EQuilibrium Communities Initiative - Jamie Shipley

A collaborative initiative between Natural Resources Canada’s CanmetENERGY

and Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation

EQuilibriumTM Communities Initiative

Jamie Shipley

CMHC - Research



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Goals of the Initiative

Fund and support developers to

improve performance in designing

and developing sustainable

communities

Demonstrate how the

neighbourhood scale offers

unique opportunities for

integration across systems

Measure, showcase and share

what works Credit: Canada Lands Company



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Scope of the Initiative

Joint initiative until 2012 —

Canada Mortgage and Housing

Corporation / Natural Resources

Canada CanmetENERGY

$4.2 million for technical

activities and showcasing

the performance of selected

neighbourhood development

projects across Canada

Credit: Canadian Pacific Railway



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NRCan’s CanmetENERGY

works with communities

to reduce their energy

consumption by understanding

the synergies between

building design, urban form,

transportation and land

use, and assisting with the

development of integrated

community energy system

concepts.

Improved environmental

performance of residential, mixed

use neighbourhoods

Integration of housing and

community infrastructure such as

energy, transportation, water and

waste water, natural environment

Built examples, technical analysis

and supporting information that

are of use to developers and

municipalities

Natural Resources Canada(NRCan)

Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC)

Research Objectives



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Resources

Approximately $550,000 per project

Activities that improve environmental

performance through research and

design modifications

Monitoring, commissioning

and showcasing of performance



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Selection Process

Issued public Request for Submissions

Received 44 submissions

Projects selected by external evaluation

committee — experts in the six themes



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Integration Across Six Themes

1. Energy — an energy-efficient

community that balances energy

supply and use to minimize

greenhouse gas emissions

2. Land Use and Housing — a compact

community with a balanced mix of

activities, housing choices, and

commercial, institutional, recreational

and industrial land uses



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Integration Across Six Themes (cont.)

3. Transportation — a community

that reduces fossil-fuel use from

personal vehicle travel and provides

opportunities for energy-efficient and

healthy alternatives

4. Water, Waste Water and Storm

Water — a community that minimizes

the use and disposal of water and

negative impacts on watersheds



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Integration Across Six Themes (cont.)

5. Natural Environment — a community

that protects and enhances/restores

the natural environment

6. Financial Viability — a marketable

community that through its design,

operation, integration and financing is

economically viable over the long term



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begun planning/

design process

focus on improving

performance through

analysis, design

modifications

recently completed,

or under construction

focus on showcasing,

measuring and

monitoring

IMPROVEMENTSHOWCASE

Project Types

or



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To date, four projects have been announced:

Station Pointe, Edmonton

Ampersand, Ottawa

Regent Park Revitalization, Toronto

Ty-Histanis, near Tofino



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Developer: The Communitas Group Ltd.

Image courtesy of

Hartwig Architects Inc.



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Description:

redevelopment in Fort Road

community — renewal project on

former industrial lands northeast

of downtown

over 1,400 m2 commercial/retail,

daycare, community facilities

220 affordable and market homes:

townhomes, mid/high-rise apartments

project is in planning phase


Image courtesy of Hartwig Architects Inc.



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Proposed features:

within walking distance of a LRT

station/bus terminal

75% reduction in building

energy use

treat 100% of wastewater on site

for re-use in toilets and irrigation

100% stormwater diverted

“Winter City” design concepts


Image courtesy of Hartwig Architects Inc.



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Ampersand, Ottawa

Developer: Minto Group Inc.



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Description:

in Ottawa’s planned South

Nepean Town Centre

over 1,000 homes (stacked

townhouses to mid-rise

apartments)

over 25,000 m2 of

commercial/retail space,

civic uses, public open space

project is in planning phase

Ampersand, Ottawa



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walking distance of

existing shopping and

bus rapid transit station

Proposed research:

district energy system,

with renewables, biomass

permeable pavements, green roofs

rainwater recovery, greywater

re-use, e.g. for irrigation

Ampersand, Ottawa



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Proposed research (cont.):

High degree of pedestrian

connectivity

high-quality public parks:

community and home scale

food-growing, 30% tree canopy

green financing options (e.g.

green loans for energy-

efficiency improvements)

Ampersand, Ottawa



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$550,000 total funding from CMHC and NRCan

Activities include:

analysis for renewable energy; green financing;

stormwater run-off and water use reduction; and

sustainable landscape practices

consultation/alignment with the community and

approval authorities

showcasing of performance

Ampersand, Ottawa



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Developer: Toronto Community Housing (TCH)

Image courtesy of Toronto Community Housing



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Description:

ongoing redevelopment of

a social housing community

in east downtown

funding is for phase 1: about 1/3

of new housing units are occupied

670 market condos, 360 affordable rentals,

from townhouses to high-rise apartments

2 daycares, over 2,500 m2 retail/commercial,

including bank and large grocery store


Image courtesy of Toronto Community Housing



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Features:

energy use targeted to be 40-50%

lower than building to MNECB

community energy system, energy-

efficient building envelopes

green roofs, porous pavers

low-flow fixtures, water-efficient

landscape design

monitoring water and energy use:

education for residents




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Features (cont.):

exceptional access to public transit, jobs,

civic amenities and daily destinations —

all within walking distance

green roofs, public open space

connected to pedestrian network

35% rental, all lower than area

average or rent-geared-to-income,

homeownership program




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$550,000 total funding from CMHC and NRCan

Activities include:

analysis for expansion and upgrade of the

community energy system

water monitoring

showcasing performance



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Developer: Tla-o-qui-aht First Nations (TFN)

Image courtesy of David Nairne & Associates Ltd.



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Description:

new community: 84 hectares

of land transferred from Pacific

Rim National Park Reserve

171 single-detached units, 32 units

of duplexes, 12-unit elders’ complex

project in planning phase: road

network/site servicing under

construction, design of

buildings/systems





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Proposed features

50% reduction in GHGs: building envelope, efficient

heating, electrical and mechanical systems

DES: renewable energy

sources, ground source

heat pumps

over 40% undisturbed

natural habitat: bogs for

natural water retention





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Visit ecoACTION.gc.ca for updates

Or send inquiries to …

E-mail your contact information to

[email protected]

To Stay Informed:



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Thank You!

Jamie Shipley

CMHC - Research

Education

EQuilibrium Communities Initiative - Jamie Shipley