SWITCH Collaboration Leads the Way to Net Zero

Humber College’s commitment to achieving net zero emissions is progressing with the SWITCH project, the largest district energy project in a Canadian college. On the North Campus, the college is set to replace the heating and cooling systems with modern and efficient hot water system largely powered by electricity.

Ecosystem collaborated with Humber to design a bold project that will cut natural gas consumption by 70 percent and reduce current carbon emissions by 40 percent. The first phase of the project, now underway, is targeting the Central Plant, the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions on the North Campus. The deep retrofit will replace Humber’s steam heating system with a new electric boiler and heat pumps. This will connect all North Campus buildings to the Central Plant. Heat recovery and battery storage will enhance the efficiency of the new system, reducing energy use by 15 percent.

The project is benefiting the campus in many other ways as well. Energy costs are decreasing by $1.5 million annually. Students are also engaging with the project through co-op placements and other educational engagements.

Ecosystem is proud to be working on this groundbreaking initiative with Humber College and collaborating on future decarbonization efforts. “The joint Humber and Ecosystem team collaborated closely to imagine and bring SWITCH to life. This close collaboration is key to an iterative approach that continuously looks to optimize and improve the project,” said Asaph Benun, managing director, business development at Ecosystem.

To learn more about SWITCH, please see us at two upcoming local events: the CAUBO Annual Conference in Toronto (May 8) where Ecosystem and Humber College leaders will be discussing the full scope of our project development; Ecosystem will also be at OAPPA in Windsor, Ontario (May 31).

For more information on the project, click here.