Profile

TransformTO, the City of Toronto’s climate change action strategy, was unanimously approved by City Council in 2017. TransformTO outlines a set of long-term, low-carbon goals and strategies to reduce community-wide GHG emissions in Toronto. Toronto’s long-term goal is to achieve net zero by 2050 or sooner.

With the goal of leading by example, TransformTO also includes strategies to achieve low-carbon goals at City-owned facilities, including a goal for 100 per cent of existing City-owned buildings to be retrofitted to achieve 40 per cent energy savings, on average, by 2040.

The effective implementation of energy efficiency measures and building retrofits are key components of the City’s strategy to achieve these ambitious goals.

The City’s current 5-year Energy Conservation and Demand Management Plan (2019 – 2024) takes a “whole city” approach to achieving these goals. The City plans to implement energy retrofit and renewable energy measures within its buildings to deliver the greatest impact.

Accomplishments at the Building Portfolio

  • Number of buildings enrolled: 100 of 1,294
  • GHG Emissions Intensity: 5.1 kgCO₂e/sq ft²/yr
  • Total GHG Emissions: 47,196 tCO₂e/yr

Monitoring and tracking energy use at 3,008 City sites and 5,512 active utility accounts

Implemented utility accounting and energy management system to track and monitor energy consumption in all City-owned buildings to manage and reduce energy costs.

50 buildings integrated with centralized building automation system servers

Fifty buildings are hosted on 3 Building Automation System servers, providing oversight and access to 160 City staff for energy management.

5.5 MW of electricity demand reduced through the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) Demand Response Program

Reduced electricity demand generates $390,000 in savings for the City of Toronto annually

41 buildings benchmarked on the Energy Star Portfolio Manager system; 59 baseline models on RETScreen software

Energy Star Portfolio Manager and RETscreen are analytical tools used to identify and plan future GHG emission reduction projects.

100+ Rooftop Solar PV Systems installed on City-owned buildings through the IESO Feed-in Tariff (FIT) Program

10 MW renewable generation capacity, equivalent to 11.3 GWh (sufficient to power 1,250 homes/year).

Lake-based geo-exchange system at the Waterfront Neighbourhood Centre at Queens Quay W. and Bathurst St.

The geo-exchange system is expected to reduce:

  • energy consumption by 72 per cent
  • GHG emissions by 80 per cent
  • energy costs by 40 per cent

Received $850,000 funding from the IESO and Federation of Canadian Municipalities.

 

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 (2019). 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).