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A ‘triple-bottom-line benefit’ for Toronto affordable housing

Published: February 10, 2022

10-year partnership between Enbridge Gas, Toronto Community Housing Corporation has created both energy savings and emissions reductions

The Toronto Community Housing Corporation is the largest social housing provider in Canada, and the second largest in North America.

Enbridge Gas is North America’s largest natural gas utility by volume, and third largest by customer count.

Together, the two organizations are making big strides toward a net-zero future.

Today, local and provincial government officials gathered virtually with representatives of Enbridge Gas and TCHC to mark their successful 10-year partnership. Over the past decade, the two organizations have worked together to achieve impressive energy savings and emissions reductions across TCHC’s portfolio.

“As a member of the board of Toronto Community Housing, my colleagues and I recognize and value partnerships that help to renew our communities, and this collaboration between Toronto Community Housing and Enbridge helps to renew the buildings our residents call home, reduce our environmental impacts and reduce costs,” says Ana Bailao, the city of Toronto’s Deputy Mayor and the chair of the city’s planning and housing committee.

In 2020-21 alone, Enbridge Gas energy conservation programs helped TCHC save more than $400,000 and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by more than 2,550 metric tonnes, roughly equivalent to taking about 550 cars off the road for one year.

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With support from Enbridge Gas, TCHC leveraged more than $1 million in financial incentives in 2020-21, applying them to 26 projects that will help the housing provider lower its energy use, avoiding approximately $7.8 million in added costs over the lifespan of the equipment upgrades, as well as reducing GHG emissions.

“Innovative partnerships such as this one demonstrate that it is possible to make strides towards our climate targets and create a greener future for all Ontarians,” says Todd Smith, Ontario’s Minister of Energy.

Equipment upgrades made through Enbridge Gas’s Affordable Housing Multi-Residential Program included more modern energy-efficient boilers, heating and cooling systems, ventilation upgrades and building controls.

The net benefits are not just environmental and financial—comfort, safety and accessibility for thousands of TCHC tenants have also improved.

“As a leader in energy transition, Enbridge Gas is pleased to offer TCHC, as well as many other commercial customers, these incentives to increase energy efficiency and lower GHG emissions,” says Malini Giridhar, Enbridge Gas’s Vice President of Business Development. “Through this collaboration with Enbridge Gas, TCHC has reduced its carbon footprint, improved comfort for its tenants, and redirected its utility bill reduction to other important housing initiatives, such as safety and accessibility.

“This is a triple-bottom-line benefit from energy management.”

(TOP PHOTO: One of the Toronto Community Housing Corporation's revitalized communities in the Regent Park neighborhood.)

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