Putting out the fire: How to cleanly heat a cold country that’s hooked on natural gas11/2021 - CORPORATE KNIGHTS - Without strong policy signals, utilities continue to invest millions annually in expanding and renewing gas distribution infrastructure, compounding the risk of stranded assets and financial disruptions.
YWCA Hamilton raises the bar to build amazing affordable housing11/2021 - New YWCA building in Hamilton shows what’s possible when resident health, comfort, and the climate are put first. We interviewed key players from the design and project teams and took a tour of the facilities. Take a peek to find out how they did it.
WoodGreen breaks new ground on social housing with energy-saving project8/2021 - 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.
Deep Retrofit Diary: A New Kind of Project Delivery6/2021 - 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.
Budget 2021 is a healthy dose for the clean economy, but climate measures lack potency4/2021 - Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland just announced $101.4 billion in new spending. With the trend toward increasing emissions in the Great Toronto and Hamilton Area and other cities across Canada, there are welcome investments in Budget 2021 to support urban climate action, but a critical missing link is missing.
Four ways the federal budget should boost the retrofit market2/2021 - With Canada’s 2021 budget just around the corner, cue TAF’s refrain that investment in deep retrofits will hit the mark local job creation, carbon reduction, and numerous positive social outcomes.
What does Canada’s new $15 billion plan mean for urban climate action?12/2020 - Canada’s new climate plan is historic because it is the first to follow the science and chart a clear path to the 2030 target.
Three things no one is telling you about the business case for retrofits10/2020 - Open up your spreadsheets, it’s time for some fun with business case analysis...
Will Whitby approve a green development standard? Here’s why it matters7/2020 - Whitby declared a climate emergency almost exactly one year ago; this fall’s decision on the WGS will be the first litmus test of the Town’s commitment.
Deep Retrofit Diary: Construction re-starts6/2020 - The new normal of spending more time at home underscores the importance of this deep retrofit project for the families who live there.
Investing in retrofits is no longer an “if” – here’s the “how”4/2020 - A "one-stop shop" approach can get retrofit projects off the ground fast.
On the path to recovery: how to “lock in” climate solutions3/2020 - Achieving carbon neutrality will require leaving no stone unturned, no building un-retrofitted, and no emission reduction opportunity ignored.