The Ontario Power Authority completed three housing initiatives in 2007 and is actively developing new initiatives for the housing sector to be launched in 2008.

2007 Housing Initiatives

Information on previous housing initiatives including:

• Affordable Housing Energy Efficiency Program;
• Energy Efficiency Assistance Program for Houses (pilot program); and 
• Social Housing (pilot program).

 
2008 Housing Initiatives

In 2008, the former OPA housing programs will be succeeded by new programs for low income Ontarians. One program will be targeting multi-family buildings designed to enhance the energy efficiency of buildings with six or more residential units. A second program will be created for low income homeowners and residents of single family houses.

Objectives of the Multi-Family Building Program:

• Reduce, by 2010, the multi-family building sector’s contribution to the electricity needs of the electricity system for summer peak demand by at least 100 MW and overall energy consumption by 385 GWh/yr; 
• Reduce the energy burden imposed notably on low income residents and their housing providers and/or building owners, managers, and operators; 
• Promote sustainable, comprehensive, ‘building as a system’ energy management initiatives in which buildings are regarded as an integrated whole with interatctions among energy efficient measures within a project that can affect the building’s overall energy efficiency performance; 
• Integrate multi-family building conservation projects with other OPA initiatives. For examples, OPA demand response, distributed generation, renewable energy; 
• Raise the level of energy awareness through education; and 
• Promote the culture of conservation within the multi-family sector.

Objectives of the Energy Efficiency Program for Houses (Single Family Homes): 

• Achieve energy consumption and demand savings in low-income single family homes to support the 100 MW Low Income and Social Housing Directive;
• Create awareness among low-income households and their support networks about the benefits of energy conservation; and 
• Establish effective channels for the delivery and implementation of Conservation Demand Management programs sensitive to the needs of the low-income community.