Tower Power to hear about Green Phoenix on Nov. 23

By Tim Grant –

Tower Power Toronto, the all-volunteer group that helps those in condos and co-ops to “green” their buildings, will meet at 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 23 at Windward Co-operative, 34 Little Norway Crescent (at the southwest corner of Bathurst and Queen’s Quay).

The meeting will feature presentations by Rod Layman and David Booz.

Layman will describe the Green Phoenix project he has stick-handled for the last several years. This extraordinary project retrofitted Phoenix Place, a church-owned apartment building in Parkdale.

The retrofit included adding exterior insulation, solar panels to a south-facing wall, and geothermal heating and cooling. Other features include high performance windows, gas boilers, new fresh air intakes and a building automation system to coordinate all these new features. Rod will describe the benefits and costs of each of these improvements. Visit www.phoenixplace.com and click on the link to Green Phoenix for more information.

Tower Power co-chair Booz will introduce the group’s new Wiki website where many of the best presentations at past Tower Power Toronto meetings will be stored, for anyone to read and share with others. With seminars on how to add solar water heating or solar electricity systems or implement recycling or energy conservation programs, this will become an important resource for green committees in condos and co-ops across the city in the months and years to come.

In addition, the meeting will provide an opportunity for those in attendance to ask questions or to tell the latest news of the green projects currently underway in their buildings.

For information, e-mail tim@greenteacher.com or phone (416) 960-1244.