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Toronto Compliance & Programs

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Experts in the Toronto Green Standard, So You Don’t Have to Be

Toronto has adopted an ambitious strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2040 and has employed the Toronto Green Standard as a framework to deliver high-performance, low-emission, resilient, and future-proofed buildings.

Navigating the evolving Toronto Green Standard can add a layer of complexity to your projects. We can guide you through the requirements specific to your project to achieve compliance, development charge refunds, and your organization’s long-term sustainability goals.

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Which Compliance Pathway is Right for You?

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Rendering of the Passive House student residence at the University of Toronto.

Harmony Commons at the University of Toronto Scarborough

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Winthrop Center

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Massachusetts Army National Guard Armories

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Northland Newton Development

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Podcasts
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It’s Getting Hot in Here! – Why We Can’t Stop Talking About Electric Kitchens

Remember when gas stoves became a political issue last year? While all that public debate was happening, there were chefs around the world embracing the concept of all-electric kitchens and getting past the learning curve to induction cooking.
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Efficiency and Health: Prioritizing Occupant Health and Wellbeing in High-Performance Buildings

We like to say that a building is not sustainable if it does not sustain the health and wellbeing of all its occupants. This includes considering how the materials, technologies, and building systems affect indoor air quality, comfort, and the…
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What Can Go Wrong with Passive House Ventilation Systems—and How to Prevent It

When ventilation systems are designed correctly, but installed, commissioned, and operated incorrectly, the system ends up being leaky and inefficient and uses more energy than expected.
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Toronto Green Standard

Comply with Confidence

The City of Toronto has adopted the Toronto Green Standard as a framework to deliver high performance, low emission, resilient, and future-proofed buildings. Navigating this evolving program can be a challenge, but SWA can help

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What Compliance Pathway is Right for Your Project?

Toronto Green Standard Tier 1 is mandatory for all residential new construction, with Tier 2 and 3 being voluntary and eligible for Development Charge Refunds. Depending on the project type, size, location, fuel source, and other factors, you may have one or multiple options for compliance with Toronto Green Standard. SWA can help assess your organizations environmental and project goals, then help decide which compliance tier is optimal for your project with our energy modeling and energy strategy reporting services.

Why comply with using the Passive House Standard?

Passive House is an alternative compliance pathway that aligns with Toronto Green Standard V4 Tier 3 TEDI, GHGI, and EUI requirements. Passive House certification focuses on reducing operational energy consumption with a robust building enclosure, and an efficient electrified HVAC and DHW system.

If your project is considering Toronto Green Standard Tier 3, then Passive House Certification may be the right choice for your project.

Why comply with using the CaGBC Zero Carbon Building Standard?

CaGBC Zero Carbon Building is an alternative compliance pathway that aligns with Toronto Green Standard V4 Tier 3 TEDI, GHGI, and EUI requirements. The Zero Carbon Building Certification focuses on reducing operational and embodied carbon with a robust building enclosure, an all-electric HVAC and DHW system, renewable energy production on site, and carbon credit offsets.

If your project is considering Toronto Green Standard Tier 3, then Zero Carbon Building Certification may be the right choice for your project.

What does Toronto Green Standard Tier 3, Passive House, or Zero Carbon Building certification offer my project?

  • Unparalleled thermal consistency and occupant comfort
  • Development Charge Refunds
  • Future proofing of asset to reduce risk of emissions based regulatory penalties
  • Reduced operational energy
  • Decreased embodied carbon
  • Enhanced climate resiliency
  • Improved Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)
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