buildings

We thrive in better buildings – how a new bylaw could transform retrofits in the GTHA

1/2025 - The City of Toronto is introducing Building Emissions Performance Standards (BEPS) to tackle building-related carbon emissions.

People are gathered in small groups in a green space in front of a multi-level residential building

Lowering emissions, not equity – perspectives on Toronto’s building policy

1/2025 - Toronto's emerging BEPS policy needs to be well-designed and informed by representative stakeholders and rightsholders regarding equity impacts.

Balconies sit in rows and columns on the exterior of a Toronto apartment building

What building types will be included in Toronto’s building emissions performance standards?

12/2024 - One of the most important questions in designing a BEPS is which types and sizes of buildings should be included.

Two tall buildings in the background with a flat iron building in the middle. On the left is a midrise building, and on the right is a green and white GO bus.

Commercial real estate has everything to gain from building emissions performance standards

12/2024 - The commercial real estate sector should be excited about Toronto moving forward with its Building Emissions Performance Standards (BEPS) policy.

A new building policy approach that’s working

11/2023 - Existing building performance has been historically challenging to regulate, but that’s changing with the recent proliferation of mandatory building performance standards (BPS) across North America.

Putting high-rises on a low-carbon diet

5/2023 - GLOBE AND MAIL: Policy paper published last year by U of T, City of Toronto, The Atmospheric Fund and Mantle Developments calls for the regulation of embodied carbon as well as the development of standardized ways of measuring these emissions.

Doug Ford’s new housing bill guts green building law he voted for as Toronto councillor, say critics

11/2022 - TORONTO STAR - "The Building More Homes Faster Act includes clauses that will inadvertently make future homes more unaffordable and less efficient for Ontarians," says Bryan Purcell.

Dear election candidates: Climate action means working across issues and regional lines

10/2022 - To handle the complex and intersectional issues that face our region, hopeful new leaders will need to follow the carbon and collaborate.

Breaking ground on a climate-friendly way to heat and cool homes in Toronto

7/2022 - TVO -“It’s really critical that we get all new developments to net-zero or near-zero as soon as possible. Low-carbon district energy is one way to address that challenge,” says Bryan Purcell.

Climate and affordability depend on these essential building code updates

3/2022 - Ontario’s building code is only updated every five to seven years, so we can’t afford to miss this opportunity to reduce carbon emissions by building better buildings that are cleaner and more affordable to operate. Read our recommendations to align it with an affordable, net zero future.

Three key climate measures for Toronto’s 2022 budget

2/2022 - Council will vote on the City Budget this Thursday: what do we want to see most? To continue its role as a climate leader, Toronto needs to shift to implementation in top three climate priority areas: Climate Lens Policy, electrification of public bus fleets, and green development standards.

Hybrid heat pumps can be a stopgap to an electric future

2/2022 - New case studies show the promise of hybrid heat pumps in the GTHA, and Erik Jansen of TRCA explores the upsides and downsides of the technology.