Net Zero Guidance Material

Browse guidance materials that outline the pathways for building owners across building sectors to transition their existing buildings to net-zero greenhouse gas emissions in alignment with the 2040 goal of overall carbon neutrality under the City’s TransformTO Net Zero Strategy.

Familiarizes all home and building owners with Toronto’s net zero goals and net zero building concepts. Highlights the various economic, social, and environmental benefits of a building’s net zero transition. Provides a high-level overview on how to use the future phases.

Provides detailed guidance tailored to individual building types found in Toronto. Roadmaps are provided to identify, plan and implement retrofit projects suitable to a given building type, focused on a net-zero transition over time.

Institutional and large commercial

Multi-unit residential buildings

Small commercial and industrial

Single family home

Introduces fifteen retrofit technologies and measures related to net zero building retrofits. Includes typical cost metrics, savings potentials and common hurdles for consideration.

Load Reduction

Electrification

Advanced Controls

Renewable Energy Generation and Storage

Decision-making that supports net-zero considerations, interaction with industry, and that instills confidence in net zero retrofits.

  • When to Implement Guide: Identifies and recommends retrofit measures to be completed prior, with, or after a selected net zero technology / measure for a single-family home.
  • Stakeholder Responsibilities Matrix Template (RACI): Matrix templates to list stakeholders required for developing a net zero roadmap or executing a specific net zero retrofit project.
  • Measure Specific Checklist: Checklist of measures which prompt users to identify opportunities and feasibility considerations while progressing through the development of a net-zero roadmap and retrofitting.
  • Board Approvals Template: Template is designed to help users create a business case for a building retrofit following the development of a net-zero roadmap.
  • Life Cycle Cost Assessment Tool: Estimate the life cycle cost for a selected net zero retrofit measure in comparison to business-as-usual operations.
  • Fuel Switching Estimates: Suggest electrified technologies for fuel switching heating system and domestic hot water systems.
  • Emissions Reduction Calculator: Estimate the potential reduction on greenhouse gas emissions, energy savings and utility costs from a selected net zero net zero retrofit measure.
  • Net Zero Roadmap: Use to schedule net-zero retrofits and create a comprehensive, actionable net-zero roadmap.