green new construction

Towards net-zero communities: Announcing TAF’s new regional grant recipients

8/2018 - In our recent grant intake period, The Atmospheric Fund awarded two new grants to low-carbon projects by the City of Markham and ACORN Institute Canada. TAF has also recruited three new regional practitioners to our Grants and Programs Committee to better represent the new communities we serve.

New TAF research shows big potential for heat pumps – even in cold climates

7/2018 - Our latest research on heat pumps reveals exciting carbon reduction potential. With high uptake from building owners, we could cut almost 1.5 million tonnes of carbon emissions in electrically heated buildings over the next 10 years. See our key recommendations to accelerate heat pump adoption in Ontario.

Energy efficiency leads to job and GDP growth in Canada, new research shows

6/2018 - Investments in energy-efficient buildings result in more local jobs and economic growth across Canada. From retrofits to housing renewal in Indigenous communities, energy efficiency can strengthen our economy and get us closer to a low-carbon future. Read our guest blog by Corey Diamond of Efficiency Canada.

Generation Energy report shows path to Canada’s low-carbon future

6/2018 - How should Canada transition to a low-carbon economy within a generation? 14 thought leaders from across Canada, including TAF CEO Julia Langer, authored the Generation Energy report to the federal government that maps out four critical pathways.

ZeroHouse: A made-in-Toronto net zero housing solution

1/2018 - How can we reduce emissions from new residential buildings while addressing the housing shortage in the GTHA, especially the gap between high-rises and detached homes? The ZeroHouse, co-developed by Ryerson University students and the Endeavour Centre, shows how to address both issues.

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.

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.

Policy Options: Governments need to act on energy-efficient buildings shift

9/2017 - The shift to ultra-energy-efficient and low-carbon homes and buildings will help Canada reach its 2030 climate target under the Paris Agreement as well as its longer-term decarbonization goals. It will also reduce energy costs for Canadians, TAF CEO Julia Langer and Pembina Institute's Director of Buildings and Urban Solutions Karen Tam Wu emphasize in their submission to Policy Options.

Green building summit pushes the envelope on net-zero carbon buildings

6/2017 - TAF's Building Research Manager Ekaterina Tzekova recently attended the CaGBC's annual conference in Vancouver. Here are her key takeaways. This year’s conference focused on actionable solutions to climate change and included the unveiling of the new Zero Carbon Building standard.