With the heat sticking around for a couple more days, there are growing concerns over what some renters and condo owners are dealing with as the mercury peaks.
Tony Gioventu, executive director of the Condominium Homeowners Association of British Columbia, tells 1130 NewsRadio some strata corporations have strict rules that limit or deny access to cool air.
“[They] prohibit any type of window-mounted venting system for the in-unit on-floor cooling systems, which are absolutely essential for people now. We went from a very moderate climate to now a climate of more extremes, and that is problematic for people.”
He adds many condos, townhouses, and apartment buildings in the Lower Mainland and parts of Vancouver Island don’t have cooling, especially if they’re older.
“The extremes of temperatures were not really anticipated at the time of construction. It’s really essential for people’s health, safety, and really their life safety to have cooling.”
Five years after the deadly heat dome, Gioventu points out many communities and government haven’t updated outdated bylaws in the face of accelerating climate change.
“They try to work really hard towards conformity of appearance, but conformity of appearance does not override health and safety and comfort within units,” he said.
“If your unit is not occupiable because of extreme heat, if it’s 30 degrees outside and you’re in a south-facing unit with minimal ventilation and no cooling, there’s a pretty good chance your interior temperatures are going to be well between 35 and 45 degrees. It isn’t moderate heat, it’s extreme heat.”
He adds, “In an election year, it’s always a challenge too. There are huge, stacked agendas, but we encourage every local government as soon as possible to look at what those changes could be.”
He suggests strata corporations figure out how to adjust rules to give people access to air conditioning units.
Gioventu acknowledges in many older buildings, there are no amenity areas for people to gather and cool off, highlighting another concern during B.C.’s blazing summers, which include intense humidity as well.
Earlier this month, the City of New Westminster approved indoor temperature bylaws. City hall says new regulations in rental units mean at least one room cannot exceed 26 C between the hours of 8 p.m. and 8 a.m.
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The other challenge for many people is the cost that comes with installing a system that brings in cool air.
Gioventu stresses another big issue is the BC Hydro electrical limitation on some buildings.
“So, it’s not just a building that is at its reach of how much electrical capacity that it has to allow people to install heat pumps, air conditioners, electrical vehicle charging, improved ventilation systems, but there are communities within the grid that have capacity issues that Hydro simply can’t deliver any more power without substantial upgrades,” he said.
“All of these things are being very closely looked at and evaluated as to how that transformation can happen.”
Among those keeping an eye on things, he says, are the provincial government, local levels of government, BC Hydro, and various housing agencies.
“Everyone is aware of it, everybody acknowledges it.”
He explains the cost of cool air in residential buildings includes “affordability, accessibility, resilience, comfort, climate, and safety.”
Gioventu says if you’re looking to move or buy, make sure you ask about cooling, adding it’s as important as parking or a locker. If it’s an older building, you should ask what the allowances are for access to cool air.
He says construction of condos and apartments you’re seeing now likely had their permits approved five years ago, so there’s no guarantee built-in cooling is being made accessible.
“Upgrading a building to provide cooling throughout a building system is prohibitively expensive. So, we have to find ways of allowing for people, especially units that are exposed at a higher rate to sunshine all day, limited ventilation… in addition to cooling, can we look at different building designs?” he said.
“Even a simple thing like increased landscaping that prevents heat-loading from concrete on our ground levels, all of those measures together really start to make a difference.”
In a statement, BC Hydro confirms that, in some cases, specifically older multi-unit residential buildings, there are grid capacity constraints that are further complicated by EV charging stations.
“These limitations are related to the building’s internal electrical infrastructure and are not a reflection of BC Hydro’s overall system capacity,” the statement says.
“That’s why we offer support for whole-building electrical equipment upgrades in condominiums and apartments.”
The utility adds its overall demand is typically higher during the winter than it is during heat events.
“From a system-wide perspective, summer air conditioning demand does not place the same level of pressure on the grid as heating and lighting in winter, and reliability remains strong. We’re also moving ahead with a broader plan to keep up with demand, which is expected to grow by about 20 per cent by 2030 and 50 per cent by 2050, with peak demand rising by 44 per cent,” it says.
“Steps like bringing the John Horgan Dam and Generating Station into service, completing two calls for power, and expanding energy efficiency programs are already helping boost supply, with overall capacity projected to grow by about 25 per cent — enough to power roughly 1.5 million homes.”
1130 NewsRadio meteorologist Michael Kuss says temperatures are expected to remain elevated until at least Wednesday before things cool off a bit.