Whistler Housing Authority Legacy Passive House

Project goals

The Whistler Housing Authority built the Legacy Passive House to:

• create secure affordable rental homes for local workers
• help local employers attract and retain employees
• reduce energy use by building to Passive House standards
• create a high-performance innovative building at a cost as close as possible to conventional construction
• contribute to the vibrant local community and economy
• help address Whistler’s housing crisis

Project overview

The Legacy Passive House apartments offer studio, 1and 2-bedroom units at 30% below market rates. The variety of apartment sizes gives 54 tenants an affordable home in one of Canada’s priciest markets.

In addition to affordability, the Whistler Housing Authority made sustainability a priority at each stage of the process. Their goal was to create a high-performance building at a cost in the range of a conventionally constructed building.

They chose a Passive House certification approach.

This approach focuses on cost-optimized ways to increase energy-efficiency. This typically results in more durable buildings with healthier living spaces for the residents.

The project features:

• a variety of energy-efficient construction techniques and technologies
• consideration of tenant well-being
• key innovations

Through CMHC’s Affordable Housing Innovation Fund, the Whistler Housing Authority was able to access grant funding and financing at competitive rates.

About National Housing Strategy Case Studies

The research presented in this series explore topics in the National Housing Strategy priority areas of:

• housing for those in greatest need
• community housing sustainability
• Indigenous housing
• northern housing
• sustainable housing and communities
• balanced supply of housing

Get more information about the National Housing Strategy.

Related links

• National Housing Strategy Project Profiles
• Housing Research Newsletter