Smart Dual Fuel Switching System Aims to Reduce the Carbon Footprint of Natural Gas Heated Homes by 30%
The majority of residential energy consumption is used for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC), accounting for approximately 40% of the world’s energy consumption. In Ontario, most heating systems use natural gas as a fuel. Natural gas is carbon-intensive but, at current prices, it is also generally less expensive than most low-carbon electric heating options. […]
Education and Resources for Water Management Professionals
Increased urban development, aging infrastructure, and the need to build resilience and adapt to climate change are just some of the water management challenges facing communities across Canada today. Water management practitioners need more robust tools and practical guidance to effectively manage the obstacles ahead. The water component of the Sustainable Technologies Evaluation Program (STEP) […]
Transactional Energy’s Role in Addressing Climate Change
Courtesy of Aidan Brookson The energy landscape around the world is rapidly changing. Every year, advances in technologies such as solar photovoltaics or battery storage are helping to make clean energy solutions cost-competitive alternatives to traditional fossil fuel-based electricity generation. However, integrating these renewable energy resources into existing electricity grids can be a challenge. Not […]
Piloting Innovative Urban Runoff Thermal Mitigation Strategies
Courtesy of Erik Janssen During warm weather, urban surfaces like pavement and rooftops heat up quickly as they absorb and store heat from the sun. It follows that the stormwater shed from these surfaces during rain events is significantly warmed. This effect is further increased by stormwater management ponds, a common feature in many urban […]
Street Trees and Salty Water
Courtesy of Jen Hill and Lorraine Johnson. Soil cells are increasingly popular in cities across Canada and elsewhere in the world. These rigid plastic supports permit urban trees to flourish with their roots in engineered soils beneath sidewalks or other paved surfaces. The soil cells support the surface, preventing compaction from damaging the tree roots, […]
Exploring Air-Source Heat Pumps as an Energy Efficiency Solution
Courtesy of Erik Janssen Most people in Ontario have a general sense that electricity is expensive and that heating homes or apartments with electric baseboards can lead to painfully high hydro bills. Fewer people are aware that technology can help; the same basic technology that people already use in their homes every day. Air-conditioners and […]
Newmarket Magna Centre Parking Lot Receives LID Makeover
Courtesy of Steve Auger Recently the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority (LSRCA) and the Town of Newmarket partnered together to complete the first ever York Region well head protection area (WHPA) –Q2 (area affected by recharge reduction) offsetting project at the Magna Centre. The local Source Water Protection Plan, under the Clean Water Act, requires […]
Road Salt Is Toxic And Should Be Regulated
Courtesy of Catherine McIntyre, Torontoist.com Nearly every surface of the city was slick with ice when Angela Wallace left home to pick up her children after school on February 7. She was careful as she walked down her stairs but slipped on the final step, striking the back of her head on a wall. Suspecting […]
Bioretention Solutions to be Monitored at Living Labs
Recent activity at the Living Labs has included the installation of a Filterra® Bioretention System from Imbrium Systems The Filterra Biorentention System is designed to capture stormwater runoff and filter the water through specially designed filter media mixture for the purpose of capturing and immobilizing pollutants. The stormwater runoff flows through engineered biofiltration media, a […]
New BRE Innovation Park a “Sandbox” for Testing Green Building Tech
The new BRE Innovation Park at Kortright Centre for Conservation will be Canada’s first: a collection of model homes designed for the demonstration and testing of innovative new sustainable building technologies and practices. Though no one will actually live in this new subdivision, thousands will visit each year: builders and suppliers, researchers, experts from industry and […]