THUNDER BAY - A greener future for affordable housing complexes in Thunder Bay is now a reality.
On Tuesday, Union Gas presented a $566,250 cheque to The District of Thunder Bay Social Services Administration Board for the installation of natural gas equipment at social housing facilities throughout the district.
The upgrades are expected to reduce operating costs by almost $1.8 million over the lifetime of the equipment.
The DSSAB and Union Gas launched the partnership program in 2015 in an effort to provide energy efficient products to older residential buildings.
The two organizations held a news conference to officially announce the agreement in front of Andras Court -- an affordable housing complex which was completed in 1978.
The South Cumberland Street complex is one of the 15 local buildings owned and operated by DSSAB, in which Union Gas is providing upgrades.
“Obviously the systems are now very inefficient,” said Bill Bradica, DSSAB's chief administrative officer. “We’re now replacing those systems with much more efficient, modern technology that will save significant amounts of energy.”
The upgrades include the installation of high-efficiency boilers and water heaters, which will continue to be installed until 2020.
According to Bradica, in the buildings where tenants are required to pay for their utilities, they will see a decrease in cost. In cases where utilities are provided, tenants can expect to see improvements elsewhere.
“The money saved will now be available to do capital works,” Bradica said. “Things like playgrounds, flooring upgrades, and so on.”
Although the agreement sounds “counterintuitive,” for Union Gas, district manager Nick Klip says the agreement is good for the company.
“It creates a bias for natural gas. We are a part of the solution.”
The agreement is one of the many energy-efficient incentive programs that Union Gas is embarking on, in an effort to provide environmentally-friendly housing.
“With all these initiatives that are taking place, people are reducing the amount of natural gas they take in by a substantial amount.”
