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Social housing in Dufferin to receive energy retrofits

May 5, 2016   ·   0 Comments

The Ontario government has announced plans to spend $71,820 on social housing retrofits in Dufferin County as part of its new climate change strategy.

Through its Green Investment Fund, the Province is investing $10 million to improve electoral efficiency in single-family homes which will reduce costs for low-income Ontarians and generate local jobs.

This program should improve electrical efficiency in about 950 of Ontario’s social housing single-family homes.

Retrofits will include installing energy-efficient heating systems, appliances, hot water tanks, lighting, windows and insulation. The retrofits will stimulate the regional economy, as local businesses will carry out the work.

The government said in a release that its $325-million Green Investment Fund is already strengthening the economy, creating good jobs and driving innovation while fighting climate change – “a strong signal of what Ontarians can expect from proceeds of the province’s cap and trade program.

“These investments will help secure a healthy, clean and prosperous low-carbon future and transform the way we live, move, work and adapt to our environment while ensuring strong, sustainable communities. Green Investment Fund projects include: more electric vehicle fast-charging stations; energy retrofits for single-family homes and affordable housing; support for Indigenous communities, industry and small and medium-sized businesses, and helping local organizations fight climate change.”

“This initiative brings needed upgrades to older, energy inefficient homes to reduce energy costs and better serve tenants, while helping Ontario meet the climate challenges of today and tomorrow,” said Ted McMeekin, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing.

“I am proud of our government’s commitment to modernize social housing and make it more energy efficient. This investment will help Dufferin County fight the impacts of climate change while boosting the economy, creating jobs and strengthening our community,” said Transportation Minister Steven Del Duca, Liberal MPP for Vaughan.

In May 2015, Ontario became the first province in Canada to set a mid-term greenhouse gas pollution reduction target of 37 per cent below the 1990 level by 2030.

Ontario is developing a cap and trade program to reduce greenhouse gas pollution that is causing climate change.

About 20 percent of Ontario’s tenants live in social housing.

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