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Tower Renewal –Not yet passive but actively pursuing improvement

Eleanor McAteerNovember 29, 2012

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Toronto Towers

• over 1,000 concrete slab, multi-residential apartment buildings

•Built between 1950’s and 1980’s

•8 stories or more

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A program to drive broad environmental, social, economic, and cultural change by improving Toronto’s concrete apartment towers and the

neighbourhoods that surround them.

And in so doing, secure a resilient source of housing.

Tower Renewal

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Temperature 1971-2000 2050

# days > 30 C 15 40

# days > 35 C 0.5 4

New ClimateExample:

Should buildings not be upgraded to have better performance for occupant comfort, the building may become stigmatized as ‘unliveable’ making it functionally obsolete before it is physically obsolete

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27 climatic design values included in the National Building Code are relevant to the design and performance of a building

Case Study – Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment

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We must consider the Buildings and People

Community Impact

“2006, nearly 40% of all the families in high-rise buildings in the City of Toronto were poor”

http://www.unitedwaytoronto.com/whatWeDo/reports/verticalPovertyReport.php

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Tower Renewal Guidelines

A “how to” guide for owners, managers, engineers and architects.

http://www.daniels.utoronto.ca/trg

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Huge Opportunities

Image: Boldstar Infrared Services Inc.

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Physical Improvements

Figure A.17. Cutaway rendering of the completed EIFS wall overcladding and window replacement.

http://www.daniels.utoronto.ca/trg Ted Kesik

•In-suite Measures

•Mechanical Systems

•Building Surfaces

•Energy Generation

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Case Study - Green Phoenix

greenphoenix.ca

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Tenant Engagement

Teamwork saves energy, funds bike club and helps neighbours get to know one another

The positive outcomes are in contrast to the assumptions that conservation was of minimal interest to residents in a place where many have low incomes, and with utility costs included in the rent, they'd see no direct payback. Brahms Energy Saving Team

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Tower Renewal STEP Program

Five step process, intended to incrementally build capacity

Foundation Stage

Step One: Learning and Planning

Step Two: Action

Step Three: Maximizing Outcomes

Step Four: Leadership

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STEP Assessment

• Checklist to determine current state

• Compare to other apartment buildings

• Directs improvement plans, monitors and recognizes actions

• All apartment buildings can participate

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Economic Impact

Undertaking Tower Renewal Retrofit throughout Toronto is projected to create:

• 10,000+ person years of employment

• $Billion+ in net wages paid locallyhttp://www.toronto.ca/city_manager/pdf/tr_jobs.pdf

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Implementation Outcomes

• Comprehensive projects drive green industry growth and create substantial number of jobs

• Improvements create better living conditions

• Better environmental performance reduces GHG emissions

• Resilience to climate impacts, providing more secure provision of rental housing stock

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2009700,000+ Tonnes CO2

2020+230,000 Tonnes CO2

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Eleanor McAteer, Project Director for Tower Renewal, emcatee@toronto.ca

toronto.ca/tower_renewal

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