Cape Breton affordable housing community to reach net-zero emissions

Pine Tree Park Estates in Sydney is set to become Nova Scotia's first net-zero, affordable housing community.

A release states the provincial government is contributing $470,000 towards the installation of a new solar garden.

Officials say the solar panels are expected to meet the community's electricity needs, and eliminate 680 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions annually.

Government says New Dawn Enterprises, which owns the community, has already made other energy efficiency upgrades to the community's homes and buildings, including a conversion from oil heat to heat pumps, with electric heat as backup.

A net-zero designation means the community's 28 residential units and five buildings reduce as much greenhouse gas as they emit.