Capital Upgrades & Retrofits

density

Building better density key to future development

Dev Mehta, Senior Associate at Quadrangle, explains how building better density leads to healthier, happier occupants.
converting hotel

Converting hotels into multifamily apartments

Given the uncertainty of the travel and tourism sector, could converting hotels into affordable apartments serve as an effective solution to the housing crisis?
accessibility momentum

Accessibility tracks sustainability trajectory

Market pressure and industry competitiveness could propel accessible commercial real estate in the coming decade, much the way those complementary forces have already bolstered energy efficiency and low-carbon footprints.
toilet leaks

Don’t flush money down the toilet

It is estimated that 20 to 25 per cent of all toilets in North America are experiencing leaks at any given time, making toilet leaks the number one cause of water loss in multi-unit residential buildings.
Alberta energy efficiency programs

Alberta energy efficiency programs in question

Ontario draws on the legacy of more than a dozen years of programming, while Energy Efficiency Alberta has had little time to capture public or capital planners' attention.
Toronto community housing

A new dawn for Toronto Community Housing

Toronto’s crumbling community housing stock is receiving some much-needed financial support to the tune of 1.3 billion, making it the largest federal housing investment in the city's history.

Plugging in to the benefits of energy storage

A sharp rise in energy costs and strict sustainability mandates have been spurring business owners to explore alternative solutions for decades. Could on-site energy storage be the next green ticket?

Moving toward a zero carbon economy

In a changing world where “zero carbon” is the ultimate goal in building design, can retrofits alone make Canada’s aging apartment stock sustainable?

Lighting the way to happier tenants

Good exterior lighting will beautify a property while also enhancing security. Here are some low-cost tips from rental property managers looking to 'light the way' to happier tenants:

Accessibility certification fills industry void

Much of the existing building stock falls short of the universal design ideal, but RHFAC can help owners/managers identify impediments to access and set priorities to address them.

Lighting design that illuminates condo security

Lighting design can make a big difference in the safety and security of a condominium.

Stricter rules ahead for GTA apartment owners

Toronto city council has approved a plan for a new apartment licensing program that will impose stricter rules for building owners, but could inadvertently lead to higher rents for tenants.

Ontario readying CDM incentives for portfolios

Ontario's Independent Electricity System Operator was instructed to consult with local distribution companies to develop a pay-for-performance program that could be ready for launch in the fall of 2016.

Keeping up with residential tenancy laws

As the rental industry grows and changes, so do residential tenancy laws. Joe Hoffer, Partner Cohen Highley LLP, highlights three specific areas of concern.

Cogeneration sparks apartment sector interest

Cogeneration in Canada is no longer just for hospitals and industrial facilities—multi-residential property owners are beginning to take note of this energy savings technology, too.

Reinvesting in Toronto’s aging rental towers

The Tower Renewal Project is a program to drive broad environmental, social, economic, and cultural change by improving Toronto's concrete apartment towers and the neighbourhoods that surround them. Home to a million people across the GTA, now is the time to reinvest in these vertical communities that have huge potential.

Five ways to curb utility costs in condominiums

Coming changes in Ontario are cause for condo corporations to curb their utility costs. An expert shares how, pointing to five energy efficiency retrofits.