Toolkit: Navigating energy-efficient affordable housing projects
A resource for housing providers to support energy-efficient affordable housing projects in Canada
SUSTAINABLE AFFORDABLE HOUSING
New construction of sustainable affordable housing
Retrofit of sustainable afforable housing
The Housing Providers’ Toolkit equips Canadian municipalities, not-for-profit organizations, and housing co-ops with the tools they need to navigate the opportunities for enhancing energy efficiency in affordable housing. This comprehensive resource explains the advantages of energy-efficient buildings and provides practical steps for implementation, funding, project management and more.
Each component below is designed to support both retrofits of existing units and new builds. Whether you're aiming to transform your current infrastructure or embark on innovative new projects, this toolkit ensures that you have what you need to make informed and impactful decisions.
Sustainable affordable housing funding roadmap
This resource outlines the process to assess your building’s energy efficiency needs and opportunities with GMF’S Sustainable Affordable Housing (SAH) initiative. Gain clarity on the various project stages, the associated timeline for completion and tools that simplify the approval process.
Project cash flow calculator and Energy benchmarking tool
These tools are designed to help housing providers understand how much energy their buildings use and assess and quantify the costs and potential savings associated with retrofits or new builds. It includes a set of parameters and performance metrics, including capital costs, savings, inflation rate, simple payback and net present value to determine the financial feasibility and the energy savings associated with a project. This tool will help housing providers make informed decisions, leveraging accurate data to assess the viability of a potential project.
Open the calculator and energy benchmarking tool.
Funders list for sustainable affordable housing
Energy-efficient affordable housing projects are expensive to undertake. We’ve compiled a list of potential funders from across the country to help you easily identify partners to support your project. Catering to both provincial and national levels, many of the organizations on this list support both retrofits and new builds.
Webinar recording: Transform your approach to energy efficiency
This webinar explores how the Housing Providers’ Toolkit can guide your approach to affordable housing projects. Whether you're considering a retrofit or planning a new build, this toolkit is designed to demystify the complexities of energy efficiency and make your projects more viable and impactful.
Case study: Pine Tree Park Estates offers a blueprint for sustainable affordable housing
New Dawn Enterprises transformed Pine Tree Park, previously a military radar base, into Cape Breton's first net-zero energy community. This ambitious project, which took place between 2018 and 2023, highlights the step-by-step process of converting a brownfield into a sustainable affordable housing model. With the support of diverse funding sources—including GMF’s SAH initiative—this project showcases a replicable blueprint for sustainable affordable housing.
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