For a Greener Planet

Date
7 March 2019

Is your co-op planning a small, sustainable project to save money and help the environment? The Co‑operative Housing Federation of Canada’s Greener Co-op Migrogrants program provides co-ops with grants of up to $4,000 for environmental projects. Simple changes can often have a great impact in helping us move towards a more sustainable lifestyle. In the long run, going green is good for your co‑op’s bottom line, as well as for the planet, but where do you start?

Your Building Condition Assessment (BCA) is a great source of ideas for sustainable improvements to common spaces. Bamburgh Circle Co-op’s BCA said the outdoor light fixtures in the parking and recreational areas were in poor condition and too expensive to repair. With the help of a microgrant, the co-op replaced the fixtures and bulbs with environmentally friendly lighting. The total cost of the project was $3,860.

Bowen Island Seniors Co-op took the same path by upgrading their driveway lighting from traditional tall fixtures to lower-level energy-efficient LED lights. The co-op is enjoying its new look and style, which has proven less visually intrusive and cheaper to operate.

When a co-op commits to energy-efficient upgrades, the savings can help pay for bigger projects.

When HW Flesher Co-op improved their parking-garage lighting, they saved 20,000 kWh a year. In dollars, those energy savings mean $2,000 per year in reduced energy costs, in addition to $1,000 in annual maintenance savings.

When Halston Hills Co-op had to replace its aging, inefficient, electric radiant-heating system, the board researched solutions before making a decision. A Greener Microgrant bought the co-op a heat pump that is about five times more efficient than baseboard heating. This one upgrade improved air quality, temperature consistency and the entire air-conditioning system. 

Turning to water conservation, one of the first solutions is to replace old-style 20-litre toilets with the latest low-flush model, which can use as little as six litres. Garden Village and Ramsay Heights Co‑ops both installed low-flush toilets in their units. Ramsay Heights started replacing toilets throughout the co‑op a few years ago and just needed a few extra dollars to complete the job. The members are pleased with the result and look forward to savings on water costs for years to come.

Feel inspired? Got a sustainability project on the go? Let us know what you’re up to! You can connect with us through LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter. Stay tuned for our next article that highlights co-ops that are living sustainably.

Click here to apply for CHF’s Greener Microgrant. The deadline is March 29, 2019.

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