News

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).

Toronto Star: TTC plans to buy first electric buses, targets emissions-free fleet by 2040

11/2017 - A report for the TTC board recommends buying 30 battery electric buses by 2019, at a cost of up to $50 million. Electrifying the city's transit fleet is a key part of the TransformTO climate plan, the article points out.

Daily Commercial News: TransformTO examines how to design for weather changes

10/2017 - Modelling for Toronto's TransformTO plan examined risks associated with climate change-related weather changes and how to mitigate them through climate adaptation, designing and building for weather changes.

New in Homes: Five ways TransformTO will change the building industry

10/2017 - Changing the way we build and operate our buildings is a big part of decreasing carbon emissions under the TransformTO climate plan. The key reason behind this is that Toronto's buildings account for a whopping 53 per cent of our emissions. TransformTO outlines strategies for both existing buildings and new construction.

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.

Condominium Manager Magazine: Energy Retrofits – Lower Your Operating Costs Through Debt-Free Financing

10/2017 - Condominium Manager Magazine: TAF VP Tim Stoate explains how energy savings performance agreements (ESPA) for energy retrofits can help lower operating costs.

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.

National Observer: Who hid the electric car?

9/2017 - Across the country, Canadians eager to buy an electric vehicle can't find one. That's why a number of organizations - including TAF - are promoting a new campaign called EVChoice.ca. The goal: to get federal rules in place that give all Canadians a broad choice of EVs.