Energy self-sufficent townhouse expected to be ready by October

The first energy self-sufficient townhouse units should be ready for occupancy soon.

by Chris Shannon

GLACE BAY — Luciano Lisi and his wife Christine Kavanagh, owners of the New Aberdeen Garden Townhouses in the New Aberdeen neighbourhood of Glace Bay, (Nova Scotia) broke ground on the project more than two years ago.

With the use of wind, solar and geothermal energy, the costs to heat and run electricity will remain stable in the long run, Lisi said.

“It keeps their rental only at inflation increases,” he said Wednesday (August 15).

“If Nova Scotia Power in the next five years doubles the rates, which everybody seems to think will happen, the tenants won’t be affected. That’s how they benefit.”

The complex will work on a net metering system, Lisi said.

That means it will produce electricity for its own use and sell any unused energy to Nova Scotia Power for a set price.

There also remains the possibility the complex would purchase electricity from the grid, he continued.

“It’s kind of like a debit-credit situation. The facility will produce more (energy) than it consumes, and we will have a little bit more in our favour that will get a little bit of cash flow.”

Earlier this month the federal government provided a loan of $445,000 for the energy self-sufficient aspect of the project. It was announced during a visit by Environment Minister Peter Kent who stated the housing complex was an example of a project built to strengthen the community and local economy.

So far there have been 16 units constructed in two separate buildings. The first eight will be ready by Oct. 1, while the second eight units should be ready for tenants by Dec. 15.

Another 16 townhouse units will be constructed next year on the 3.5-acre property located at the corner of Connaught Avenue and West Avenue.

The total project cost is almost $2 million with the remaining cost being financed by a traditional mortgage taken out by Lisi and Kavanagh.

The rent will include heat and lights and is expected to be “marginally below current rental levels in the area, with the goal of keeping energy use and cost at its lowest possible level,” according to its website at www.newaberdeengardentownhouses.com.

While the initial cost to build a green energy heating system is expensive, Lisi said overall maintenance costs will remain low.

“Our operation and maintenance costs will be approximately 20 percent of what they would be if we were a traditional (home) and had to purchase fuel.”

The units will have in-floor heating supplied by a geothermal system that makes use of the heat from mine water in the former Dominion No 2 and 9 coal mines.

By using geothermal energy as a heat source, as well as wind and solar energy to drive the heat pumps, the project will avoid the use of fossil fuels.

The 50-kilowatt wind turbine, installed a few weeks ago, won’t be operational for another month, Lisi said.

Under normal working conditions no greenhouse gas emissions will be generated, however a backup generator is in place to support the mechanical systems if necessary.

The exterior design of the one-storey buildings is inspired by the oldest company houses built for miners by the mining companies at the turn of the 20th century.

Each unit is approximately 850 square feet in area and contains two bedrooms and two bathrooms. The design is open concept with cathedral ceilings in the living areas and wheelchair accessible.

A courtyard between the buildings will include a walking track and park benches, specifically aimed to keep seniors physically and socially active.

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