Green Development Standard
 The Toronto Green Development Standard provides an integrated set of targets, principles, and practices to guide the development of City-owned facilities and to encourage sustainable development in the private sector.
This Standard is rooted in the key environmental drivers for the City. These are:
- Better air quality
- Reduced greenhouse gas emissions and urban heat island effects
- Greater energy efficiency
- Improved water quality and water efficiency
- Less solid waste
- Protection of the urban forest and wildlife habitat
- Reduced light pollution
The Toronto Green Development Standard is a "made-in-Toronto" approach that integrates existing City guidelines and targets, popular private rating systems and the experiences of cities from around the world.
More information is available about the Green Development Standard from City Planning.
Green Roof Strategy
 Green roofs are an extension of the existing roof that allows plants, trees and shrubs to grow in a light-weight growing medium. Green roofs are built on top of a human-made structures.
Environmental benefits of green roofs in an urban setting include:
- Reduction in stormwater runoff that affects quality of local water resources which supply drinking water, are used for swimming, and serve as fish and wildlife habitat
- Reduction in energy consumption
- Reduction in the urban heat island effect and associated cooling costs
- Beautification of the City
- Creation of more natural green spaces
- Opportunities for local food production
Green roof demonstration projects can be seen at City Hall and Eastview Community Centre. There are also many other green roofs around Toronto. The Green Roof Strategy is being integrated into the Green Development Standard.
In June 2007, the City of Toronto won the Federation of Canadian Municipalities' FCM-CH2MHill Sustainable Community Award for its Green Roof Strategy. This award recognizes municipal leadership in sustainable community development and gives national recognition to projects that demonstrate environmental excellence and innovation in service delivery.
For more information about green roofs is available by visiting the Green Roofs website or from City Planning.
Bird-Friendly Development Guidelines
Most migratory bird species are unable to adapt to living in cities. During their biannual flyovers they become confused by the combination of light pollution and the effects of glass in the urban environment. This often results in significant numbers of birds colliding with buildings.
The goal of the Bird-Friendly Development Guidelines is to prevent the needless deaths of migratory birds
by suggesting ways to mitigate the dangers buildings pose to them. The City of Toronto has worked in partnership with the private sector, bird advocacy organizations and other levels of government to develop these Bird-Friendly Development Guidelines.
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The Better Buildings Partnership (BBP) is an innovative program that provides resources including financial assistance for energy efficiency retrofits and construction of Toronto buildings. The BBP’s primary goal is to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions which come from the energy used primarily to heat, light and cool buildings. 
Energy use in high-rise homes is one of the fastest growing sources of greenhouse gases in Toronto. That's why the Toronto Atmospheric Fund has developed its TowerWise program to focus attention on the need to improve energy performance in high rises.
The City's Energy Management and Energy Retrofits programs call for a significant reduction in the energy consumed by City-owned facilities and operations. Progress has been made and efforts continue.