As Canada welcomes the world to the COP 15 (Conference of the Parties) biodiversity conference in Montreal, the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Natural Resources, on Monday, December 12, 2022 announced an investment of $18.7 million in support of Scaling-up Nature-Based Leadership Platforms.
Durham Region and the Canadian Home Builders’ Association (CHBA) have partnered to launch the Towards Net Zero Renovations Project. Renovators, trades and other key retrofit stakeholders get access to industry leading building science training and both the CHBA Net Zero Builder and Renovator Training courses at no cost, valued at approximately $2,500.
Through initiatives like the Low Carbon Economy Fund, the Government of Canada continues to work with partners across the country to cut pollution and build strong, resilient communities, while creating good jobs and growing a sustainable, clean economy.
Canada’s first climate adaptation strategy, unveiled today, commits the federal government to new goals to prevent extreme heat deaths, reverse biodiversity loss and protect homes in flood- and wildfire-prone areas.
The Canadian Energy Efficiency Scorecard tracks provinces and territories on 54 metrics across energy efficiency programs, buildings, transportation and industry, and provides an overall score.
The BWRX-300 reactor at the centre of the initiative itself only exists as a design — what has been termed a “PowerPoint” reactor — of which no examples have actually been constructed, tested or operated. More widely, the announcement begs questions about how decisions around Ontario’s electricity system are being made.
Heat pumps offer an efficient alternative that can replace both your heating and cooling systems with great benefits. However, heat pumps aren’t ideal for everyone. If you are a Durham Homeowner, speak to a Durham Greener Homes Energy Coach for free to find out if a heat pump is right for your space.
Though winter has yet to arrive, bigger utility bills are another new cost facing Canadians already battered by months of inflation on food prices and many more goods and services. However, Windfall Ecology Centre's Energy Advisor, Violet Kopperson, says there are many things homeowner can do to cut down their gas bills without a great cost.
The Ontario government is increasing funding for the province’s energy-efficiency programs by $342 million, bringing the total investment to more than $1 billion over the current four-year electricity conservation framework. This funding will support new and expanded programs that will help families and businesses reduce their electricity use so they can save money on their energy bills.
Windfall Ecology Centre and ClimateWise Business Network congratulate the winners of the 2022 York Region Sustainability Awards. On September 29, 2022, we gathered at the magnificent Aurora Armoury to celebrate outstanding climate action efforts in York Region. We are proud to unveil and celebrate our 2022 York Region Sustainability Awards Winners!
California is committing to a plan that will make it the first US state to phase out gas-fueled furnaces and water heaters in homes, a move environmentalists are betting will provide a template for other states.
In the face of the mounting climate emergency and urgent calls from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change to rapidly curtail the use of fossil fuels, governments and businesses are scrambling to spell out plans to dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions. What’s also clear is that individuals and households must do much more to alter their own carbon footprints.
Heat pumps are incomprehensible to many people. How can a thing that looks like an air conditioner keep people warm in the winter? The state of Maine wants to install 100,000 heat pumps in the next 3 years and is off to a good start. 27,000 of them were installed by Maine residents last year.
A new report by the World Economic Forum and the University of Cambridge’s Aviation Impact Accelerator explores how aviation can achieve a true zero climate impact. Reducing carbon emissions during flight is only one aspect of the problem. The full lifecycle impacts of any fuel or energy source used to power an aircraft also needs to be considered. So too is the impact of manufacturing and replacing batteries for electric aircraft.
The secret to efficiently heating some buildings might lurk beneath our feet in the heat that humans have inadvertently stored underground. Susanne Benz, an environmental scientist at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Canada, said, Harnessing underground heat in this way could provide some communities with a reliable and low-energy means to warm their homes. And if we don't use it, it will just continue to accumulate.
Finnish researchers have installed the world's first fully working "sand battery" which can store green power for months at a time. The developers say this could solve the problem of year-round supply, a major issue for green energy. The sand stores the heat at around 500C, which can then warm homes in winter when energy is more expensive.
A new study of the ancient world of Anatolia, now Turkey, shows how they adapted to climate change but offers a warning for today's climate emergency. The efforts of ancient populations to minimize the impacts of climate change were undermined during longer climate shifts when it is combined with other events such as pandemics, earthquakes and wars.
In truth, if everyone in Canada gave up their car, lowered their thermostat, stopped taking flights and ate more organic lentils, it wouldn’t be anywhere near enough to make a difference. No wonder it’s hard to maintain any hope that climate change is solvable. But as Greta Thunberg said back in 2018: “The one thing we need more than hope is action. Once we start to act, hope is everywhere. Full Article
Texans crank on the air conditioning this week amid an unusually early heat wave, setting new records for electricity demand in the state, which surpassed 75 gigawatts on Sunday and smashed the 2019 record. CNN reports that Texas grid operator ERCOT projects it could approach that peak again on Tuesday. More
Learn how to help the environment and reduce your carbon footprint with key priority programs in Durham Region, such as the Durham Greener Homes Program, Canada Greener Homes Grant, and driving an electric vehicle!
The fourth in the webinar series 'Better Understand your Energy Consumption and What is Driving your Energy Use' presented why submetering tenant spaces is a priority for both tenants and landlords. View Webinar 4 PDF.
Windfall Centre is seeking a post-secondary student with Communications background for the position of Communications Assistant. The successful applicant will directly report to and work with the Manager, Digital Communications to manage Windfall Centre's Marketing Communications strategy and provide communications support to the Program Managers. Learn More about the position.
The third in the webinar series 'Green Leases: How to Achieve Cost Savings and Sustainability Goals' presented how innovative Green Leases can create win-win agreements for building owners and business tenants to benefit from environmentally friendly upgrades and behaviours. View Webinar 3 PDF. Register for Upcoming Webinars.
On April 28, 2022, Durham Region officially launched the Durham Greener Homes, an initiative inspired by Durham Region's Community Energy Plan to help make energy-efficient, low-carbon homes more accessible to Durham residents. Durham Region partnered with Windfall Centre to deliver the new home energy retrofit program. Read More.
Our annual fundraising event is back with great savings on rain barrels. Prices start from $55 with various styles to choose from, including FREE home delivery. All accessories are available at great prices too! Please place your orders to support our fundraiser rain barrel sale. Delivery starts May 27, 2022!
The second in the webinar series "Why Building Tenants Should be Thinking about Climate Risk" informs commercial building tenants (SMEs) on mitigating their cost and supply risks by being more climate knowledgeable .View Webinar 2 PDF. Register for Upcoming Webinars.
Our second webinar informs commercial building tenants (SMEs) on mitigating their cost and supply risks by being more climate knowledgeable. In 2021 the City of Toronto advanced three big moves to decarbonize buildings in our City, including existing buildings, future construction, and the City's portfolio. These initiatives are an introduction to what other municipalities will be doing soon. More Details
We are a licensed Service Organization under Natural Resources Canada and a leader in developing Energy Conservation Solutions for homes and businesses seeking a full time Registered Energy Advisor . The ideal candidate has a passion for working in the field of climate science and energy efficiency, enjoys data analysis, is an enthusiastic professional, and can build relationships with internal and external clients and stakeholders.
The first in the webinar series "A Roadmap to Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction - Benefits for Your Business" delved into the influences and trends impacting businesses. The speakers gave insights into how commercial building tenants can collaborate with landlords to achieve a low carbon workplace, modernize lease arrangements, energy-efficient best practices and other important topics. PDF. Upcoming Webinars
Windfall Ecology Centre, Partners for Action and Possibilian Ventures partnered in early 2021 to explore and research three municipal infrastructure issues and their relevance to the SDGs, with focus on fleet electrification, stormwater management, and net-zero buildings. The extensive research produced the Just Green Cities
Discussion Paper which will be launched on Friday, March 4, 2022 at 1:00 PM EST. Read More
On Tuesday, February 15, 2022, Vaughan Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua at Council meeting, announced Vaughan's Award won at the ClimateWise 2021 Achievement Award. He said: I am pleased to announce the City of Vaughan has received the Mayor's Energy Challenge Advocate Award from the ClimateWise Business Network for our dedicated support of the Provincial Energy and Water Reporting and Benchmarking initiative. More
Green Communities Canada (GCC) is organizing a free five-part webinar series on floodplain mapping to share the learnings from a project led by Chippewas of the Thames First Nation and executed in partnership with GCC. The series will enable Indigenous communities and environmental professionals to develop their own floodplain mapping projects and explore successful protocols and effective partnership approaches. Learn more.
Green Economy Canada (GEC) has announced a $3.9million Electric Vehicle(EV) charging station incentive program. Application is open to all legally incorporated or registered for-profit or not-for-profit organization in Canada.
Canada Green Building Council (CAGBC) on Tuesday, February 9, 2022, announced that Canada ranked second globally on the annual list of Top 10 Countries and Regions for LEED in 2021. In 2021, Canada certified 205 projects, representing more than 3.2 million gross square meters (GSM) of LEED space. LEED provides a framework for healthy, highly efficient, and cost-saving green buildings.
The free ClimateWise Building Challenge webinar series will provide your business with the tools and intelligence to take the needed action on climate change. The first in the series tagged; A Roadmap to Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction - Benefits for Your Business
, will guide you in an understanding on the influences and trends that will impact your business operations.
Vancouver and Quebec recently banned certain kinds of fossil fuel-based heating in new home construction, CBC News reports. Similar-and, in some cases more extensive- bans are happening around the world, from Norway to New York City. The goal? To cut CO2 emissions from buildings by replacing fossil fuel burning with electric heating. But are such bans necessary? And what impact will they have on people who live in those cities? Here's a closer look.
The Atmospheric Fund (TAF) has just launched $2million electric vehicle(EV) station fund. The fund is providing GTHA municipalities, multi-family building owners, businesses, and other organizations in the community with technical and financial support to install new EV charging stations on-street and in public and private lots. That means up to 300 new chargers in the region in the most challenging places to plug in.
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Durham Region is partnering with the Canadian Home Builders’ Association (CHBA) to launch the Towards Net Zero Renovations Project. The project is seeking 10 to 15 participants in Durham who want to upgrade their home to Net Zero Energy or Net Zero Energy Ready. Net Zero Energy homes are known for their improved comfort, indoor air quality as well as noise reductions and durability, while reducing energy loads/costs and associated greenhouse gas emissions. Participant benefits include:
1. Expert guidance from a CHBA Qualified Net Zero Energy Advisor, who will work with your renovator to optimize your retrofit project for performance and cost. This represents up to a $4,000 value over the course of the project. This is in addition to the Deep Retrofit Rebates available under the Durham Greener Homes Program.
2. Renovators, trades and other key retrofit stakeholders get access to industry leading building science training and both the CHBA Net Zero Builder and Renovator Training courses at no cost ,valued at approximately $2,500.
Learn more and register at chba.ca/nztraining
Durham Region Officially Launches Durham Greener Homes, Partners with Windfall Centre
On Thursday, April 28, 2022, Durham Region unveiled the Durham Greener Homes at a launch event at Durham College, Whitby Campus. Durham Greener Homes is a home retrofit service that will empower Durham Region residents to undertake home energy renovations. Durham Region has partnered with Windfall Ecology Centre to deliver the new home energy program to help Durham residents achieve energy-efficient homes as part of the Region's Community Energy Plan- a strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The Durham Greener Homes Program offers homeowners a home energy retrofit service that offers financing and cash-back rebates for home energy upgrade projects and a home energy coach to give expert advice to residents in the home retrofit journey. The Durham Greener Homes Program will target single-family homes built between 1970 and 2000 (representing 46 percent of single-family homes in the Durham region) because these are understood to have high energy-saving potential.
Windfall Ecology Centre's Founder and Executive Director, Brent Kopperson, who spoke about Durham Greener Homes, said, Windfall Ecology Centre has been helping Durham residents retrofit their homes for over 20 years. We are proud to combine all we have learned in that time to Durham Greener Homes, a best-in-class home retrofit facilitation service designed to ease renovation anxiety and help homeowners get the most from their energy efficiency investments.
At the launch event, a $3.4 million boost was announced to help finance the Durham Greener Homes Project to help more residents achieve energy-efficient homes and create a cleaner, low-carbon environment in Durham Region. The financing is offered through the Green Municipal Fund and delivered by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM), and funded by the Government of Canada.
Durham Greener Homes will support energy-efficiency upgrades such as high-efficiency heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment, thermal envelope upgrades, lighting upgrades and high-efficiency appliances. Additional eligible measures will include heat pump installation, renewable energy and energy storage systems, electric vehicle charging infrastructure, water conservation measures and indoor air quality measures.
Are you a resident of Durham starting your home retrofit journey? Visit durhamgreenerhomes.ca to learn more about the Durham Greener Homes program
More on the launch of Durham Greener Homes on Natural Resources Canada, Yahoo News, insauga.com
Renewable Energy to the Rescue as Texas Records Incredibly High Heat and Energy Demand
Renewables are slowly but surely gaining ground more recently in Texas as the city depends heavily on wind and solar power to meet the current high energy demand. Texans crank on the air conditioning this week amid an unusually early heat wave, setting new records for electricity demand in the state, which surpassed 75 gigawatts on Sunday and smashed the 2019 record. CNN reports that Texas grid operator ERCOT projects it could approach that peak again on Tuesday.
However, unlike previous extreme weather events in Texas, which led to deadly blackouts, the grid is holding up remarkably well this week. Several experts told CNN that it's owed in large part to solid performances from wind and solar, which generated 27 gigawatts of electricity during Sunday's peak demand -- close to 40% of the total needed.
Texas is, by rhetoric, anti-renewables. But frankly, renewables are bailing us out,
said Michael Webber, an energy expert and professor at the University of Texas at Austin. They're rocking. That really spares us a lot of heartache and a lot of money.
Windfall Ecology Centre, Partners for Action and Possibilian Ventures are launching the Just Green Cities
Discussion Paper on March 4, 2022, at 1:00 PM EST. Just Green Cities
is a product of extensive research into the challenges of moving from big climate action ambition at the national level to operationalizing change at the municipal level.
Municipal infrastructure renewal has been one of the core underexplored challenges Canadians face in addressing climate crises. Consequently, Windfall Ecology Centre, Partners for Action and Possibilian Ventures partnered in early 2021 to explore three municipal infrastructure issues and their relevance to the SDGs. The areas of focus are:
The Just Green Cities Discussion Paper seeks to create a common framework and language for integrating equity-driven decision-making into municipal infrastructure renewal to respond to the climate crisis. In this launch session, we'll present the Executive Summary with key insights on fleet electrification, stormwater management and net-zero buildings and discuss how we can continue to create a broader, inclusive conversation.
Join us in imagining a just, green future for our communities at the free launch event on Friday, March 4, 2022 at 1:00 PM EST.