We invite you to attend our event "Pathways to Sustainability for Buildings: Thermal Networks" on Thursday, March 28 at 7:30pm. This is the third in our series of discussions focusing on thermal energy.
Thermal energy networks, often called district energy, can be an efficient means of delivering climate-friendly heating and cooling. These networks use safe and stable renewable energy that can be derived from sources as diverse as geothermal, wastewater systems, bodies of water, and energy-intensive buildings.
Our guests are Peter Tabuns, MPP for Toronto-Danforth and opposition critic for Energy and Climate Action, and John Stephenson, co-founder of the Boltzmann Institute.
The discussion will explore the use of thermal energy networks as a pathway to sustainability for buildings. Topics will include:
District energy versus air source heat pumps
Demands on the electrical grid and their financial implications
Ideas to improve regulatory and financial frameworks
A Q&A follows the presentations.
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Bios
Peter Tabuns has served as Toronto-Danforth’s MPP for more than fifteen years and served as the Ontario NDP’s interim leader in 2022 and early 2023. Peter remains the opposition critic for Energy and Climate Action. His earlier roles as Greenpeace Canada’s Executive Director and Jack Layton’s Senior Climate Advisor informPeter’s approach to climate issues. Peter also served seven years as a City Councillor in Toronto where he chaired the Board of Health and led the efforts to set up the City’s energy efficiency initiative for commercial buildings, the Better Buildings Partnership.
John Stephenson co-founded the Boltzmann Institute in 2022. The Boltzmann Institute’s mission is to reduce harmful emissions from human energy use through research and education. Previously, as Director of Project Development for FVB Energy Inc. (2001-2016) he helped develop business cases for district energy systems across Canada. This resulted in the construction of more than two dozen new district energy systems in Vancouver, Calgary, Hamilton, Markham, Toronto’s Regent Park, Oshawa’s Ontario Tech, and the conversion of steam systems to hot water in Ottawa. Prior to that John was in business development with Toronto Hydro and, earlier, with Ontario Hydro. He was also the Toronto West chapter leader for Citizens Climate Lobby.
The Boltzmann Institute is a non-profit Canadian organization aiming to contribute research and education towards securing climate neutrality by 2050, initially focusing on thermal energy use (i.e. heating and cooling) buildings. The Boltzmann Institute is organizing a study tour cruise of eleven district energy systems in northern Europe from May 24-June 8, 2024. For more information, here is the link: https://bit.ly/3x0G89i
Toronto East End Climate Collective (TEECC)
The Toronto East End Climate Collective (TEECC) is a non-partisan group of individuals working to understand the causes of the climate crisis and advocating for constructive responses. We host guest speakers, analyze public policy, participate in public forums and maintain a dialogue with local representatives on these issues.
Previous events in our series covered "Geothermal in Multi-Family Buildings" and "Thermal Energy Networks for Buildings". See our link to the TEECC YouTube Channel for recordings of both events: YouTube https://bit.ly/3TDPEb3
Here is a link to a short video from the International District Energy Association about district energy video https://bit.ly/3VfEMBA