The amenities added to luxury highrises mean they aren鈥檛 as energy-efficient as people think, says BC Hydro. NOW FILES
High-end condos haven鈥檛 just put affordability out of reach for most people 鈥� they鈥檙e also pigs when it comes to electricity.
That鈥檚 according to a BC Hydro report released Friday. It says these new luxury condo buildings are being marketed as energy-efficient, while in reality are using up a larger power footprint than older building.
鈥淎 new BC Hydro report titled 鈥楬igh-powered highrise: The energy footprint disconnect of B.C.鈥檚 high-end condo dwellers鈥� found that while condo living means smaller homes that use less power than detached single-family homes, this does not necessarily represent the total energy footprint of living in a high-rise condo building,鈥� said a news release.
BC Hydro data shows electricity use in condos has 鈥渘early doubled since the 1980s, with the largest period of growth between 1999 and 2009 when the average newly built high-rise building鈥檚 electricity consumption increased by 65 per cent.鈥�
So, what鈥檚 the main culprit? All those fancy amenities people expect with a high price tag.
鈥淭his is likely due to the addition of more luxurious amenities like heated pools, hot tubs, saunas, fitness centres and movie theatres,鈥� said BC Hydro.
BC Hydro says it has seen a 22-per-cent jump in the number of condo and apartment accounts since 2011 鈥搑epresenting nearly half-a-million accounts in total.
鈥淲ith sales, and construction of highrise buildings increasing, so is the amount of power being used,鈥� says BC Hydro. 鈥淗ighrise luxury buildings consume about three to four times more electricity than low-rise buildings.鈥�
