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03-22-12, 01:01 PM | #1 | ||||
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Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: 1000 Islands region, Ontario, Canada
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Article: "Don’t knock down that 50-year-old building; re-skin it"
I just read an article about a competition called the "Zerofootprint Re-Skinning Awards"
The Zerofootprint Prize Quote:
EG: 60 year old wartime house in Toronto, Ontario. Originally built with minimal insulation, single pane glass, etc. Since winning the re-skin it award in 2010, the house... Quote:
Speaking of a re-skinning/conversion of an old car dealership, the architect says: Quote:
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The Following User Says Thank You to MetroMPG For This Useful Post: | AC_Hacker (03-23-12) |
03-22-12, 03:12 PM | #2 | |
Helper EcoRenovator
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Sheesh. The government isn't some entity which has its own money, the government's money is my money, my neighbor's money, and so on. When the government takes our money away from us to give it to other home owners, that means that we've got less of the money we worked for to spend on ourselves and our families. What I'd suggest this guy do is a test to see how popular his scheme is. He should make an announcement that he is collecting money for this program and that people will receive the proceeds of the loan repayments which arise from the money that they invest. If people think that this is a better use for their money than what they had intended to spend it on, then that speaks to the merit of his idea. If, however, he doesn't get many takers, then that loudly and clearly declares that people think that they have better uses for the money that they've earned than directing it to this scheme. Injecting government stealing money from people and playing Robin Hood doesn't change the fundamental dynamics here. |
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03-22-12, 03:58 PM | #3 |
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Well if 40% of the regions housing can be made to use 70% less energy then the regions energy systems will see relief. Maybe the local utility could provide the loan to save their assets.
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03-22-12, 04:11 PM | #4 |
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I think they wanted to do the tax benefit for large buildings not individual homes. There is zero incentive for landlords to do anything with their rental units up here. The availability situation in many towns is so bad people will stay in mold infested hellholes with holes in the roof for years simply because there is no where else for them to go.
Convincing a landlord to spend tens if not hundreds of thousands on an apartment building so that his clients can have lower costs on their bills is never going to happen. I'm not saying it's a good idea I'm just saying that is probably why they are considering the tax benefit route. Since I am considering moving somewhere colder and into a 100+ year old farmhouse I really wish they gave more information about what they do to seal the outside up. How they deal with windows no longer being flush to the outside and so on. |
03-22-12, 04:48 PM | #5 | ||||
Helper EcoRenovator
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For a conventional residential tenancy rent increase in British Columbia that takes effect in 2012, the allowable increase is 4.3 per cent.There is zero incentive because the government prohibits the landlords from benefiting from such improvements. If there is a near zero rental availability rate then that is a pretty strong signal that the rents being charged are below the market clearing rate. If landlords had the ability to price to market then there would be incentive to improve units for they would be able to recoup via rent what they invest in their housing stock. Quote:
With government controlling how much rent increase a landlord can charge, with government controlling eviction processes to make it damn difficult to evict a bad tenant, etc, being a landlord is not as attractive an investment strategy as it used to be, hence people deciding to invest their money elsewhere, thus drying up the rental market and causing shortages. Quote:
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03-22-12, 06:03 PM | #6 |
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I fully agree although I am a supporter of leaving that farmland farmland. If a city can't feed itself it shouldn't exist.
Let the costs keep climbing, if you can't afford to live there then don't. Nothing says Vancouver is some magical place that everyone has to work and live in. In many cases you can make the same wage for doing the same job in Vancouver as you would elsewhere but you get the insane price of living to be there. I actually don't live in vancouver, I'm on the island at the moment. The same crap you're discussing is happening here just were still 1/3 the cost of the mainland. |
03-22-12, 07:33 PM | #7 | |||
Helper EcoRenovator
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Secondly, by taking this land out of the market, the cost of land that can be developed sky rockets. This makes housing costs go up. There have been studies which detailed all the costs associated with zoning and they've tallied up to about 40-50% of the cost of a house in some cities. I just find it ironic whenever I see instances of people saying "government should fix the problem" when in fact it was government that caused the problem by interfering in people's rational decision making. Quote:
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03-23-12, 12:10 PM | #8 | |
Supreme EcoRenovator
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Quote:
Thanks for posting this very interesting article. This is exactly the approach I am taking to my house. It is heartening to see that the same approach is being applied elsewhere. Deep energy retrofits are not easy and not cheap but in my opinion they are well worthwhile. My advice to a home owner who wants to retrofit an old house is to divide the big task into many small target tasks and work on them when the time, gumption and financial resources are available, and relax when they aren't. It gives me a secret pride that I am giving new life to a piece of history. I know that the ghosts that live here with me are pleased! -AC_Hacker
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