We provide information and assistance to municipal, provincial, and federal governments to enact and improve policies that have significant emissions reduction potential. At the same time, our policy development efforts also strive to create other benefits such as improved public health, lower building operating costs, and local job creation. For example, TAF supported the development of province-wide building standards (Ontario Building Code) and the City of Toronto’s climate plan, TransformTO.
Our policy-related research, outreach and grant-making have resulted in a number of successes:
- Ontario Building Code: Strengthening province-wide building standards. TAF supported the development of the 2017 Ontario Building Code, which includes new green building provisions such as increased electrical capacity to support electric vehicle charging as well as stronger energy efficiency requirements.
- Toronto Green Standard: Better buildings in TO. TAF provided research and recommendations for this policy, establishing high standards for energy efficiency in new buildings.
- Energy and Water Reporting and Benchmarking (EWRB). TAF successfully initiated an Energy and Water Reporting and Benchmarking (EWRB) requirement for the City of Toronto, which evolved into a province-wide regulation.
- TransformTO: Municipal climate action. Co-chaired by the City of Toronto’s Environment & Energy Division and TAF, TransformTO resulted in a robust strategy to reach Toronto’s 2050 climate target, and spans policy areas from buildings, transportation and waste to land planning, received unanimous Toronto City Council approval in July 2017. Read more
- Ontario Coal Phase-Out: Clean energy, clean air. Realizing the dramatic emissions reduction potential and public health benefits, TAF supported the phase-out of coal power in Ontario through research and policy recommendations, and grant support for the Ontario Clean Air Alliance’s campaign. The successful coal phase-out remains the single largest carbon reduction activity in Canada to date.
- Demand Side Management Framework: Reducing Ontario’s natural gas consumption. TAF prepared a detailed study and recommendations that contributed to a significant expansion of funding for natural gas conservation under the Ontario Energy Board’s Demand Side Management Framework.