Authors: Jeff Blunt and Ed Szyptma, Enbridge Gas Energy Solutions Advisors
More time inside means indoor air quality and thermal comfort are top of mind for affordable housing residents and providers. Enbridge Gas Energy Solutions Advisors Jeff Blunt and Ed Szpytma explain why high-efficiency boiler and make-up air unit upgrades are more relevant now than ever, and how incentives can help your affordable housing clients make essential improvements even with tight budgets.
Start with the building’s biggest energy user
Space heating can account for up to two-thirds of energy use in affordable housing, making high-efficiency boiler upgrades an important priority for cutting costs, maximizing resident comfort and lowering carbon emissions. Enbridge Gas’ Jeff Blunt outlines the top four reasons to help your affordable housing clients make boiler upgrades in 2021.
1. Incentives pay up to 50 percent*
Whether the existing boiler is nearing the end of its expected lifespan or frequent repairs are adding up, incentives up to 50 percent are currently available to make capital upgrades easier. Incentives help offset upfront costs and speed up payback. For most affordable housing providers, tight budgets are the main obstacle to making improvements, and incentives can help projects move forward.
2. Enhance resident comfort with reliable temperatures
New boilers are designed to heat up quickly and can be adjusted to handle variable loads. If temperature swings are causing residents to complain, upgrading to a high-efficiency or condensing boiler can improve resident comfort and well-being while lowering monthly bills.
3. Planning ahead for peace of mind
Older boilers can be more vulnerable to breakdowns in extreme cold, exactly when a no-heat situation can quickly turn into a costly emergency repair, made more complicated by the weather. Proactively replacing boilers in the off-season avoids unexpected winter shutdowns.
4. Freeing up the budget for other investments
It’s common for providers to have older buildings with a backlog of repairs due to ageing assets. Lowering energy use with a high-efficiency boiler means lower operating costs, adding room in the budget to invest in other building improvements.
The new focus on ventilation
This year, with more time spent at home, housing providers are prioritizing ventilation upgrades to improve indoor air quality while using less energy. Enbridge Gas’ Ed Szpytma shares why condensing make-up air (MUA) units are a smart choice for high-efficiency ventilation.
How do they work?
Condensing MUA units are designed to bring in fresh, outdoor air by replenishing the air pushed out through exhaust systems.
How energy-intensive are MUA units?
Due to the large volume of air that often needs to be replenished and the temperature difference between indoor and outdoor air, MUA units can account for a significant portion of an HVAC system’s overall energy use.
What are the benefits of upgrading?
Because they offer added insulation and condensing technology with multiple heat exchangers, condensing MUA units offer a more energy-efficient alternative to standard MUA units. As a result of advanced efficiencies, condensing MUA units use less natural gas to operate, which helps affordable housing providers improve comfort, save on ongoing energy costs and lower carbon emissions. Highly efficient MUA units can also help prevent drafts, dust and dirt from entering a building and help reduce odours.
Why upgrade now?
As these units are often located on the roof of a building, the ideal time for installing condensing MUA units is in the warmer months, before cold weather impacts the installation process.
What are the incentives?
Incentives up to $30,000* are available to help housing providers upgrade from constant-speed MUA units to energy-saving two-speed or variable frequency drive MUA units.
Apply for the Affordable Multi-Family Housing Program today.
Connect with an Advisor
1-866-844-9994
energyservices@enbridge.com
enbridgegas.com/affordable
*HST is not applicable and will not be added to incentive payments. Additional terms and conditions apply. Offer available to qualified participants only. Contact Enbridge Gas Inc. to confirm eligibility.
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