![[3]: Côte-des-Neiges (Darlington) Location](https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/secure.notion-static.com/5db21f44-d0b5-45ea-95e4-8fc25ee83084/Untitled.png)
Table of Contents
https://www.powtoon.com/c/erdqYlsW33Y/1/m
School: Memorial University of Newfoundland
Discipline: Civil Engineering
LinkedIn: Shaylin Hurtubise | LinkedIn
School: Toronto Metropolitan University
Discipline: Mechanical Engineering
LinkedIn: Devreaux Williams | LinkedIn
School: Dalhousie University
Discipline: Computer Engineering
LinkedIn: Matthew Carl | LinkedIn
Montréal aims to make all buildings carbon-zero by 2040, recognizing the significant impact that buildings have on the city's greenhouse gas emissions, which account for 26% of GHG emissions in the city [1]. The transition to net zero buildings can be costly, particularly for residents in low-income areas such as the Côte-des-Neiges–Notre-Dame-de-Grâce borough, specifically the Darlington district, which has the lowest average income of all boroughs within the city ($40,397) [2]. These residents and building owners lack the technical assistance and financial support required, to allow them to upgrade their homes and help achieve Montréal’s 2040 goal.
Our solution to this problem, is to replace the gas-powered central heating units of most buildings, while also increasing the thickness of windows and adding insulation to reduce loss of heat. The majority of buildings in the community are three-story apartments which typically utilize this gas-powered technology. 96% of Québec’s energy comes from zero-carbon sources, so most the important aspect of reaching carbon zero is the replacement of gas-burning devices. This project will be financed through government grants as well as multiple commercial sponsorships, which will alleviate any financial costs to the residents of these targeted buildings. To get to that point, our team will first survey the community and residences to ensure they are on board with the project. We will establish community ambassadors who will act as an open two-way communication channel between our team and the community throughout and after the duration of the project. Surveying will allow us to identify the residents which want to be included in the project and will allow us to prioritize the order in which we select or target buildings. when a building is selected, we will then talk to each resident to collect the required measurements as well as arrange a time in when our team can come and make the required renovations.
It must be stated that for our solution to actually take shape, certain things had to be taken into consideration. These considerations meant that our team had to assume a few factors and work within or our grey areas or uncertainties. For instance, we have assumed that the majority of emissions coming from the buildings in the area are solely from the use of gas-powered technology and not from anywhere else. We would in the same breath ran into uncertainties about building codes and construction layouts of the area and therefore have suggested that more insulation be added to prevent heat loss to enable for energy efficiency. In order to serve the community better and incorporate the views and opinions of the selected area, various community outreach tactics will be employed and used to further assess the realities faced by residents in order to mould the solution to their needs.
[3]: Côte-des-Neiges (Darlington) Location