Savings stack up in revamp of aging rental apartments
Realizing that about 80% of apartments in British Columbia were built more than 35 years ago, when energy efficiency standards were lower, FortisBC set out to implement simple upgrades that are paying off in a big way.
The utility recently announced that its Rental Apartment Program, begun in 2015, has provided upgrades to more than 800 buildings, which represents more than 30,000 units—saving an estimated $2 million in utility costs in the process.
“The program has been very successful in achieving savings in a market that’s been traditionally hard to reach but provides such important housing in the communities we serve,” Jermin Hsieh, commercial program manager, FortisBC conservation & energy management team, told American Gas.
The program installs energy-efficient taps, faucets and showerheads directly into suites and common areas on behalf of owners at no cost. It also offers financial support to upgrade building equipment, such as replacing aging boiler systems with high-efficiency equivalents to meet space heating and hot water needs.
“The basic upgrades alone reduce domestic hot water energy use by an average of about 12% per year,” Hsieh said. “A typical building, where a water-efficient showerhead and faucet aerators are installed in each unit, along with replacing its central noncondensing space heating boiler with a new condensing boiler, could expect to save up to 27% of its natural gas usage.”
The program has also lowered carbon emissions by almost 15,000 tons, which is equivalent to natural gas use in just over 3,200 single-family homes, according to the utility.
Building owners appreciate the support to make significant upgrades, and tenants tell the utility they feel good about positively impacting the environment by conserving water and energy, Hsieh said.
Developing partnerships with the rental apartment building sector and municipal outreach have been key in driving participation in the program, he said. Field staff also must make efforts to positively educate renters on the benefits of the installation. “On the surface, this may look straightforward to replace showerheads and faucet aerators. In reality, the field work requires personnel with outstanding social skills to navigate around challenging situations,” he said.
Overall, Hsieh said, the program is playing an important role in helping FortisBC reach its goal of lowering emissions from its customers by 30% by 2030.