News

Investing for climate and the tough search for the right deals

8/2021 - We’re seeing a lot of deal flow in the impact investing space but finding quality deals that achieve the intended impact can be a challenge. Tracy Haynes, TAF’s Investor Partnerships Manager provides insights and experiences about how transparency, patience, and partnerships can unlock new opportunities.

WoodGreen breaks new ground on social housing with energy-saving project

8/2021 - NOW - WoodGreen commissioned Efficiency Capital to fund, develop, and implement a building retrofit plan, bringing in engineering firms SensorSuite Inc. and Finn Projects to do much-needed capital upgrades to the buildings. The project was funded by Efficiency Capital and The Atmospheric Fund, the City of Toronto’s Better Building Partnerships loans, and WoodGreen’s capital reserves.

Toronto just approved a host of climate-related policies. We asked experts how they stack up

8/2021 - TORONTO STAR - “Toronto is such a significant part of Ontario, and of Canada, that if we fall behind on climate, it puts at risk provincial and national targets toward net zero (carbon). It also risks Toronto being left behind in the 21st-century economy,” says TAF VP Bryan Purcell.

TAF News: July 2021

7/2021 - We’re double-celebrating low-carbon buildings!

TAF congratulates the City of Toronto on passing two landmark low-carbon building policies

7/2021 - Toronto City Council approved the Toronto Green Standard Version 4 to regulate new building performance and the Net Zero Existing Building Strategy to accelerate building retrofits, putting the City on a solid path to a net zero future.

Fiddling while Toronto burns

7/2021 - SPACING TORONTO - It may be time for the province and the Ontario Energy Board to completely overhaul the traditional approach to natural gas consumption by promulgating conservation policies that provide building owners and homeowners with financial incentives to get off gas entirely instead of simply moving to high efficiency gas furnaces.

All new Toronto buildings could soon face tighter greenhouse gas emissions targets

7/2021 - CBC - "With a rapidly growing city, there is simply no path to net zero that doesn't require a transition to near-zero new construction," Bryan Purcell, TAF VP, told the city's Planning and Housing Committee. "The Toronto Green Standard is by far Toronto's most important climate policy."

Toronto’s New Buildings Could Soon be Required to Go Greener

7/2021 - STOREYS - Update to the Toronto Green Standard would require that all new mid-high rise buildings produce fewer carbon emissions and consume less energy. The update would take effect May 2022 and require a 25% drop in annual greenhouse gases and a 28% cut in energy use intensity.

Canadians need real incentives to fuel-switch away from natural gas if we hope to achieve our climate goals

6/2021 - THE GLOBE AND MAIL - Fuel switching isn’t simply about improving energy efficiency – it’s about getting off gas. For Canada to reach climate goals, we need a phase out of gas-fired electricity, greener building standards, and targeted rebates for heat pumps in retrofits and new construction.

TAF News: June 2021

6/2021 - Say YES to greener new buildings in your community, deep retrofit diary, and we are hiring

Deep Retrofit Diary: A New Kind of Project Delivery

6/2021 - There’s one basic concept that is completely changing the way we do retrofits at TAF. Integrated Project Delivery integrates people, systems, business structures and practices into a process that collaboratively harnesses the talents and insights of all participants.

TAF News: May 2021

5/2021 - Four reasons you’re about to see more EVs in the GTHA, and how did a weird 2020 impact transportation emissions