A 25-year-old student townhouse complex near Fanshawe College will soon be more energy efficient, thanks to new funds from the federal government.
London North Centre MP Peter Fragiskatos announced more than $1.3 million in funds Monday to retrofit Fanshawe's Kestrel Court residence. Through upgrades to the building components and the exterior aesthetic, the college aims to transform the townhouses into a net-zero residence.
The project will also be the subject of a research study into retrofitting residential buildings to reach net-zero energy ready performance - reducing energy use by a minimum of 70 per cent.
"These investments will improve energy efficiency, help build more resilient communities, and demonstrate Canadian leadership in addressing climate change," said Fragiskatos.
The initiative is being funded through the Natural Resources Canada’s green infrastructure energy efficient buildings program. The federal government has previously identified reducing building emissions as a key part of its efforts to combat climate change.
Faculty and students have already been assisting with the work on the retrofit.
“Fanshawe has made a commitment to decrease the college’s impact on the environment through updates to both physical spaces and academic curriculum,” said Fanshawe President Peter Devlin. “To date, 150 Fanshawe students have been involved in various aspects of the project by producing assignments in building information modeling software related to Kestrel Court.”
A timeline for the completion of the project has not been provided.
