TORONTO — The Atmospheric Fund (TAF) has unveiled plans for the next phase of its TowerWise retrofit program for multi-residential buildings.
“Earlier TowerWise demonstration buildings showed that 20 to 30 per cent energy savings are achievable and profitable through targeted upgrades. We now aim for a minimum of 40 per cent energy and emission savings through deep energy retrofits,” TAF CEO Julia Langer said in a statement.
The TowerWise goal is in line with Toronto’s TransformTO climate plan, which calls for existing buildings to achieve an average of 40 per cent energy performance improvement by 2050.
The next phase of TowerWise is a $9 million project including capital costs. The program received funding from Natural Resources Canada ($487,700), the Independent Electricity System Operator ($500,000) and matching funding from TAF.
According to the release, it will include four demonstration sites with different building types, demographics and ownership structures in Toronto and Hamilton, representing the broader multi-residential sector — including low-income housing. Additional sites will be added as more funding becomes available.
The planned energy efficiency retrofits include equipment replacements (boilers, HVAC systems), improved insulation and innovative technologies such as heat pumps that utilize outside air or the ground to help cool or heat buildings. The project will incorporate rigorous verification of building performance, using a combination of real-time energy monitoring and the Government of Canada’s EnerGuide energy performance labelling program, adds the release.
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