Affordable rental housing across the Kootenays will benefit from more than $5.8 million in clean energy upgrades to 69 buildings comprising of 1,097 units, thanks to the Columbia Basin Trust (CBT) and other additional funding sources.
The initiative will help non-profit housing providers access energy assessments, plan capital upgrades, navigate rebate programs, and complete retrofits or install solar panels.
“Non-profit housing providers across the Basin are doing vital work to keep homes affordable and sustainable for residents,” said Ulli Mueller, Senior Manager, Delivery of Benefits, Columbia Basin Trust.
“We’re thrilled to support their efforts by helping them access upgrades and clean energy solutions that improve resident comfort, reduce operating costs, and increase climate resilience.”
Improvements such as heat pumps, insulation, lighting and air sealing enhance energy efficiency, will lower emissions and improve overall comfort for residents.
Operated by the Arrowtarian Senior Citizens Society, the Rotary Villa Complex includes five phases of housing, with 52 affordable units for seniors. All units are undergoing energy retrofits, including the installation of heat pumps and upgraded domestic hot water systems.
“Our partnership with Columbia Basin Trust has enabled us to install or upgrade heat pumps, hot water tanks, HVAC systems, LED lighting and solar panels across all five phases over the past three years,” said Kees van der Pol, President of the Arrowtarian Senior Citizens Society.
“These upgrades provide financial benefits and support environmental sustainability.”
Funding projects in the West Kootenay, totalling over $2.7 million, include:
- Castlegar Villa Society: $184,030 for heating and cooling upgrades
- Beaver Valley Manor Society: $9,600 for common area heat pump
- Arrowtarian Senior Citizen Society: $331,670 for solar, heating and cooling upgrades and hot water tank
- Halcyon Assisted Living Society: $268,565 for ventilation and hot water tank upgrades
- Nelson CARES Society: $236,905 for Solar, LED lighting and hot water tank upgrades
- Nelson Kootenay Seniors Projects Society: $12,035 for solar
- The Links Housing Cooperative: $292,925 for door and window replacement
- Canadian Mental Health Association- Kootenays (Nelson): $65,090 for LED lighting and hot water tank upgrades
- Halcyon Assisted Living Society: $129,680 for LED lighting, ventilation, insulation and heat pumps
- Bluebell Manor Society: $67,810 for solar, heat pump and LED lighting
- Golden City Manor: $79,570 for a heat pump
- Lower Columbia Affordable Housing Society- Rossland: $35,930 for LED lighting and heat pump
- Salmo and Area Supporting Housing Society: $185,700 for solar and heating system upgrades
- Salmo Seniors Villa Society: $179,200 for LED lighting, window and door replacement
- Trail elderly Citizen Housing Society: $275,055 for solar, heat pump and ventilation
- Generation to Generation Society: $38,710 for LED lighting, insulation and heating valves
- Lower Columbia Affordable Housing Society- Trail: $33,710 for heating and cooling upgrades, LED lighting and heat pumps and window replacement
- Canadian Mental Health Association- Kootenays (Trail): $179,270 for heating and cooling upgrades
- Trail & District Senior Citizens’ Villa Society: $12,075 for window weatherstripping
- Slocan Valley Seniors Housing Society: $108,020 for solar, ventilation, heating, insulation and a mini heat pump
You can find more information here.
