Hydro Ottawa and Ottawa Community Housing partner to reduce emissions

Hydro Ottawa and Ottawa Community Housing partner to reduce carbon emissions and empower residents (CNW Group/Hydro Ottawa Holding Inc.)

OTTAWA — On Jul. 24, Hydro Ottawa Holding Inc. (Hydro Ottawa) and Ottawa Community Housing (OCH) announced the expansion of an existing partnership to further reduce carbon emissions in OCH communities through electric vehicle charging infrastructure.

By combining Hydro Ottawa’s energy efficiency and renewable energy background with OCH’s efforts to improve housing solutions for sustainable living, this partnership will try to play a role in reducing Ottawa’s carbon footprint. It will also lead to lower overhead costs for OCH, allowing them to preserve affordability and provide more environmentally friendly housing options for low-income residents.

Ongoing and future energy-saving projects include:

• EV charging infrastructure to promote electric vehicle car-sharing
  • To date, the EV car-share program has seen 255 users collectively travel 34,444 kilometers over 4,695 hours of drive time
• New solar panels to generate clean energy on-site
  • To date, 37 solar arrays have been installed and have the capacity to generate 500,000 kWh
• Installation of heat pumps for efficient heating and cooling
  • This major investment by Hydro Ottawa and OCH, includes the design for the installation of 260 heat pumps for individual townhomes, over time.
• Building automation systems (BAS) to optimize energy use. BAS systems have been implemented in 18 OCH buildings and is currently working on the design for another 27 buildings.

“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. By working together, we will implement solutions that reduce environmental impact, lower energy costs, and improve overall comfort. Hydro Ottawa is committed to supporting our customers in every way possible as we move toward a smarter energy future,” says Bryce Conrad, President and Chief Executive Officer.