Region of Peel Retrofitting Affordable Housing Units to Reduce its Carbon Footprint
Peel Housing Corporation (PHC), also known as Peel Living, was established in 1976 and operates as a not-for-profit housing provider with the sole shareholder of PHC being the Region of Peel. Peel Living provides safe, affordable housing options to low- and moderate-income earners in the Peel community. The Peel Living portfolio has 75 buildings throughout the region and includes high- and low-rise apartments and townhouses.
In 2019, Region of Peel Council declared a climate emergency and approved the implementation of the Climate Change Master Plan (CCMP). This kick-started a climate-focused movement at the Region and set the stage for a collective effort to see the Region and Peel Living significantly lower their carbon footprint.
As part of this climate journey, a multi-year community energy project in Peel Living is planned and will see a transformation of 10 buildings, with a total of 1300 units, that are home to a broad range of demographics, but mostly families and seniors. This exciting project will remove old fossil fuel (natural gas) heating systems in all 10 buildings and replace them with innovative heat pumps that are powered by Ontario's relatively clean electricity. The project is co-funded by a $12 million investment from the Canada Community-Building Fund and will reduce 1,300 tonnes of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions - equivalent to removing about 400 cars from the road – each year!
Not all the project buildings currently have air conditioning, and with summer temperatures becoming more intense, this is a health concern, especially for children and seniors. The heat pumps help address this health risk because they provide both heating and cooling. Once the project is fully implemented, all residents in these 10 buildings will have access to cooling when they need it most. This is a win for the planet and a win for the community.
The Region’s drive to reduce GHG emissions started slowly with small-scale projects in residential units, like swapping incandescent lightbulbs for energy-efficient LEDs. Leveraging and building on external funding support from important sources such as CCBF, The Region of Peel has been able to catalyze momentum for expanded and meaningful climate action - action that empowers some of Peel's most vulnerable citizens to be part of the solution, and to have greater confidence that governments are working together to ensure a cleaner and safer future for all.
