The housing crisis and the climate emergency seem to be front page news in countries across the globe. In Canada, National Observer reports that the Sunflower development in Halifax, Nova Scotia, is addressing both problems with a housing complex that “consists of 25 units, with a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom units, built around a central courtyard, as well as a community space”. The units “were designed to maximize natural daylight and energy efficiency, and use durable interior and exterior finishings.” The non-profit Adsum, which commissioned this development, on land they owned that previously had transitional housing, “has also added solar, and taken together, these measures mean the development is either at net-zero, or very close.”
This may seem a strange way to approach housing meant for low income people since it costs more upfront but “it ensures utilities and other operating costs are kept low, which is essential in sustaining affordable housing over the long term; tenants pay no more than 30 per cent of their pre-tax income in rent, which means rents hovering around $300/month.”
Sunflower is not alone in Nova Scotia, a second development by “the Affordable Housing Association of Nova Scotia has completed the first phase of an affordable townhouse development in Dartmouth, using passive housing principles.”
Surely this is the way forward, providing low emission, beautiful and comfortable housing for society’s most vulnerable citizens that will remain low cost and durable over time. If the dual housing crisis and climate emergency is occurring where you live, is this approach something your region or city could consider taking?