Key industry sector: Green
Industry sectors
This sector encompasses a wide variety of technologies, products and services. Toronto's green economy includes particular strengths in these green industry sectors:
- Energy Efficiency & Smart Grid
- Electric Vehicles
- Green Energy
- Green Buildings
- Green Roofs
- Resource Management
More detailed information can be found in the Green Tech Sector Scans available in the Key publications [link to Key publications below] section.
Energy Efficiency & Smart Grid
Using less energy for the same task and being smart about how we use energy is helping many Toronto-based companies grow into world-class leaders. Firms like ecobee, ENBALA, and Regen Energy are innovative clean tech firms whose products are being used worldwide.
Electric Vehicles
Toronto-based firms are developing the future of transportation. Through public and private partnerships firms are collaborating on research projects, pilot programs and post-secondary training programs. These local initiatives are providing a competitive edge to Toronto firms such as Unicell, ZENN Motor and Toronto Electric.
Green Energy
This sector, which includes solar, wind and bio-energy, has seen significant growth in recent years, driven by the Ontario Government’s Green Energy Act. This legislation supports the transition to more electricity generated from green energy and encourages investment opportunities in Ontario's green economy. Central to this is North America’s first comprehensive Feed-In Tariff Program, which offers a guaranteed pricing structure for renewable electricity production allowing stable prices under long-term contracts for energy generated from renewable sources.
A study completed for the Canadian Solar Industries Association (CanSIA) in July 2011 estimates that the solar PV industry provides over 8,200 full-time jobs in Ontario. Innovative Toronto-based firms in this sector include Bullfrog Power, Conserval, Celestica, Eclipsall Solar and Morgan Solar.
Green Buildings
Toronto has a vibrant building industry with more new high rise buildings (135 buildings) under construction as of July 2011 than all of the major US cities combined. Toronto's commitment to make these buildings more energy efficient and sustainable, along with the commitment of Toronto's building industry to build green, has resulted in Toronto becoming a global leader in green buildings.
Toronto's green policies and programs for the green building sector include the Toronto Green Standard, The Better Buildings Partnership and Tower Renewal.
Over 25% of Canada's LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) professionals are located in Toronto and Toronto is home to world-renown sustainable architectural firms such as Moriyama & Teshima, green developers such Tridel and over 150 green building suppliers such as Inline Fibreglass.
Green Roofs
An important subset of green buildings, Toronto is a global leader in green roofs due, in part, to the City's Green Roof Bylaw and the Eco-Roof Incentive Program. In September 2011, Toronto was ranked #1 in North America in green roof surface area installed by the green roof trade association Green Roofs for Healthy Cities. Leading Toronto firms in this sector include Tremco Roofing and Triumph Roofing.
Resource Management
This diverse sector's focus is on the efficient use (and re-use) of natural resources such as water, minerals and bio-materials. Once considered "waste" many firms are mining the "end of life" cycle of a wide range of products to reuse their resources in new products. Ontario's Clean Water Act has stimulated the growth of a clean water industry in Toronto where over 300 companies provide wastewater, water treatment and filtration-related products and services. Leading Toronto firms in this sector include Atlantic Packaging (paper recycling), UV Pure Technologies (water filtration) and National Rubber Technologies (rubber recycling).
Labour force development
Toronto is home to 4 universities and 4 colleges, with a further 10 post secondary institutions in the wider Toronto region. Many of these institutions provide higher level diplomas and degrees in fields that support the green economy for example:
- Within the solar sector, the Toronto region is
- Home to 65 university programs in engineering, physical and environmental sciences, including 41 undergraduate and 24 graduate related programs in 7 universities
- Over 3,400 university students graduated (all levels) in solar energy related programs in 2007
- Within the wind sector the Toronto region is:
- Home to 45 university programs in environmental science, engineering and sustainable and renewable energy that produce a highly educated and highly skilled workforce, including more than 2,700 university graduates (2007)
- Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) awarded $1.9 million in funding for 33 wind and turbine research projects in the Toronto Region (1999-2009)
- A centre of major academic and research with 19 wind technology related experts in five universities focusing on research in power systems, sustainable and renewable energy, and wind energy
- Within the water sector the Toronto region is:
- Home to 230 university and college programs in agriculture, environmental and physical sciences, engineering and technical programs
- Creating an educated and highly skilled workforce – over 8,200 university graduates (all levels) related to water sciences (2007)
Innovation and research
Toronto is a hub for research and development in the green economy. Toronto is:
- A centre of advanced research and development with 86 experts in 22 research institutions
- Ranked # 7 in North America for the number of publications on the subject of wind, turbine and alternative energy technologies, and ranked #10 in citations and numbers of citations per publication
- Ranked #1 in Membrane Separation in international patent applications, and is a global leader in water-related patent activity
- A centre of advanced R&D with 19 water-related research institutes, and ranked #8 worldwide in number of citations per publication
There are a wide range of Centres of Research Excellence in Toronto including:
Key industry associations
There are a wide range of industry associations and other stakeholders that assist with the growth and development of the green economy including:
- Energy Efficiency & Smart Grid
- Electric Vehicles
- Green Energy
- Green Buildings
- Green Roofs
- Resource Management
Key publications
Sorted by industry the following reports provide greater insight into the multiple facets of Toronto's dynamic green economy.
- The Green Economy – General
- Energy Efficiency & Smart Grid
- Electric Vehicles
- Green Energy
- Green Buildings
- Green Roofs
- Resource Management
The Green Economy – General
Economic Assessment of Toronto Environmental Initiatives - presentation (March 2011)
This presentation takes a closer look at the strengths of, and challenges facing the labour force involved with delivering three of Toronto's key environmental programs: home energy retrofit, solar PV, and eco-roofing.
Economic Evaluation Framework for City of Toronto Environmental Initiatives (March 2011)
This report provides a framework to evaluate the impact City of Toronto environmental initiatives have on the city's labour force. The evaluation focuses on green jobs, skills requirements and opportunities for local procurement.
Green Sector International Marketing Plan (June 2009)
This report responds to a common call to action: to raise the profile of Toronto Region's emerging green sector on the world stage.
Green economic sector development strategy (May 2007)
The People, Planet & Profit report is an action plan to enhance job creation while retaining and attracting business that is socially, environmentally and economically rewarding for all.
Energy Efficiency & Smart Grid
Toronto Green Sector Scan – Residential Energy Efficiency (November 2011)
This report provides an overview of the residential energy efficiency sector in Toronto including the major stakeholders, labour force and training, innovation and research, incentives and key publications.
Workforce Challenges & Opportunities in the Home Energy Retrofit Industry in Toronto (March 2011)
This report looks at creation of green jobs, development of the workforce and growth opportunities for the local business community with regard to current and future City of Toronto home energy retrofit initiatives.
Electric Vehicles
Toronto Green Sector Scan – Electric Vehicles (September 2011)
This report provides an overview of the electric vehicle sector in Toronto including the major stakeholders, labour force and training, innovation and research, incentives and key publications.
Green Energy
The Fiscal Benefits of Local Generation in a Constrained Grid (January 2012)
This study by the University of Toronto looks at the economic and fiscal benefits of urban development facilitated by local generation and conservation within a constrained grid.
Barriers Facing BIPV in the FiT Program (December 2011)
This report identifies barriers to BIPV participation in the Feed-in Tariff program and provides recommendations on how to improve the program for BIPV.
Toronto PV Research Reference Guide (October 2011)
This document provides an overview of the key researchers in Toronto working on PV technologies as well as testing facilities, research networks, and research support programs.
Workforce Challenges & Opportunities in the Solar PV Industry in Toronto (March 2011)
Through discussions with industry, compilation of surveys and research, this report explores how by taking a leadership role in green energy generation the City could directly impact the growth of Toronto's green sector.
Solar Supply Chain in the City of Toronto (January 2011)
This document provides an initial overview of the key players in Toronto's solar PV supply chain which provide various components namely modules, inverters, racking, and wiring and electrical.
Solar Training Initiatives Reference Guide for the City of Toronto and GTA (January 2011)
This reference guide details Solar PV and Solar Thermal training programs in the City of Toronto and the surrounding area.
Guide to the Requirements for Building Permits for Solar Systems on Residential Buildings in the City of Toronto (October 2010)
Structural building permits may be required when installing solar panels on residential roofs. This guide can help determine when you need to obtain a permit.
Green Buildings
Toronto Directory of Green Building Products & Services (October 2011)
From appliances to automation; external cladding to green roofing, this directory lists the local suppliers that provide products and services required for green retrofits of existing buildings and new construction.
Toronto Green Building Guide (October 2011)
This special edition of TORONTO FOCUS, published by the Canada Green Building Council celebrates some of the region's great examples of sustainable innovation, design and energy projects including Wychwood Barns and Enwave's Deep Lake Water Cooling system.
Toronto's Policies and Programs for Green Buildings 2011 (October 2011)
This brochure lists all the City of Toronto policies and programs that support the development of green buildings in Toronto.
Toronto Green Sector Scan – Green Buildings (December 2010)
This report provides an overview of the green building sector in Toronto including the major stakeholders, labour force and training, innovation and research, incentives and key publications.
Green Roofs
Toronto Green Sector Scan – Green Roofs (September 2011)
This report provides an overview of the green roofs sector in Toronto including the major stakeholders, labour force and training, innovation and research, incentives and key publications.
Workforce Challenges & Opportunities in the Eco-Roof Incentive Program and Green Roof By-law (March 2011)
This report suggests that a minimum of over 1,000 new green jobs and greened existing jobs can be expected from meeting the targets of the Eco-Roof Incentive Program. In addition, the Green Roof By-Law is expected to create a minimum of 80 person-years or over 156,000 hours, of annual employment.
Resource Management
Toronto Green Sector Scan – Water Technologies (January 2012)
This report provides an overview of the clean water technologies sector in Toronto including the major stakeholders, labour force and training, innovation and research, incentives and key publications.