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Since 1991, the Toronto Atmospheric Fund (TAF) has been sparking local action to improve energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gases and air pollution in Toronto. Recognized locally and internationally for its innovative and effective programs, TAF has invested $51 million in practical emission reduction projects citywide and helped the City shave millions of dollars off its energy bills.

TAF is a small and nimble agency with seven core staff. Building on its strengths as a partnership builder, a financial innovator, and a "first-mover" project incubator, TAF plays a unique and complementary role by assisting the City's departments, divisions and agencies — as well as a wide variety of community partners — in working to achieve Council-approved emission reduction targets for the City of Toronto.

TAF is entering its third decade ideally positioned to help our City reap the economic and health benefits that reduced pollution and increased energy efficiency can bring.

TAF's achievements and groundbreaking programs

TAF has helped the City reduce air emissions and energy costs by:

• financing the conversion of the City's streetlights to more efficient technology, saving approximately $20 million to date
• assisting with the conversion of the City's traffic signals to highly efficient LEDs, saving $19 million to date
• co-funding energy retrofits in more than 100 City buildings in cooperation with Toronto's Facilities Management Division
• providing funding and expertise for energy efficiency and renewable power projects at Exhibition Place, the Toronto Zoo, Harbourfront Centre, Toronto Community Housing, community centres and seniors' residences
• funding a pilot program to install money-saving solar water heating technology at four City pools and financing the "utility" that is providing solar hot water to three City facilities at a fully competitive cost
• structuring a leasing arrangement that allowed Toronto Community Housing to purchase thousands of energy-efficient appliances, saving $10 million, and funding a pilot program to install advanced energy saving lighting and controls in TCH's underground garages
• funding a feasibility study for Enwave's deep lake water cooling, now used to air condition dozens of downtown buildings

TAF has also helped climate-friendly enterprises in Toronto get their start and green their game, including:

• AutoShare, Toronto's first personal car-sharing service
• Green$aver, which piloted the concept of incentives for home energy retrofits that have been accessed by over 36,000 Toronto residents, who have saved an average of 21 percent on their home energy bills
• Tridel, which worked with TAF to design the Green Condo Loan to support energy-saving high-rise construction, saving condo owners an average of $500,000 per building
• Toronto Association of Business Improvement Areas, to develop and deliver greenTbiz, an energy efficiency advisory service for small businesses
• University of Toronto's Institute for Optical Sciences, which is commercializing new super-efficient lighting technologies
• University Health Network, which is pioneering a new approach to engaging all staff in saving energy and, as a result, achieving annual savings of $2 million