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UrbanToronto is celebrating Earth Month throughout April with features that examine the issues and challenges of sustainability in the development industry.
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When modern Toronto emerged in the 1960s, ‘sustainability’ was on very few radars. Few had ever heard the term, knew what it meant, spell or even pronounce it. Solar panels? A vegetable garden on the roof of a skyscraper? Geothermal energy? Deep lake cooling into downtown buildings? This was the stuff of science fiction – you might as well be talking about rocket boots or flying cars.
Today, thankfully, with the rapid growth of the GTA, anticipated to further increase in the coming decades, sustainability is reality as modern development increasingly requires looking at different energy sources because of their proven benefits to the industry and the area. New energy sources and infrastructure will be needed to keep up with the growth to power new homes, businesses, transit and electrification.
Peak electricity demand in Toronto is 4,700 megawatts, which is approximately 20 % of peak demand for all of Ontario. According to Ontario’s Independent Electricity System Operator, after 20 years of flat demand in the city, Toronto’s peak demand is expected to double in just the next 25 years. The Portlands Energy Centre is the only major source of electricity supply in the city, generating approximately 550 megawatts, which supplies approximately 12 % of Toronto’s peak demand.
Alternative energy sources are clearly needed to power our growth. We were all reminded earlier this month of the enormous power, size and energy of our sun. We all looked up (glasses on, please) to witness a rare total solar eclipse. It was somewhat unifying in reminding us we are all passengers on Spaceship Earth and it was also a powerful reminder of the enormous size and energy of the star which gives us life. In just one hour, the sun produces enough energy to sustain all human activities on Earth for a year.
Finding innovative ways to harness and use that solar energy in the development industry is the job of companies such as Toronto-based Mitrex, who utilize a process called Building Integrated Photovoltaics, or BIPV, as a technology where the solar panels that create electricity from sunlight are built directly into parts of a building’s structure, such as the windows, walls or facades, instead of being added on later. This means these building parts do double duty: they serve as both the exterior of the building and as a source of energy. The building may look like any other, but BIPV technology means the building works to produce its own electricity, which can help lower energy costs and is better for the environment. That recipe is extremely attractive to architects, developers and building owners.
“For architects, BIPV allows creative freedom to design innovative, sustainable buildings with an unlimited variety of colours and patterns, enhancing the opportunity to achieve sustainability goals with up to 40 LEED points,” says Danial Hadizadeh, CEO of Mitrex. “Developers see increased property values and compliance with stringent environmental regulations, making these buildings more appealing to environmentally conscious owners. Additionally, incorporating BIPV can differentiate properties in competitive markets, attracting investments and demonstrating a commitment to sustainability.”
According to Hadizadeh, this race to embrace the energy of the sun through solar technology is only increasing in the industry. “The popularity of solar technology is on the rise, driven by several compelling reasons as reported by clients such as Carttera, Novi Engineering, and Tenblock,” he says. “These companies emphasize the strong alignment of solar solutions with sustainability and decarbonization goals, making Mitrex products extremely attractive. The building industry is experiencing an acceleration in adoption and investment in solar technologies due to their established record of success and their potential for application in new developments.”
Power and energy are not only above us, but below us as geothermal heating has become a growing trend to heat and cool buildings using a renewable resource from the ground, as ten metres below the surface, the temperature is consistent year-round, even in Toronto.
While the move to geothermal exchange in the development industry had its origins in the 1970s, the popularity of its adoption began only recently, according to Kareem Mirza, Chief Revenue Officer of Subterra Renewables, a leading developer of large-scale geothermal heating and cooling systems.
“The introduction of the carbon tax, stringent building standards, and, more recently, investment tax credits, have all spurred demand for geothermal in a meaningful way since 2020,” says Mirza. “This is around the time when engineers, architects and contractors started embracing geothermal as a viable alternative to conventional heating and cooling sources.”
For developers or owners, while geothermal is expensive to install, the payback comes over time from avoiding natural gas costs. “In the case of energy-as-a-service, depending on jurisdiction or region, the development or owner typically enjoys a 5% to 10% operations cost savings, while avoiding upfront costs, and without the need to budget for operations and maintenance, or reserve for the replacement of mechanical equipment,” says Mirza.
Innovative companies are using new approaches for alternate energy sources and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions as building sector emissions are currently the largest source of these emissions in Toronto. Specifically, the use of natural gas for heating in residential buildings accounts for 30% of Toronto’s overall greenhouse gas emissions.
Ancaster-based Geosource Energy has significantly altered the geothermal landscape through the development and optimization of its drilling technology and the delivery process it uses to better assess, design and implement geoexchange systems, which actively move heat from the ground to warm and cool the interior of buildings. They have completed more than 400 commercial geoexchange projects, including the largest institutional system in Canada at University of Toronto and the largest residential geothermal system in both Ontario and New York State.
“Geoexchange systems derive their efficiency from the ambient temperatures in the ground and leverage them to provide consistent and comfortable heat levels in buildings year-round,” says Kate Cheng, Vice-President at Geosource Energy. “These highly efficient heating and cooling systems operate by actively moving heat from the ground to warm and cool the interiors of our buildings.”
Geosource worked under EllisDon for the University of Toronto’s King’s College Circle Landmark Project. “It’s inspiring to see institutions like the University of Toronto taking such powerful action on decarbonization,” says Cheng. “This will make a significant contribution in reducing U of T’s greenhouse gas emissions by 37% from 1990 levels by 2030 and help solidify their vision of a more sustainable future.”
The broad spectrum that is the building industry contains some very innovative companies comprised of very smart people doing the right thing by exploring alternative energy sources to help drive much needed sustainability. When the large development industry can understand the challenges, they are proving it can adapt and move forward for the greater good.
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UrbanToronto has a research service, UrbanToronto Pro, that provides comprehensive data on construction projects in the Greater Toronto Area—from proposal through to completion. We also offer Instant Reports, downloadable snapshots based on location, and a daily subscription newsletter, New Development Insider, that tracks projects from initial application.
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Thank you to the companies joining UrbanToronto to celebrate Earth Month.
