Trudeau’s climate platform: 6 promises we’re watching10/2015 - For the 27 million Canadians living in cities, it’s notable that the new Liberal government has made some important commitments to urban sustainability. The Party’s on-line election platform has an overwhelming raft of content, So we’ve put together a summary of the key elements that focus on climate change, cities, and the low-carbon economy. We hope this record of the tangible commitments made during the election can act as a reference point for measuring this government’s progress over time.
A new City program to help green tech innovators succeed10/2015 - Last week, Toronto City Council passed the Green Market Acceleration Program (GMAP) for a two-year pilot period. Run collaboratively by the Toronto Office of Partnerships and Economic Development and Culture, GMAP will allow local businesses to apply to the City to use city infrastructure for applied research, proving concepts and demonstrating new technologies developed here in Toronto.
Closing the loop – local geothermal heat pump performance8/2015 - Homes and businesses in the Greater Toronto Area are experiencing deep energy savings by harvesting ground heat with geothermal heat pump (AKA geoexchange) systems. With energy savings of 30-70% and 20-95% for space heating and cooling respectively, it is no wonder this emerging technology is experiencing increased interest across Canada.
Pumping energy savings – global heat pump performance review6/2015 - Heating homes and buildings account for over one third of Toronto’s greenhouse gas emissions, mostly from natural gas-burning furnaces and boilers. Achieving Toronto’s 2050 climate targets will require transitioning from natural gas to cleaner technologies, which has motivated TAF to explore the performance of heat pumps.