Profile

The Toronto District School Board (TDSB) is the largest and one of the most diverse school boards in Canada, serving approximately 247,000 elementary and secondary students. The TDSB’s building portfolio of over 580 facilities across the city of Toronto includes schools, outdoor education centres and administrative centres.

The TDSB has been engaged in climate action for over 20 years. During this time, it has gradually reduced greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from buildings, spearheaded the EcoSchools movement spreading across Canada, and established numerous programs and partnerships to support and expand education for sustainability.

While teaching and learning are the heart of the TDSB, facilities and building operations play a major role in the TDSB’s climate action plan. Find out more about TDSB’s sustainability plans.

Accomplishments at the Building Portfolio

  • Number of buildings enrolled: 582
  • GHG Emissions Intensity: 2.68 kgCO₂e/sq ft²/yr
  • Total GHG Emissions: 116,176 tCO₂e/yr

Joint Management Labour Environment Committee

The TDSB’s Joint Management Labour Environment Committee (JMLEC) was established in 2018 to investigate and implement practical measures that address the TDSB’S environmental footprint. JMLEC leverages the knowledge and expertise that TDSB workers and management have of their workplaces and work processes to reduce the TDSB’s GHG emissions, promote environmental sustainability, and respond to the impacts of climate change.

The Youth Climate Action Guide created in collaboration with TDSB Students and Community Partners

The Climate Action Guide was developed to assist youth with mobilizing their communities towards equitable climate action. The guide offers resources and strategies to support youth with implementing climate action initiatives that are responsive and sensitive to the needs of their community.

Building Automation Systems at all Schools

All TDSB schools will have an up-to-date, networked Building Automation System by the end of August 2022.

Investing in State of Good Repair projects to reduce GHG emissions

The TDSB has been making steady investments into upgrading and replacing infrastructure within facilities, contributing to a reduction in building-related GHG emissions. Projects include:

  • 18 steam-to-hot water heating plant conversions
  • 32 heating plant replacements
  • 87 ventilation upgrades
  • 11 building HVAC controls upgrades
  • 25 window upgrades
  • 81 roofing renovations with significant upgraded insulation

Three hundred and fifty-one schools with Solar PV Systems installed with capacity of 38 megawatts (MW)

The TDSB began investing in renewable energy technologies in 2010 with a focus on the installation of solar PV systems on school rooftops.

The TDSB has a combination of directly owned and 3rd party operated solar PV systems at 351 schools with an installed capacity of approximately 38 megawatts (MW).

Energy and Climate Action Technical Team

In 2021, the TDSB created an Energy and Climate Action technical team under the supervision of the Senior Manager of Sustainability. This team focus on providing the engineering and analytical expertise necessary to accelerate the reduction of TDSB’s GHG emissions.

Disclaimer: Profiles presented are based on information provided by participants. Participants’ GHG emissions performance published are based on utility data submitted and converted to GHG emissions. The emission factors applied aligns with the period of energy data reported (2020). The emission factors utilized for the conversion are calculated based on a combination of sources: Government of Canada (National Inventory Report & Canada’s Proposed Greenhouse Gas Quantification Requirements), Government of Ontario (Guide: Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reporting), The Atmospheric Fund (A Clearer View on Ontario’s Emissions – Electricity emissions factors and guidelines) and Enbridge Gas Inc. (Chemical Composition of Natural Gas).