Multi-residential building retrofits help reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Toronto and Hamilton

TORONTO, July 8, 2019 /CNW/ - Investing in green infrastructure helps communities reduce their carbon footprint and increase their resilience to climate change. It also helps safeguard public health, protect the environment and create a clean-growth economy.

Marco Mendicino, Parliamentary Secretary to the Honorable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities; Julie Dabrusin, Member of Parliament for Toronto–Danforth, and Berry Vrbanovic, Green Municipal Fund Council member and Mayor of Kitchener, today announced $5.75 million in grants and loans through the Federation of Canadian Municipalities' Green Municipal Fund to support deep energy retrofits in Toronto and Hamilton.

The project led by The Atmospheric Fund will retrofit heating, cooling and lighting systems and include other measures to reduce energy and water wastage in four multi-residential buildings in the cities of Toronto and Hamilton. These deep energy retrofits will reduce energy consumption by 40% in the buildings, cut energy bills and improve resident comfort.

The upgrades are in line with the City of Toronto's TransformTO Climate Action Strategy, a long-term approach to reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the City by 80% by 2050.

Through green infrastructure, the communities are improving the environment, gathering and sharing important lessons to maximize municipal resources, and improving the lives of citizens.

The Green Municipal Fund is funded by the Government of Canada and delivered by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities.

Quotes

"The Government of Canada and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities work together to support green infrastructure projects that are building healthier and cleaner communities now and for future generations. Through partnerships like this we are helping provide solid 21^st-century infrastructure to communities across the country. This housing retrofit in Toronto and Hamilton will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, lower energy costs and tangibly improve the quality of life for the residents who live there."

Marco Mendicino, Parliamentary Secretary to the Honorable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities

"Energy efficiency saves money, creates jobs and reduces pollution. Our government will continue to work with the Federation of Canadian Municipalities to make Toronto and Hamilton's buildings more energy efficient. Together, we are lowering buildings' energy costs and maintenance requirements while contributing to Canada's clean energy future."

The Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, Canada's Minister of Natural Resources

"This project is good news for Toronto. The energy-saving retrofits will not only benefit the people who live in the renovated buildings, they will help protect the environment for our community by reducing greenhouse gas emissions."

Julie Dabrusin, Member of Parliament for Toronto–Danforth

"Our local governments are on the front lines of climate change. That means local action is critical. Municipalities of all sizes are modelling green solutions that can be replicated and scaled up across the country for deep national impact. Like energy retrofits for multi-residential buildings that make real people's lives more secure and affordable. This is what today's announcement is all about – the federal and municipal governments working together to build better lives for Canadians."

Berry Vrbanovic, Green Municipal Fund Council member and Mayor of Kitchener

"I am pleased that the federal government has come forward with funding towards this important project. Investing in green infrastructure will positively impact the lives of residents and the environment. Future retrofits helped by this new investment will ensure that we are addressing climate change and reducing our carbon footprint as a city."

John Tory, Mayor of the City of Toronto

"With nearly half of the urban carbon emissions associated with buildings, we need practical, commercial-scale approaches to achieve deep energy retrofits. This strategic federal investment will do just that, and demonstrate the financial, environmental and social benefits."

Julia Langer, Chief Executive Officer of The Atmospheric Fund

Related product

Backgrounder: Project description

Quick Facts

• The Green Municipal Fund^TM (GMF) supports initiatives that advance innovative solutions to environmental challenges. These projects improve air, water and land quality, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and generate economic and social benefits to local communities. Through GMF, a $625 million program, municipalities share lessons learned and successful new models for advancing sustainability in communities of all sizes in all regions across Canada.
• Since 2000, GMF has financed more than 1,250 municipal sustainability initiatives, helping to build better lives for millions of Canadians from coast to coast to coast. GMF projects have cut 2.5 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions—the equivalent of taking 571,000 cars off the road.
• Budget 2019 proposes $950 million to increase energy efficiency in the built environment.
• Through the Investing in Canada infrastructure plan, the Government of Canada is investing more than $180 billion over 12 years in public transit projects, green infrastructure, social infrastructure, trade and transportation routes, and Canada's rural and northern communities.
• $26.9 billion of this funding is supporting green infrastructure projects, including $5 billion available for investment through the Canada Infrastructure Bank.

Associated links

Green Municipal Fund: https://fcm.ca/home/programs/green-municipal-fund/about-gmf.htm

FCM Funding: https://fcm.ca/home/funding/funding-for-canadian-municipalities.htm

Government of Canada's $180-billion+ Investing in Canada plan: http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/plan/about-invest-apropos-eng.html

Investing in Canada plan project map: http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/gmap-gcarte/index-eng.html

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SOURCE Infrastructure Canada

Ann-Clara Vaillancourt, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, Tel: [phone], Email: [email protected]; FCM Media Relations, Tel: [phone], Email: [email protected]; Media Relations, Infrastructure Canada, Tel: [phone], Toll Free: 1-877-250-7154, Email: [email protected]

Related Links

www.infrastructure.gc.ca