From Expense to Advantage: How Heat Pumps and Solar Are Reshaping Canadian Multi-Unit Housing
- Octavian Vasilovici
- Sep 30
- 3 min read
Multi-unit residential buildings across Canada are under growing pressure. Energy costs keep climbing. Carbon regulations are tightening. Tenants are demanding healthier, more sustainable living spaces. For owners and investors, these forces often feel like expenses piling up — harder to manage each year.
But the story doesn’t have to end there. A recent project in Montreal shows how the very technologies once seen as costly or experimental — geothermal heat pumps and solar power — are now proven tools that turn energy liabilities into long-term advantages.
Smart Energy from the Ground and the Sun
At the centre of the building’s design is a geothermal heat pump system paired with a 14.5 kW bifacial solar photovoltaic (PV) array. Together, they deliver steady, predictable performance.
Solar PV That Performs Year-Round
The roof-mounted, 36-panel array generated 17.9 MWh in its first year — almost exactly what the energy model predicted. That output covered about 12% of the building’s total electricity demand, showing that solar is no longer guesswork.
The use of bifacial panels added a unique advantage: they capture sunlight from both sides, including reflected radiation from snow in winter. In Quebec’s climate, this helped maintain consistent output when conventional panels would typically dip.
Geothermal Heat Pumps That Do the Heavy Lifting
Five vertical boreholes, each drilled to 130 m, provide 100% of the heating and cooling needs for both office and residential spaces.
Office heat pumps: COP 2.9 for heating, EER 14 for cooling.
Residential units: COP 3.5 for heating, EER 17.2 for cooling.
Storage tanks buffer hot and chilled water, helping to smooth peaks, prevent short cycling, and keep indoor conditions stable even during cold snaps.
Comfort and Health: Not Just Technology
For tenants, sustainability only matters if comfort and health are maintained. This project delivered both.
Each apartment is equipped with its own energy recovery ventilator (ERV).
Office areas rely on a dedicated enthalpy recovery system, achieving 67% sensible and 45% latent efficiency.
MERV 8 filters ensure that residents and staff receive clean, healthy air without unnecessary energy loss.
Results That Reshape the Balance Sheet
The real test of innovation is whether it pays off. In this case, the results speak directly to owners and investors:
Energy demand: A Thermal Energy Demand Intensity (TEDI) of 23.9 kWh/m², well below the Zero Carbon Building target of 34.
Cost savings: Annual operating costs were cut by more than 52% compared to an ASHRAE 90.1-2010 baseline, before factoring in the contribution from solar power.
Resilience: Backup electric coils provide redundancy, but the geothermal system has proven capable of handling the full load efficiently year-round.
Simplicity in Operations
Advanced technology often raises concerns about complexity. In this building, simplicity was part of the design philosophy.
Zone thermostats manage fan coils and radiant floors.
Ventilation runs on straightforward occupancy schedules.
By avoiding a full automation system, the building minimized both capital outlay and long-term maintenance costs.
The result: a system that delivers high performance without requiring specialized staff to run it.
Why It Matters for Canadian Multi-Unit Housing
For Canadian MURB owners, this Montreal case study proves that geothermal and solar are not pilot projects or niche technologies. They are market-ready strategies that:
Cut energy bills by more than half.
Increase property value while lowering regulatory risk.
Attract tenants who value sustainability and wellness.
Unlock certifications like ZCB that improve financing and marketability.
What once looked like an added expense is now a strategic advantage. Heat pumps and solar power can stabilize long-term operating costs, reduce exposure to carbon penalties, and position buildings as healthier, more resilient assets. Whether managing 20 units or 200, Canadian owners now have proven tools to future-proof their properties.
At OptiBuild, we help owners make these decisions with confidence. Our Smart Building Owner’s Roadmap provides a clear framework for evaluating technologies like geothermal and solar — not just for their technical performance, but for their impact on your bottom line.
