The Lions at Fleming

Project Overview

The Lions at Fleming is a six-storey, 137-unit affordable housing development in Esquimalt, BC, built by the Greater Victoria Housing Society (GVHS) to replace the aging Esquimalt Lions Lodge. The new building expands the supply of affordable, accessible, and energy-efficient homes for individuals, families, seniors, and people with disabilities. The project was designed and constructed to Step 4 of the BC Energy Step Code, the highest level of performance under the province’s energy efficiency framework, and is a Zero Emission Building.

Challenge

Affordable housing projects must strike a balance between long-term operating costs, sustainability, and tenant comfort. The GVHS wanted to create a development that would:

• Operate with low greenhouse gas emissions

• Provide reliable hot water to 137 households

• Ensure long-term affordability by reducing utility and maintenance costs

• Align with their organizational mission to deliver housing that is sustainable, resilient, and community-focused

Solution — Lync CO₂ Heat Pumps

To meet these objectives, GVHS selected Lync CO₂ heat pumps as the domestic hot water solution. Lync’s systems use natural refrigerant CO₂ (R-744), offering:

• Zero carbon-based heating source — eliminating fossil fuel reliance

• High efficiency operation, especially in cold climates, reducing energy use and operating costs

• Consistent, reliable hot water output for multifamily applications

• Future-proof design, aligned with BC’s move toward electrification and low-carbon buildings

By integrating Lync CO₂ heat pumps, the project ensured sustainable hot water production while reducing the building’s carbon footprint.

Results

• Zero Emission Building: The Lions at Fleming operates without carbon-based heating sources

• Affordable to Operate: Reduced energy costs support GVHS’s goal of keeping rents affordable for tenants

• Sustainability Leadership: The building is constructed to exceed both Passive House standards and the BC Energy Step Code 4 and is a zero-emission building, as it uses the Lync Aegis heat pump hot water system

• National Recognition: The Lions at Fleming received the Canadian Housing & Renewal Association’s Outstanding Development Award, with its innovative low-emission design and heating systems playing a key role

By deploying Lync CO₂ heat pumps, GVHS was able to align sustainability and affordability goals, delivering a landmark affordable housing project that supports residents, the environment, and the community for decades to come.