Working to save the environment

How Toronto can meet its 2050 goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 80%

We spend the vast majority of our time indoors working, sleeping, eating, socializing, and shopping. But we rarely make the connection between our activities and the fact that buildings are the largest source of carbon emissions in the GTHA with a share of 44 per cent. We need to significantly improve the way existing buildings perform – and we need to do it quickly. TAF is doing just that with the next phase of its TowerWise retrofit program.

Across the region, multi-residential buildings play a significant role as a pillar of our housing stock. In Toronto alone, they house more than half of the city’s population – and emit nearly 2 million tonnes of carbon dioxide every year. The case for energy efficiency retrofits is there; however, a lack of demonstration projects, capital, and confidence in performance makes it difficult for building owners to undertake these needed improvements.

To show that building retrofits work with existing technologies, TAF continues its trailblazing TowerWise retrofit program. Thanks to funding from Natural Resources Canada and the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO), we aim to demonstrate that deep energy savings – achieving a minimum of 40 per cent energy and emission reductions – are financially and technically feasible. Building on our experience from our previous TowerWise work, we will undertake a number of deep energy retrofits to quantify the economic, environmental, and social benefits.

Read more: http://taf.ca/towerwise-taf-launches-new-phase-energy-retrofit-program/