Hydro Ottawa and Ottawa Community Housing partner to reduce carbon emissions and empower residents (CNW Group/Hydro Ottawa Holding Inc.)
Hydro Ottawa and Ottawa Community Housing have announced the expansion of an existing partnership meant to reduce carbon emissions in OCH communities through energy-saving projects.
In a news release, Hydro Ottawa said the partnership will lead to lower overhead costs for OCH. This in turn will allow the OCH to preserve affordability and provide more environmentally-friendly housing options for low-income residents — including electric vehicle charging infrastructure to promote EV car-sharing.
“This partnership between Hydro Ottawa and Ottawa Community Housing is about more than just energy efficiency — it’s about creating more comfortable, sustainable homes for residents,” said Bryce Conrad, President and CEO of Hydro Ottawa, in a statement.
He added that they will implement solutions that “reduce environmental impact, lower energy costs, and improve overall comfort.”
Some of their ongoing and future energy-saving projects include EV charging infrastructure and new solar panels to generate clean onsite energy. So far 255 users collectively travelled 34,444 kilometers over 4,695 hours of drive time as part of the EV car-share program. And 37 solar arrays have been installed, with the capacity to generate 500,000 kWh.
Heat pumps for efficient heating and cooling and building automation systems (BAS) to optimize energy use are also part of the list of energy-saving projects.
“This strategic collaboration aligns with OCH’s commitment to reducing its carbon emissions and reinforces Hydro Ottawa’s dedication to supporting green energy and carbon reduction projects within the community,” said Stéphane Giguère, CEO of Ottawa Community Housing, in a statement.