MWA Fall Workshop October 29, 2014

Tower Renewal: Bringing Positive Change to

Toronto’s Apartment Communities

Tower Renewal: Bringing Positive Change to

Toronto’s Apartment Communities

MWA Fall Workshop Orillia, October 29, 2014

Eleanor McAteer, City of Toronto

MWA Fall Workshop October 29, 2014

A program to drive broad environmental, social, economic, and cultural change by improving

Toronto’s concrete apartment towers and the neighbourhoods

that surround them.

Tower Renewal

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1200 older concrete high-rises

Built from 1945 to 1984

8 storeys or more

Tower Renewal: The Opportunity

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Towers Located Across the City

MWA Fall Workshop October 29, 2014

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Private rental

Public rental (TCHC)

Social

Condos & co-owners

Building Ownership Profile

MWA Fall Workshop October 29, 2014

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550,000 people live in Toronto’s older high-rises

• 20% of Toronto’s total population

• 43% of residents are low-income

• 25% of residents are newcomers

Who is Affected?

MWA Fall Workshop October 29, 2014

The survey findings:•apartment communities as safe places to live. •good places to live and good places to raise children.

Worth Keeping and Improving

MWA Fall Workshop October 29, 20147

MWA Fall Workshop October 29, 2014

Environment: Waste Diversion increase by 30%+

Water savings 20%+

Energy savings 50%+

GHG emission reduction 5%

Economy : 1,000s of person years of employment from retrofits

Community: Need for community use spaces

Better sense of security

Study Findings

Tower Renewal STEP Program

STEP

Site-based assessment 9

MWA Fall Workshop October 29, 2014

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STEP Progress PathSTEP Progress Path

Step One: Learning and PlanningTaking stock of existing situation, determine possibilities

Step Two: ImplementationTypically quick payback, sound business practice

Step Three: High Performance Lifecycle approach

Step Four: Leadership Aspirational, Integrated

MWA Fall Workshop October 29, 2014

WASTE DIVERSION COMMUNITY BUILDING

STEP 1Determine optimal number of containers

Assess condition of common use areas

STEP 2Provide regular staff training

Improve the usability of existing spaces

STEP 3Provide indoor recycling containers

Create new spaces for resident use

STEP 4Chute closure to obtain 50% + diversion

Address concerns regarding food security

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Clear, concise guides for action

Flexible

STEP ChecklistsSTEP Checklists

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STEP Checklists

Tools Include:

•Incentives

•Guidebooks

•Case Studies

•Education & Training Programs

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STEP Benchmarking

•Waste Diversion, Energy and Water• Analysis of performance over time•Ranking relative to similar buildings

Continuous Improvement FundContinuous Improvement Fund

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MWA Fall Workshop October 29, 2014MWA Fall Workshop October 29, 2014

The people who live in apartments

The management of apartments

Role of connections

3 Things You Need to Know 3 Things You Need to Know

MWA Fall Workshop October 29, 2014MWA Fall Workshop October 29, 2014

Diversion is much more complex in MURBs

Establishing social norms

Many buildings achieve high diversion rates

It isn’t the People, It’s the circumstances

It isn’t the People, It’s the circumstances

MWA Fall Workshop October 29, 2014MWA Fall Workshop October 29, 2014

Benchmarking

MWA Fall Workshop October 29, 2014MWA Fall Workshop October 29, 2014

Benchmarking

15 can readily be a 5

MWA Fall Workshop October 29, 2014MWA Fall Workshop October 29, 2014

Benchmarking

15 can readily be a 5Can feasibly be a 2

MWA Fall Workshop October 29, 2014MWA Fall Workshop October 29, 2014

What gets Measured gets Managed

What gets Measured gets Managed

•Relatively new to MURB participation

•There is a lot of change in site management

•Need to work at making a practical process

MWA Fall Workshop October 29, 2014MWA Fall Workshop October 29, 2014

Making Connections Strengthens Outcomes

Making Connections Strengthens Outcomes

•Multiple messages maintain interest level

•Address major concerns to have broader engagement

Integrate Waste Diversion with Other TopicsIntegrate Waste Diversion with Other Topics

MWA Fall Workshop October 29, 201424

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EconomicTo boost Toronto’s

economy and create local jobs through increased private

sector investment.

EnvironmentalTo achieve high

environmental and other performance standards in

Toronto’s apartment buildings that will result in

lower utility costs.

Social / Cultural

To enable apartment neighbourhoods to grow into vibrant places that

meet the social and cultural needs of residents and enhance the broader

community.

Three Interlocking Objectives

MWA Fall Workshop October 29, 2014

MWA Fall Workshop October 29, 2014

toronto.ca/tower_renewalEleanor McAteerProject Director, Tower Renewalemcatee@toronto.ca

Follow us on Twitter @TOTower_Renewal