The Toronto Community Housing Corporation (TCHC) is Canada’s largest social housing provider, serving thousands of residents with diverse backgrounds and needs. Ecosystem partnered with TCHC and The Atmospheric Fund (TAF) to deliver an ambitious energy retrofit project for seven multi-residential unit buildings. Goals were to renew critically-failing assets, reduce the carbon footprint and improve indoor environmental conditions.
Using an integrated design and construction approach, Ecosystem used structured design charrettes to elicit ideas from stakeholders and align their interests to address multiple outcomes. The installation of in-suite controls across all sites enhanced tenant comfort, improving the quality of the home environment. Redesign and replacement of lighting solutions in unguarded spaces such as parking garages also improved tenant safety. Operating costs were reduced by improving energy intensity, system efficiency and maintenance costs. Finally, TAF’s GHG emission-reducing concepts were tested and implemented, reducing emissions and electricity use.
Ecosystem’s seamless implementation of the project, which required the installation of multiple measures within 1,200 households, was both unobtrusive and educational to tenants. As a result, energy-reducing behaviors improved noticeably.
In-suite temperature control
Installation of high efficiency boilers
Low-flow toilets
Gas absorption heat pumps
Replacement of rooftop units and duct cleaning
Controls upgrades and optimization
LED lighting upgrades
