METRO Vancouver, through Metro Vancouver Housing, is delivering an extensive, long-term program to rejuvenate hundreds of its rental units so they can provide safe and comfortable living for tenants for years to come, while reducing emissions and conserving energy.

“Building new affordable rental housing is a top priority for Metro Vancouver, and we’re also looking for ways to renew our existing buildings,” said Mike Hurley, Chair of Metro Vancouver’s Board of Directors. “We are a leader in affordable housing renewal, and I’m pleased to see so many projects in the construction and design phase.”

Metro Vancouver Housing is one of the largest non-profit housing providers in the region, with over 3,400 affordable rental homes on 49 sites, serving close to 10,000 people. The organization provides affordable rental homes primarily for families, seniors, and people with disabilities with low to moderate incomes. Metro Vancouver Housing is part of Metro Vancouver, and is one of the core services delivered by Metro Vancouver.

Metro Vancouver says it’s critical to maintain existing housing stock. Building renewal, also called a deep retrofit, is more than simple renovation. It involves repairing or replacing exterior components and/or equipment to increase energy efficiency and water tightness, reduce emissions, and can extend a building’s life by 30 to 50 years. These projects also involve improvements to a building’s appearance and amenities, and the work can generally be done without tenants having to move. Renewal projects also do not affect rents.

“We want our tenants to love where they live, and these types of projects demonstrate our commitment to making our sites beautiful, functional, and comfortable,” said Dan Ruimy, Chair of Metro Vancouver’s Housing Committee.

​Two recently finished projects, Evergreen Downs in Delta and Kelly Court in Vancouver, saw the buildings’ envelopes upgraded with new cladding, windows, exterior doors, roof membranes, and balconies. Evergreen Downs also received extra insulation and an electric heat pump for heating and cooling in the hallways.

Similar renewal projects are underway or coming soon at five other Metro Vancouver Housing properties: Strathearn Court in Vancouver, Minato West in Richmond, Manor House in North Vancouver, Le Chateau Place in Coquitlam, and Crown Manor in New Westminster.

“Repair and revitalization work is important for energy efficiency, climate action, and longevity, and we can’t do it alone,” said Ruimy. “We are grateful for the support we have received from our funding partners and we look forward to continuing this important work together.”

These projects were made possible with funding from other agencies, including the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) and FortisBC. CMHC announced that it contributed $5.6 million in funding from its Affordable Housing Fund toward the repair of a minimum of 560 units from Metro Vancouver Housing’s portfolio over three years. FortisBC made a significant contribution to a deep energy retrofit project that is underway at Manor House, with the goal of greatly reducing energy use.

“Everyone deserves a place to call their own and the Affordable Housing Fund is one way we’re helping make that a reality for Canadians,” said Sean Fraser, federal Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities. “We will keep investing in affordable housing projects like the ones announced today, and working with partners across the country, to end the housing crisis once and for all.”

“We applaud Metro Vancouver for their work in addressing energy use in local older buildings and appreciate their partnership in our deep energy retrofit pilot program,” said Joe Mazza, vice president, energy supply and resource development at FortisBC. “We believe that many of today’s existing buildings will need to undergo a similar deep energy retrofit to help advance climate action goals. Metro Vancouver’s participation in our pilot program is helping to uncover the most effective strategies and will inform future programs so these strategies can be more easily replicated in these other buildings.”

Metro Vancouver Housing has a planned investment of $65M in the next five years for building renewal and has earmarked another 14 sites for future renewal projects.

Reducing emissions from buildings — which account for one-quarter of the region’s greenhouse gas emissions — is one of the main ways Metro Vancouver can reach its climate targets and mitigate the effects of climate change.

Metro Vancouver’s Clean Air Plan calls for all existing buildings in the region to reduce emissions to 35 per cent below 2010 levels by 2030, and to be emissions free by 2050.

The Metro Vancouver Housing 10-Year Plan also includes targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the organization’s housing portfolio to 45 per cent and reduce energy consumption by 25 per cent for major rehabilitations and new construction. Metro Vancouver Housing is on track to meet those targets, in large part because of building renewals.