Payments for gas, electricity and water can account for 40 per cent or more of a condo’s ongoing operating costs. That makes utility bills easily the largest controllable expense for a condo corporation — not to mention the perfect starting point for those looking to make their building more environmentally friendly.
If you live in a condo or sit on a condo board — or if you know someone who does — check out the just-released Green Condo Guide. It’s full of ideas on how to reduce utility costs and condo fees through energy efficiency, while greening your condo at the same time!
Condominiums present a unique challenge when it comes to becoming more energy efficient. The condo board needs to follow a certain set of rules to upgrade property in the building, such as centralized heating and cooling systems or elevators and lighting in common areas.
They also need to see it as a good use of condo resources.
That’s why the Green Condo Guide was developed. It lays out ways that condo boards or condo managers can make their building’s common areas more energy efficient and save residents money. It also includes case studies of condos that have done upgrades and saved substantially.
The guide was produced with support from the Toronto Atmospheric Fund and the Alberta Real Estate Foundation. It looks specifically at examples in an Alberta context, but many of the guide’s recommendations also apply outside the province. For condo-dwellers or managers looking to green their building, the TowerWise website is another great resource.
With attractive returns on investment and many different ways to finance energy efficiency upgrades, there really is no reason any condo building couldn’t become more energy efficient. Check out the guide and see how you could start maximizing your condo’s energy- and cost-saving potential.
Jesse Row was director of the Pembina Institute's energy efficiency program in Alberta, until 2015.
