To meet its net zero by 2040 target, the City’s TransformTO Net Zero Strategy and Net Zero Existing Buildings Strategy identified building emissions performance standards (BEPS) as one of the most impactful policies it can implement. BEPS are intended to catalyze actions that will drive the scale and depth of emission reductions needed in existing buildings. BEPS would also look to enhance and/or create supporting policies, programs and resources, and facilitate access to incentives, recognizing that some buildings may face more challenges to decarbonize.
The City is developing a proposed approach to implementing BEPS, guided by engagement with various sectors represented in the BEPS Advisory Groups and Committees, and the Council-approved design principles listed below.
If you have any questions, please email buildingemissions@toronto.ca.
In developing the BEPS, City staff are following these design principles:
To learn more about the development of the Building Emissions Performance Standards, see the July 2024 council report and/or contact buildingemissions@toronto.ca.
The City has established two Committees and six Advisory Groups, composed of multi-sectoral community and business leaders. These groups are in place to help inform the recommendations for BEPS in Toronto.
The Building Emissions Advisory Committee (BEAC) is made up of building industry representatives with a range of perspectives, who can offer technical input.
BEAC members:
The mandate of the Equity Advisory Committee (EAC) is to help shape the equity components of the BEPS. This includes highlighting potential negative impacts, working together to form tangible solutions such as supplementary policies and alternative compliance pathways, enabling the realization of co-benefits and representing equity-deserving communities throughout the BEPS development process.
Organizations on the Equity Advisory Committee include:
The BEPS advisory groups provide industry-specific or building-specific insights into the development of BEPS recommendations to ensure they are reasonable and feasible. The advisory groups include:
Advisory Group Members:
The City’s Climate Advisory Group (CAG) also provides input to help inform BEPS recommendations. The CAG was created in 2022 to provide advice, facilitate ongoing communication, and guide the effective and equitable implementation of Toronto’s climate strategy, the TransformTO Net Zero Strategy.
Existing buildings are Toronto’s largest source of GHG emissions (55 per cent), contributing to annual emissions of 8.8 million tonnes (MTCO2e) (2023). The largest contribution comes from residential buildings at 51 per cent, followed by commercial and institutional buildings at 38 per cent, and industrial buildings at 11 per cent (see graphic below).
Voluntary action is insufficient to drive the pace of change required to decarbonize the buildings sector, so mandatory requirements, and supportive policies and resources are needed. City Council adopted the accelerated climate action strategy after declaring a climate emergency in 2019.
Through the Better Buildings Partnership, the City provides funding, guidance and resources to help building owners improve energy efficiency and reduce emissions.
In addition to reducing GHG emissions and helping to mitigate climate change, upgrading buildings could also improve resilience and yield co-benefits for social equity, health and Toronto’s local economy.
For example, better insulated buildings are better at maintaining consistent indoor temperatures, even during power outages. This can improve year-round comfort for occupants and increase safety and resilience when extreme weather events arise. Systems like electric heat pumps provide both heating and cooling – with no need for separate air conditioning systems – which could mean some residents would have access to cooling in their buildings or building units for the first time. Other benefits include cleaner air and better health from upgraded air filtration and ventilation systems, which could improve the indoor conditions of some of Toronto’s oldest buildings.
City modelling also suggests that retrofit investment in buildings could be an estimated $240 billion across the city, which would generate approximately 16,000 jobs over the next few decades in local construction, energy services and supportive work.
Toronto Energy & Water Reporting Bylaw requires property owners to report their buildings’ energy and water use to the City annually. This annual reporting lets building owners track their buildings’ performance over time and compare it with other similar buildings. The energy and water reporting requirement is the foundation for establishing BEPS, and will provide the data needed to inform those standards.
If approved by Council, BEPS would also fall under Chapter 367 of Toronto’s Municipal Code.
The City’s BEPS development work, including the technical analyses, legal advisory and targeted engagement will inform recommendations on building types and sizes, and a proposed timeline approach for BEPS.
The City will exempt low-rise residential buildings from any BEPS proposal to Council. In this context, this refers to buildings that are used for residential purposes and are no greater than 3 storeys (for example: detached house, semi-detached house, townhouse, multiplex, laneway house or garden suite, and residential over low-rise commercial buildings).
In order to address GHG emissions from this building sector, the City has undertaken broad public consultation from November 2024 to April 2025 to gather input that will help inform future programs and resources aimed at accelerating voluntary retrofit action. This consultation included the Residents’ Reference Panel on Inclusive Climate Action, community-led discussions and an online survey.
Learn more about existing retrofit support for low-rise residential buildings.
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