Passive House Canada prepares Zero Emissions Buildings Exchange initiative for GTHA

Ontario Construction News staff writer

Passive House Canada says it is developing a concept for a Zero Emissions Buildings Exchange for municipalities, businesses and the public in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA).

With a $40,000 grant from the Atmospheric Fund to develop a comprehensive concept and business plan, this work will enable all stakeholders to achieve significant building greenhouse gas emission reductions and achieve their climate targets, the organization says.

The business plan will be developed in collaboration with the Clean Air Partnership and the Canadian Green Building Council, with input from municipalities, educational institutions, unions, NGOs and others to create a concept that is widely supported by both industry and government.

“Local governments and businesses in the GTHA have adopted ambitious targets aligning with national and international goals to reduce GHG emissions,” the statement says. “Maximizing building energy efficiency has been widely identified as among the easiest and cheapest mitigation strategies available, and one that delivers multiple benefits. When combined with a transition to renewable energy, modernized building and retrofit standards can greatly reduce carbon. This concept builds on the success of similar proven initiatives in other jurisdictions.

“Cities around the globe produce 70 per cent of our GHG emissions,” said Passive House Canada CEO Chris Ballard. “In Toronto, 53 per cent of these emissions come from buildings. Regions like the GTHA have a critical role in reducing GHG emissions. With continued population growth and densification in the region, we recognize the central role that buildings play in our climate mitigation and adaptation strategies.”

“Getting to zero carbon buildings requires a trained workforce and collaboration between green building professionals and municipalities,” said Julia Langer, CEO of The Atmospheric Fund. “Leveraging its success in BC, TAF champions the development of the Zero Emissions Building Exchange in the Greater Toronto & Hamilton Area.”