Recently, the 2019 Canada’s Climate Change Report concluded that the country is heating twice as quickly as the world’s average, a finding that quickly reignited local support for solutions to address climate change. In fact, Toronto is at the forefront of developing energy initiatives to lower the city’s net carbon emissions while minimizing costs associated with powering electricity grids, a goal that takes many forms in projects across the city. Cumulatively, these initiatives are a core aspect to protecting our families for the future and shielding Toronto from some of the devastating effects of climate change.
Energy Solutions
Two-thirds of electricity in Canada is now powered by renewable resources, a 60% spike from 2005. However, the type of energy solution most suitable for buildings varies widely between provinces. In Toronto, the most popular methods for powering buildings with clean energy is hydroelectricity, although wind and solar power are also gaining steady traction across the city. Provision Power & Gas recommends consulting energy experts to determine which combination of renewable energies and natural gas solutions can best be applied to your property.
All About Retrofitting
One of the problems facing environmental experts is how to heat and power buildings that were designed originally for traditional energy resources. Green retrofitting, also called deep energy retrofitting, involves redesigning the energy systems of older buildings to lower carbon emissions and minimize costs associated with energy. Last week, the federal government pledged $5.75 million in funding to support deep energy retrofits in residential buildings in Toronto. The retrofits are expected to reduce energy consumption in these buildings by 40% while lowering energy costs for residents.
An Academic Emphasis
Universities in Toronto pioneer some of the most innovative methods for addressing climate change in North America, but they are also important for setting a precedent in the city that relies on sustainability. Last month, the University of Toronto Mississauga unveiled its plan to conduct major renovations on its campus so that the buildings meed target Sustainability Index goals. Part of these measures are simply to inform the community about their energy usage: the university has installed energy dashboards so that students and staff can observe how much energy the buildings are using on a real-time basis.
Toronto still has much progress to make on preparing for the effects of climate change, but recent efforts indicate the city is very much in favor of addressing what experts now call the world’s biggest long-term crisis. At a local level, community support for clean energy projects enables quicker growth in the city, all while providing energy solutions that are built to withstand the effects of time.
