Deep energy retrofit pilot project wraps in North Vancouver

Key Takeaways:

• North Vancouver’s Manor House apartment building underwent a deep energy retrofit that is projected to cut overall energy use by 55%, natural gas consumption by 69% and greenhouse gas emissions by 68%.
• The work, led by FortisBC, the Pembina Institute and Metro Vancouver Housing, modernized insulation, windows, roofing, heating and ventilation systems while keeping rents stable and residents in place.
• Manor House is the first completed project under the Reframed Initiative and FortisBC’s deep retrofit pilot, which is testing whole-building efficiency upgrades in homes and commercial properties across B.C. to inform future rebate programs.

The Whole Story:

A 1970s-era apartment building in North Vancouver has undergone a major energy retrofit aimed at cutting natural gas use, slashing emissions and making homes more comfortable for residents.

FortisBC Energy Inc., the Pembina Institute, Metro Vancouver Housing and local officials marked the completion of the upgrades at Manor House, a 50-unit non-market rental complex, earlier this month.

The project, part of FortisBC’s deep energy retrofit pilot program, added triple-glazed windows, new insulation, an upgraded roof, gas heat pumps, in-suite heating and cooling systems, and heat recovery ventilation units. Control systems were also modernized.

Preliminary modelling estimates show the work will reduce the building’s overall energy use by 55%, cut natural gas consumption by 69% and lower greenhouse gas emissions by 68%.

“This project is a great example of how a high-performance gas retrofit can achieve gas and emissions savings on our path to support a lower carbon energy future,” said Joe Mazza, FortisBC’s vice-president of energy supply and resource development.

The Manor House overhaul was carried out under the Reframed Initiative, led by the Pembina Institute, which aims to transform how multi-unit residential buildings are retrofitted to boost efficiency, safety and climate resilience.

Bowinn Ma, B.C.’s Minister of Infrastructure and MLA for North Vancouver–Lonsdale, toured the building to see the upgrades firsthand.

Pembina Institute senior director Monica Curtis said deep retrofits are a “practical solution” to ensure homes are affordable to heat and cool while protecting residents during extreme weather.

Metro Vancouver Housing board chair Mike Hurley said the work extends the building’s lifespan by 50 years without displacing tenants or raising rents.

FortisBC is testing similar retrofits in four commercial buildings and 20 homes across the province, with the goal of refining future rebate and incentive programs.