In December 2021, City Council adopted an ambitious climate action strategy, Transform TO, to reduce community-wide greenhouse gas emissions in Toronto to net zero by 2040 – 10 years earlier than initially proposed. To ensure buildings constructed on or after 2030 are near zero emissions, there is a need to accelerate the TGS implementation timelines for Version 5 and Version 6 greenhouse gas intensity (GHGI) limits to ensure that buildings constructed in or after 2030 are near zero emissions.
To facilitate this transition, the City of Toronto is working with a team of consultants to conduct the technical analysis and interest holder engagement needed to provide a set of recommendations on the appropriate energy and emissions targets in future versions of the TGS. See the study webpage for more information and updates.
Embodied emissions from extraction, manufacture, transport and installation of building construction materials account for more than 75 per cent of carbon related emissions. In 2022, two ground-breaking studies were released on benchmarking embodied emissions from construction materials and practices in Ontario, a must read for regulators and policy makers to tackle this big issue:
A new study is underway to explore more actions municipalities can take to act on embodied carbon in policy and practice through construction circularity, materials procurement and urban design guidance. See the Interim Report prepared for The Atmospheric Fund.
As part of the Toronto Green Standard update and review, the City Planning Division in partnership with The Atmospheric Fund has undertaken a two-part study on global best practices in energy codes and standards and modelling for energy and GHG reduction targets to a 2030 zero emissions date. The consulting team included Integral Group, Morrison Hershfield and Provident Energy Management. The lead consultant Integral Group worked closely with the City’s expert advisory committee to develop robust and defensible targets and costing for five of the most commonly constructed building archetypes in Toronto. Together Tier 1 through 4 provides Toronto’s proposed pathway to zero emissions buildings.
For a copy of the full Global Best Practices in Energy Policy Study contact Lisa King at sustainablecity@toronto.ca
Read the full Zero Emissions Building Framework final report
Achieving the Toronto Green Standard contributes towards LEED certification and the achievement of other voluntary rating systems and standards. The TGS v4 Sustainability Standards Crosswalk sets out the similarities and differences between the Toronto Green Standard and LEED v4.1 BD&C, CaGBC Zero Carbon Building Standard and Passive House standards.
Air Tightness Testing – Enbridge Savings by Design
Low Impact Design/Storm Water Management – Enbridge Savings by Design
Beyond Energy Efficiency – How Low Embodied Carbon Materials Are Changing The Building Industry – Mantle 360
Electric Vehicle Infrastructure 101 – Brendan McEwen, AES Engineering Aug., 2021
Award Winning Net Zero Design – Multifunction Paramedic Station – April 20, 2022
Award Winning Net Zero Design – Western North York Community Centre – April 29, 2022
Net Zero Design & Tender – North East Scarborough Community Recreation & Child Care Centre – May 12, 2022