Lease and Rental Management
Energy-efficient rental properties have lower operating costs, attract environmentally conscious tenants, and may qualify for significant utility rebates — here's where to invest.
Heating system upgrades are the highest-impact energy efficiency investment for most Ontario rental properties. Replacing an aging natural gas furnace (15+ years old) with a high-efficiency condensing furnace (96% AFUE or higher) reduces heating fuel consumption by 20 to 30%. A heat pump system provides both heating and cooling efficiency far above any gas furnace.
Ontario Tenancy Law
Smart thermostat installation is the lowest-cost energy management upgrade available. For landlord-paid utilities situations, programmable or smart thermostats that the landlord controls remotely reduce waste from tenants leaving heat at 25°C while at work. For tenant-paid utilities situations, smart thermostats remain valuable as a tenant amenity.
Insulation improvements in poorly-insulated properties reduce both heating and cooling loads year-round. Attic insulation upgrades to the current Code-recommended R-50 to R-60 in Ontario are cost-effective for most properties and may qualify for rebates through the Enbridge Home Efficiency Rebate or Canada Greener Homes initiatives.
Protecting Landlord Rights
Window replacement improves energy performance and tenant comfort simultaneously. Modern triple-pane windows with low-E coating reduce heat loss by 50 to 60% compared to single-pane, and by 20 to 30% compared to older double-pane units. The reduction in drafts and cold glass radiant effect is immediately perceptible to tenants.
LED lighting conversion throughout common areas and landlord-supplied unit fixtures reduces electrical consumption by 75 to 85% compared to incandescent lighting. LED retrofits are the most consistently cost-effective single energy upgrade available, with payback periods of 1 to 3 years in most commercial and residential applications.
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