The City of Toronto set ambitious targets for reducing its GHG emissions. To achieve this, the City committed to a highly innovative project that involves the use of renewable energy. After implementing two preliminary phases of energy improvements at the City Waterfront Building (LED lighting conversion and solar panel installation), the next step involveds replacing the heating and cooling equipment.
In order to improve the building’s environmental performance to meet set targets, the entire energy production and distribution design had to be reimagined. The cornerstone of the solution used a lake-based hydrothermal system to heat and cool the building. To accomplish this, the City installed a heat exchange system in Lake Ontario, located right next to the building. In addition, an extensive replacement and upgrade of the Building Automation System (BAS) eliminated waste by managing the energy supply according to the needs of the various spaces in the building.
With a total investment of $3.1M, the project achieved substantial reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and energy usage, resulting in $95,100 in annual energy savings. Recognized with Canada’s Clean50 Top Project Award, it contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emission reduction and paves the way for a more environmentally conscious future in infrastructure development.
Lake-based hydrothermal system
BAS replacement, RCx, & standard efficiency measures
