HEART: Helping Everyone Afford Rental Tenancies

SES’s “HEART: Helping Everyone Afford Rental Tenancies” pilot project addresses a dual challenge: the rising cost of living—particularly for residents in affordable housing, and the urgent need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

HEART is a three-year initiative, starting in 2025, that equips affordable housing providers in Saskatoon, Regina, and Prince Albert with the data and tools they need to improve building energy and water efficiency, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and lower utility costs for tenants. There are thousands of affordable housing units in Saskatchewan, many constructed between 1950 and 1980. Often, these aging buildings are poorly insulated and fitted with outdated mechanical systems, high-wattage lighting, inefficient appliances, and older, high-flow plumbing fixtures. This contributes to high energy consumption, excessive water consumption, rising utility bills, and increased greenhouse gas emissions. Affordable housing providers may not have the information and capacity to prioritize upgrades, leading to reactive rather than strategic decisions, such as replacing equipment without considering efficiency.

HEART offers a proactive, data-driven solution to reduce emissions, lower housing costs, and improve tenant well-being in the affordable housing sector by first conducting Energy Use Intensity (EUI) and Water Use Intensity (WUI) assessments in 1,000 housing units. SES will then work with housing providers to take action on priority areas in order to enhance overall energy efficiency, reduce operational costs, lower water consumption, and contribute meaningfully to lower greenhouse gas emissions within the sector. It will also result in lower utility bills for tenants, thereby increasing housing affordability.

Many people experience “energy poverty,” which refers to a situation where households cannot afford the energy required for basic needs such as heating, lighting, refrigeration, cooking, and cleaning. This financial strain can lead to physical discomfort, reduced quality of life, and difficult trade-offs, such as choosing between paying utility bills and buying food. High energy costs disproportionately burden vulnerable residents and reduce quality of life, especially in Saskatchewan’s extreme climate.

Low-income renters face high energy burdens and limited control over their housing efficiency. SES offers energy-saving workshops focused on changes any renter may make in their home to help reduce utility costs. SES also helps tenants in accessing home audit programs to identify utility savings opportunities. This dual approach ensures that both building systems and resident behaviours contribute to reduced energy and water use.

By enabling informed action on both the provider and tenant sides, HEART creates immediate and long-term benefits: lower greenhouse gas emissions, more sustainable community housing, and improved affordability and comfort for tenants.