Energy Management
Humber is continually working to embody our institutional value to preserve our collective future. All campus development and operations begin by incorporating sustainability into the design and building process and connecting students to real-world learning opportunities. Humber's Integrated Energy Management Plan (IEMP) represents the college's long-term strategy of achieving significant reductions in energy, water, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and contributes to global sustainable development goals.
Transforming Heating and Cooling at North Campus
Project SWITCH
SWITCH is a bold infrastructure project that directly addresses the largest source of carbon dioxide emissions at the North Campus: the heating and cooling system. The project will reduce reliance on natural gas by switching from a steam-based system, constructed in 1972, to a modern hot water system generating heat mostly using electricity.
Project SWITCH is a collaboration with Ecosystem, an industry-leading engineering and construction company that provides decarbonization solutions.
Watch the video to learn more about the SWITCH project.
Leading the Way to Decarbonization
Humber is preparing for the future by retrofitting the heating and cooling system at the North Campus. SWITCH involves eliminating the current steam-based heating system and pipes, replacing them with a hot-water system and 4.5km of new piping. The project will unify heating and cooling on campus by connecting all buildings to the central plant. Additionally, by recovering heat from the cooling system, efficiency is improved. Battery storage will take advantage of off-peak benefits, when emissions from electricity are lower and energy costs are reduced.
Our Path to Net Zero
This project is part of Humber’s Integrated Energy Master Plan (IEMP), an ambitious 20-year strategy guiding campus development and operations to prioritize environmental protection and the health of our communities. Greening building infrastructure is integral to climate action, as the building sector is Canada’s third highest carbon emitter (Canada Green Building Council).
SWITCH is instrumental in helping Humber reach net zero by 2050. The project is expected to reduce natural gas use at the North Campus by 70%, and will lead to a 30% reduction in the college’s overall greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The infrastructure that will be installed will make it easier to continue decarbonizing campus heating.
The Impact of Project SWITCH
Student Engagement
SWITCH offers multiple academic engagement opportunities for Humber students, including work placements, workshops, site tours, and insight for interdisciplinary capstone projects.
Electrification of Heating
By moving away from natural gas in favour of electric heating and cooling, Humber will reduce emissions since Ontario has one of the cleanest energy grids in the world.
Partnership for Innovation
Humber has collaborated with Ecosystem, a leading engineering and construction company that provides decarbonization solutions, to deliver both a modernized system as well as financial return.
Energy Savings
SWITCH is expected to reduce energy use by 15% thanks to increased efficiency and a new battery energy storage system. With significant reductions to utility costs, the project will pay for itself over time.
Guiding campus energy efficiency
Integrated Energy Master Plan
Created in 2015 as a response to the climate crisis, the IEMP outlines a comprehensive plan to meet significant energy efficiency, greenhouse gas and water reduction goals by 2034. The IEMP will deliver deep retrofits to existing infrastructure and ensure new campus buildings are among the most efficient in the world.
Watch the video to learn how Humber is meeting the goals outlined on the Integrated Energy Master Plan (IEMP), introduced in 2015.
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reduction in energy use per square foot
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reduction in water use per student
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reduction in absolute GHG emissions
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saved in utility costs
The results to date, relative to the 2014-2015 baseline year.
Impact to Date
Since 2016, Humber has implemented many deep energy retrofits, including building envelope, lighting, solar photovoltaic, water efficiency and controls retrofit projects.
IEMP Framing Goals
Relative to the 2014-2015 baseline year, these goals guide energy efficiency projects on campus.
Academic Offering: Humber will offer world-class courses addressing integrated energy, water and climate solutions covering social, policy, economic and technical aspects to meet the needs of the future.
Energy Efficiency: Humber will reduce energy use per squarefoot by 50% and align with global best-practice in energy efficiency, by 2034.
Water Efficiency: Humber will reduce potable water use per student by 50% and align with global best-practice in water efficiency, by 2034.
Carbon Footprint: Humber will reduce Scope 1 & 2 GHG emissions by 30%, by 2034. Aligning with the UN Paris Agreement targets.
Investment Returns: Humber will achieve an Investment Rate of Return of at least 7% on all IEMP project investments.
In the Media
Humber Energy Symposium 2023 - Session Recording
Humber IEMP Progress by 2023
Humber Cultural Hub - Sustainable Features
Humber receives Green Building Visionary Award from CaGBC
Barrett Centre for Technology Innovation - Sustainability Features
Humber Green Building Standards Lunch and Learn
Introducing SWITCH - Energy Efficiency Retrofit
SWITCH Phase One Wrap-Up
Humber Cultural Hub Green Roof
Humber Polytechnic Accelerates Plan to Achieve Net Zero in 2029
Climate Action, Energy Management
Mon, October 21, 2024
Humber has an ambitious plan to decarbonize the institution more than two decades earlier than its original goal of 2050.
Cutting Greenhouse Gas Emissions by 30%: Humber Launches Project to Bring the College Closer to Carbon Neutrality
Climate Action, Energy Management, External Article
Mon, April 17, 2023
Humber launches Project SWITCH which will bring the college closer to carbon neutrality while offering academic engagement opportunities for students.
CEU: Energy Retrofits
Energy Management, External Article, Green Buildings
Tue, April 04, 2017
The N building energy retrofit project is part of Humber’s IEMP and was mandated to achieve significant energy and greenhouse gas reductions.
No news at this time.
