The heating and cooling system at the North Campus is being transformed with 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.

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.

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.