Blog

After the Big Move: Metrolinx maps the future of regional transportation

12/2017 - The GTHA keeps growing, so how will regional transportation keep up? A new draft plan by Metrolinx sets out a path to 2041. TAF and Pembina Institute took a closer look at what works and what's missing in the 20-plus year planning document that will shape how we get around the region.

TowerWise: TAF launches new phase of energy retrofit program

12/2017 - We spend the vast majority of our time indoors, but we rarely make the connection between our activities and the fact that buildings are a major source of carbon emissions. 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.

Energy efficiency 101: Why do an energy retrofit?

12/2017 - Operating a building is costly – with energy costs usually being the largest variable expense building operators can influence. An energy efficiency retrofit is the best way to reduce these costs. But there are more benefits, our VP of Impact Investing Tim Stoate explains.

From Germany to Canada: There’s no way around the transport transformation

12/2017 - The auto industry faces the largest transformation of its history as the future of the internal combustion engine, private ownership of cars, and even driving itself as an expression of individuality are all in question. Car makers in Germany and Canada need to face these simultaneous challenges or risk losing out, guest blogger Christian Hochfeld writes.

TransformTO Steps: Tackling costly air pollution through investment in low-carbon actions

11/2017 - When it comes to sources of air pollution in Toronto, transportation is king, according to the most recent report from Toronto’s Medical Officer of Health. It's time to act and speed up the switch to low-carbon transportation. It's good for public health and for our climate.

Focus group session at Vaughan City Hall

Getting to know the region: Climate action in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area

11/2017 - Following our new $17-million endowment from the Province of Ontario, TAF has been actively engaging key stakeholders to better our regional granting process and hear about climate action initiatives throughout the Greater Toronto and Hamilton area (GTHA).

COMPASS: Better buildings through streamlined energy reporting and benchmarking

10/2017 - Energy modelling helps gauge and improve a building’s energy performance before it’s actually built. TAF recently supported the development of a new tool that will help compare and share such energy modelling data across Ontario.

TransformTO Steps: Toronto moves towards Zero Emissions Buildings

10/2017 - As Toronto continues to grow quickly, we need to get emissions from new construction under control if we want to reach our 2050 climate target. That’s Council approval for the Toronto Green Standard 3.0 for new buildings is such an important step.

No buildings left behind: A near-zero emissions future for Canada’s existing buildings

10/2017 - Canada has to include existing buildings in its transition to a low-carbon future. Research from The Atmospheric Fund and the Pembina Institute outlines a comprehensive national strategy to make our existing building stock energy efficient.

Net-Zero Toronto Laneway Housing Concept Wins International Design Competition

9/2017 - Climate innovation made in Toronto: Students from Ryerson University and the University of Toronto recently took the grand prize at the U.S. Department of Energy’s fourth annual Race to Zero Design Competition — with a design for a net-zero laneway house.

New TAF research reveals carbon impact of electricity conservation

8/2017 - Quantifying the emissions impact of electricity consumption - and conservation efforts - is crucial for planning climate actions, whether it's a government policy or upgrades and behaviour shifts at home. TAF's latest research greatly improves such quantifications.

Left in the dark: Ontario municipalities need energy data for meaningful climate action

8/2017 - A proper carbon emissions inventory is a crucial starting point for city-level climate action. But unfortunately, many cities in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA), don't have gas and electricity consumption data - but utilities do. That's why TAF asked the Ontario government to make this data public.