Blog

Collective impact: Improving public transit in Hamilton

4/2018 - Improved and expanded public transit is a clear solution for a more sustainable, equitable, and healthy city. Environment Hamilton wants to encourage modal shift to reduce transportation-related emissions – but Hamilton's public transportation system must first be safe, accessible, affordable, and reliable. Learn more about Hamilton transit in this guest blog by Ian Borsuk.

TransformTO Steps: Lake Ontario points to the future of district energy

4/2018 - Did you know Lake Ontario is a valuable renewable energy source for many of Toronto’s largest downtown buildings? TAF was an early supporter of Enwave's deep lake water cooling system, but what's next? In this blog, we discuss the future of district energy and its contribution to Toronto’s carbon reduction goals.

All aboard the community benefits bus

4/2018 - Local jobs and better public spaces: Check out what we learned from the Finch West LRT bus tour organized by the Toronto Community Benefits Network. Through collaboration with community groups, we will continue to explore how Community Benefits Agreements might be used to leverage public funding of climate solutions – like building retrofits – for multiple benefits.

TAF rolls out new Low Carbon Cannabis Canada initiative

4/2018 - To counter the risk of rising carbon emissions from legalized marijuana cultivation, TAF plans a joint pan-Canadian initiative with growers, provincial governments, and former police chiefs. The goal is to limit the budding industry's carbon footprint and ultimately ensure that Canadians can get high on low-emissions cannabis.

TransformTO funding approved: And the race begins

3/2018 - Every journey begins with a first step, and thanks to Toronto City Council, we’ve embarked on the journey to turn the TransformTO climate plan into reality. What happens next now that the 2018 budget received approval?

Making transit fare-free: A dream scenario or red herring?

3/2018 - Wouldn’t it be nice to take any bus, any streetcar, any commuter train free of charge, whenever you want? What sounds like a dream could soon be reality in five German cities as part of a pilot project on fare-free transit. But would it be good policy to offer free transit in the GTHA to boost ridership or is the real issue a lack of investment in service?

Sharing climate-friendly ideas: Perspectives from Picture2050

3/2018 - Led by the Toronto Climate Action Network and sponsored by The Atmospheric Fund, the TransformTO-inspired Picture2050 contest asked residents to imagine Toronto in the year 2050 as a caring and climate-friendly city of the future. The winning photos highlighted public transit and green infrastructure - here's what we learned:

Lack of low-carbon commitments: Assessing the climate impact of Ontario’s Long-Term Energy Plan

2/2018 - Ontario's new Long-Term Energy Plan provides a vision for the energy system over the next decade. However, the Plan lacks clear commitments to reducing emissions. Without a strategy towards a low-carbon energy system, Ontario will fall short of the necessary actions to meet provincial or national climate targets.

The how-to-guide for regional expansion: Opportunities for climate action in the GTHA

2/2018 - After a year of research to guide TAF's regional expansion efforts, we present the "Greenhouse Gas Reduction – Action and Opportunity in the GTHA" report. With this guide, we're excited to continue advancing climate action in the region.

Overheating no more: How smart thermostats improve the lives of over 1,300 residents

2/2018 - TAF's TowerWise project provides multiple benefits through energy retrofits such as jobs, health, and comfort. Smart thermostats give residents control over their comfort in a way that also maximizes the performance of these existing buildings - a win-win solution for building residents, carbon emissions, and energy savings.

Despite setbacks in the U.S., global green investments soar in 2017

2/2018 - While the U.S. federal government stepped back on climate change leadership, the rest of the world held steadfast on the shift towards a low-carbon economy. Clean technologies such as electric vehicles and renewable energy are competing well, outperforming most other sectors. Nothing trumps good economics - and the future looks bright for green investments.

ZeroHouse: A made-in-Toronto net zero housing solution

1/2018 - How can we reduce emissions from new residential buildings while addressing the housing shortage in the GTHA, especially the gap between high-rises and detached homes? The ZeroHouse, co-developed by Ryerson University students and the Endeavour Centre, shows how to address both issues.