Toronto Green Standard Net Zero Transition Study

Net Zero Transition Study (May 2024 to March 2025)

Project Background

The Toronto Green Standard (TGS) is a critical tool in achieving the City of Toronto’s climate action goals. The objective of the TGS is to influence and support change to achieve more sustainable development in the City via the establishment of an increasing set of requirements in the areas of transportation, energy, carbon, water, ecology and waste.

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, Council directed staff 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.

Interest holder consultation is a critical component of the Study. The City has assembled a Steering Committee made up of industry leaders and experts to provide guidance and support for the duration of the Study. The consultation Strategy involves a combination of focus group meetings, interviews, surveys and larger consultation roundtables to inform the outcomes.

The Study involves two main stages of review and analysis.

Phase 1 is focused on exploring the feasibility of accelerating the current Toronto Green Standard (TGS) greenhouse gas limits (GHGi) by one tier sooner. Phase 1 includes background and best practice research, interest holder engagement and modelling and costing of building designs to meet accelerated targets.  A report to the Planning and Housing Committee focused on this first phase of analysis is planned for Fall of 2024.

Background and best practice research

  • Analysis of past TGS applications
  • Best practice review of other jurisdictions in North America
  • Interest holder engagement
  • Focus groups with owners/developers, designers, and energy providers
  • Identifying barriers and opportunities to meeting lower GHG limits

    Modelling and costing of designs that meet accelerated GHGi targets

    • Focus on the existing building archetypes
    • Compare designs that meet current TGS targets versus designs that would have to meet the proposed targets
    • Focus will be on exploring the cost of fuel switching options that achieve lower GHG limits

    Phase 2 is focused on exploring potential changes to the TGS energy efficiency, greenhouse gas, embodied carbon and climate resilience metrics, to inform future updates to the Toronto Green Standards. Phase 2 will include in- depth modelling and costing of building design scenarios and target setting with extensive consultation. The results of the study and recommendations will be part of the TGS v5 report to Planning & Housing Committee expected in the fall of 2025.

    Modelling and costing of designs that yield different performances across all TGS energy and carbon related metrics

    1. Apply design packages to Phase 1 baseline
    2. Develop baseline models and new targets for additional building types
    3. Compare/contrast performance packages across different metrics
    4. Identify “sweet spots” of performance (cost and carbon points as priorities). Design alternatives that lead to “well rounded” buildings energy and emissions performance
    5. Recommend changes to the TGS

    Interest holder engagement

    • Focus groups/workshops with larger groups
    • Solicit feedback on study results, updated targets and  understand industry needs for effective implementation

    Toronto BILD Forum Meeting: Net Zero Transition Study – October 8, 2024