing
Webinar recording: Asset management and energy conservation
Learn how the non-profit housing sector can integrate energy management into asset management to reduce costs and greenhouse gas emissions.
Tool
Community efficiency financing
Energy
Community efficiency financing
Energy
Resources: Community Efficiency Financing
Read guidebooks and case studies to see how municipalities are designing home upgrade financing programs.
Video
Community efficiency financing
Energy
Community efficiency financing
Energy
Video: Kingston supports homeowners with financing program for energy upgrades
Hear from Julie Salter-Keane, Manager of Climate Leadership at the City of Kingston, as she discusses the City’s program implementation and their approach to designing a strong local program.
Guide
Energy
Energy
Factsheet: Governance components for deep decarbonization
This factsheet introduces senior municipal leaders to key components of a good governance structure for deep emissions reductions and implementation actions.
Guide
Energy
Energy
Factsheet: Governance strategies for deep decarbonization
This factsheet provides senior municipal leaders with governance strategies for achieving deep emissions reductions in each decarbonization pathway.
Guide
Energy
Energy
Factsheet: Municipal governance for deep decarbonization
This factsheet provides senior municipal leaders with the pathways and steps for achieving deep decarbonization and net-zero emissions by 2050.
Tool
Energy
Energy
Climate Action Accelerator for Community Buildings
Is your municipality looking to drive climate action by reducing greenhouse gas emissions in municipally-owned buildings, but is unsure how to maximize time and impact, secure funding and partnerships, or how to get started? FCM’s Climate Action Accelerator for Community Buildings will help up to 20 small and mid-sized municipalities take climate action within their building portfolios.
Video
Sustainable affordable housing
Energy | Housing
Sustainable affordable housing
Energy | Housing
Video: 5 keys for sustainable social housing success
Gordon Szaszi, Project Manager Housing Development, shares Niagara Regional Housing (NRH) experience creating the business case for a 67-unit affordable housing development for seniors.
Video
Energy
Energy
Video: Tips from Iqualuit’s LEED Silver aquatic centre
In this video, you will learn the key elements and lessons learned that helped Iqaluit succeed on building its energy efficient aquatic centre.
Video
Sustainable affordable housing
Energy | Housing
Sustainable affordable housing
Energy | Housing
Video: 5 keys for sustainable social housing success
This video walks through the key sections of a successful business case: Needs Assessment, Organizational Readiness, Project Vision and Financials.
Video
Community efficiency financing
Energy
Community efficiency financing
Energy
Video: New municipal financing program removes barriers to energy-efficiency upgrades for homeowners
Marie-Pierre Paquette discusses how the municipalities of Plessisville, Varennes and Verchères banded together to launch a joint pilot project that would bring energy-efficient home renovations within reach for more homeowners.
Video
Community efficiency financing
Energy
Community efficiency financing
Energy
Video: Introduction to home energy upgrade programs
Watch this video to learn more about home energy upgrade programs and how they can help municipalities to tackle climate change, save money, and invest in the local economy.
Tool
Sustainable affordable housing
Energy | Housing
Sustainable affordable housing
Energy | Housing
Resources: Sustainable Affordable Housing
Learn how to retrofit existing housing for energy-efficiency and plan new builds for higher performance.
Video
Community efficiency financing
Energy
Community efficiency financing
Energy
Video: New municipal financing program removes barriers to energy-efficiency upgrades for homeowners
Marie-Pierre Paquette discusses how the municipalities of Plessisville, Varennes and Verchères banded together to launch a joint pilot project that would bring energy-efficient home renovations within reach for more homeowners.
Webinar recording
Energy | Housing
Energy | Housing
Webinar recording: Take your project from study to capital
Watch this webinar recording and discover how others have successfully converted studies into a capital project that provides social, economic and environmental benefits.
Webinar recording
Energy
Energy
Webinar recording: How to adapt green municipal projects to stand the test of time
Watch this webinar recording and explore how to build and adapt projects to make them truly sustainable in the long term.
Webinar recording
Energy
Energy
Webinar recording: The 5 keys to a green municipal project business case
Watch this webinar recording and discover the five critical focus areas you need to address to get your project started, from financing and partnerships to integrating a triple-bottom-line approach.
Video
Energy
Energy
Introducing GMF’s Community Buildings Retrofit initiative
Discover how GMF can support your community building retrofits, from funding for energy monitoring, building commissioning, studies and capital projects to capacity-building activities and resources.
Video
Sustainable affordable housing
Energy | Housing
Sustainable affordable housing
Energy | Housing
Video: 1,500 Toronto residents benefit from retrofit initiative
Bryan Purcell, of The Atmospheric Fund, tells the story of how an initiative to perform energy efficiency retrofits of 7 community housing buildings in Toronto achieved so much more.
Report
Energy
Energy
Article series: Meet LC3’s climate leaders
Read our article series to get to know the leaders of the Low Carbon Cities Canada (LC3) network, and learn how they are advancing effective ways to address climate change in big cities.
Tool
Municipal and community buildings
Energy
Municipal and community buildings
Energy
GMF’s Municipal Energy Roadmap
Solutions for Canadian communities to achieve significant GHG emissions reductions in buildings and meet long-term sustainability objectives.
Tool
Municipal and community buildings
Energy
Municipal and community buildings
Energy
Primer for elected officials: Municipal Energy Roadmap
This primer for elected officials outlines how the Municipal Energy Roadmap can help choose the right energy-related solutions for your buildings.
Tool
Sustainable affordable housing
Energy
Sustainable affordable housing
Energy
Regional Energy Coaches
Regional Energy Coaches help affordable housing providers plan energy efficiency retrofits and new builds.
Webinar recording
Sustainable affordable housing
Energy | Housing
Sustainable affordable housing
Energy | Housing
Webinar recording: Making affordable housing sustainable
Watch this webinar recording to learn about the various forms of grant, loan and capacity building support we offer to help you retrofit existing units or build new ones.
Tool
Municipal and community buildings
Energy
Municipal and community buildings
Energy
Factsheets: Municipal Energy Roadmap
These factsheets offer specific guidance around building-level solutions, community-level solutions, and long-term strategies to help you drill down and meet your objectives.
Webinar recording
Community efficiency financing
Energy
Community efficiency financing
Energy
Webinar recording: How to create an efficiency financing program for your community
An overview of the funding options, eligibility and application details of GMF’s Community Efficiency Financing program.
Tool
Community efficiency financing
Energy
Community efficiency financing
Energy
Factsheets: Community Efficiency Financing
Learn how to design, deliver and market a home upgrade financing program for your community.
Tool
Sustainable affordable housing
Energy | Housing
Sustainable affordable housing
Energy | Housing
Factsheets: Sustainable Affordable Housing
Learn how to retrofit existing housing for energy-efficiency and plan new builds for higher performance.
Webinar recording
Sustainable affordable housing
Energy | Housing
Sustainable affordable housing
Energy | Housing
Webinar recording: Apply for GMF’s Sustainable Affordable Housing funding
Watch this joint webinar hosted by the Canadian Housing and Renewal Association (CHRA to learn how to apply for FCM’s newest funding initiative – Sustainable Affordable Housing.
Webinar recording
Energy | Housing
Energy | Housing
Webinar recordings: Best practices in municipal sustainability
How are cities and communities of all sizes tackling their environmental challenges? Find out from our five-part webinar series on innovations and opportunities in municipal energy, waste, water, transportation and land use initiatives.
Tool
Energy
Energy
Tool for municipal clean energy program development: Use the Energy Poverty and Equity Explorer to reduce energy poverty and greenhouse gases
The Energy Poverty and Equity Explorer tool, developed by Canadian Urban Sustainability Practitioners (CUSP), offers municipalities access to relevant data so they can better understand energy poverty, and other equity and affordability challenges in their communities.
Webinar recording
Energy | Housing
Energy | Housing
Webinar recording: How to prepare a GMF capital project application
Need advice for preparing your GMF capital project funding application? Watch our webinar recording to hear tips from our staff and find out what reviewers are looking for.
Related Projects
See All
Local energy generation
Energy
Waterloo Region uses 100% of biogas to fuel heat/electricity in wastewater facilities
Municipal and community buildings
Energy | Housing