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Home energy consumption has been part of the collective consciousness for decades, initially growing from concerns over rising energy costs into a full-fledged green movement now being reflected in legislation being passed at all levels of government. The launch of the ENERGY STAR® program in the early 1990s and the rollout of the familiar blue badges seen on home appliances around the world have given consumers confidence that their appliances meet efficiency standards… but what about homes themselves? This question was addressed by EnerQuality—certifier of energy efficient housing and market leader in residential green building programs—who joined forces with Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) a few years back to develop a similar program to certify new homes for energy efficiency.
The 2005-launched ENERGY STAR for New Homes was the first step in this collaboration, and was followed in late 2018 when EnerQuality and NRCan joined forces again to create the ENERGY STAR Multifamily High-Rise program, working with the Government of Canada and the home building industry to change how mid- and high-rise housing developments are built and lived in, from the pre-design phase all the way to occupancy. The new certification program in Ontario requires that a building… exceed energy efficiency targets by 15% over what is required by the Ontario Building Code, conduct air tightness testing and mechanical commissioning, install ENERGY STAR appliances, and adhere to other strict elements that factor into the goal of reduced energy consumption.
Certification is a carefully thought out process that begins early on in a project's planning stages. First, a developer enrols their project in the program and submits a design. Once enrolled, builders and developers hire from ENERGY STAR's list of licensed professionals—a registered architect or professional engineer trained in the ENERGY STAR program—who apply energy modelling to the design, conduct on-site testing, and provide final submissions to EnerQuality. Following approval and construction, EnerQuality not only certifies ENERGY STAR Multifamily-qualifying buildings, but also offers continuing education to ensure the future efficiency of a project.
Some of the typical features of an ENERGY STAR certified building include high performing windows and better insulation than industry standards, improved "air tightness" that minimizes drafts and exterior noise, high-efficiency HVAC systems capable of cutting down indoor air pollutants and providing humidity control, and ENERGY STAR certified lighting and appliances that use less energy. These building features not only attract green-minded buyers to multi-family developments, but also save building owners on long-term operating costs associated with inefficient design. NRCan's page for the program states that ENERGY STAR Certification may also result in increased building value, netting higher rental prices, and lower occupancy rates than non-certified buildings. The same benefits apply to unit owners looking to maximize return on investment from their condominium purchase.
An NRCan-produced video illustrates the savings the program offers to homebuilders and owners, along with some of the many environmental benefits of building greener multi-family projects in a region with exploding population densities.
Though no buildings have yet to be completed under the program since its launch just a year and a half ago, several projects across the Greater Toronto Area are already being planned and built under the ENERGY STAR Multifamily High-Rise program. The first developer to sign up was Molinaro Group with their Illumina Condos project in Burlington. Having been the first project to also begin construction—now in full swing at Brock Avenue and Ontario Street—it is expected to be the first certified under the program upon its expected closing in December, 2021.
Other projects by an array of developers are moving forward under the ENERGY STAR Multifamily program in Toronto, Burlington, Mississauga, Barrie, Guelph, Kitchener, St. Thomas and Whitby. One notable local project enrolled in the program is QuadReal Property Group's Rosehill Tower near Yonge and St. Clair.
ENERGY STAR for New Homes is the most successful green building program in the country with over 98,000 homes certified and labelled to date and growing rapidly every year. We are now expecting as the market shifts from low-rise to mid/high-rise developments to only see the label only increase in numbers. Currently, there are over 2000 new units in the process of being constructed in the ENERGY STAR Multifamily program, a number which is only expected to skyrocket as more enrolments are confirmed.
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