The federal government has invested nearly $4.8 million in a pair of Victoria housing projects to bring down energy bills and reduce greenhouse-gas emissions.
Ottawa has pledged $4.6 million for energy-efficiency upgrades at the Twin Oaks Housing Co-op in Saanich and $140,000 at Sitkum Terrace in Vic West.
Jonathan Wilkinson, the federal Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, said the investment will help address housing, affordability and climate challenges at the same time.
Ottawa also provided $750,000 to the University of Victoria to develop and test an online platform to optimize design solutions for net-zero-energy-ready and high-performance buildings.
The large investment at the 32-unit Twin Oaks affordable-housing facility includes replacing windows and doors and installing air-to-water heat pumps and heat-recovery ventilators.
The $140,000 for the Greater Victoria Housing Society will be applied to energy-efficiency renovations for the 75-unit Sitkum Terrace, which provides affordable seniors housing.
“This investment supports the Greater Victoria Housing Society’s commitment to sustainability, climate resilience and responsible capital planning,” said Virginia Holden, executive director of the Greater Victoria Housing Society. “These improvements will not only improve the energy efficiency and quality of life for residents in this building but also ensure that we retain this affordable housing in the community for decades to come.”
Jennie Bartosik, president of the Twin Oaks Housing Co-op, said the funding will go a long way to improving energy efficiency.
“Housing co-operatives are a unique model of housing. They are diverse, self-governed communities. Co-op members work together to manage and maintain affordable homes for current and future members,” she said.
