TORONTO, ONTARIO – Humber College's newly released Climate Action Plan is set to have the college reach net-zero by 2050. Focused on reducing emissions at the source rather than purchasing carbon offsets, the plan's three-scope approach makes it a model for others to follow.
Building on the college's 2019-2024 Sustainability Plan, Humber has already completed award-winning projects on its way to carbon neutrality by 2050. Humber's retrofitted NX building has been awarded the Passive House Certification by Passivhaus Institut, making it the first non-residential building in Canada to achieve the certification. Passive House is widely regarded as the world's most stringent energy efficiency standard. The NX Building retrofit project transformed one of the campus's most inefficient buildings into one of Canada's first retrofits to achieve a Zero Carbon Building (ZCB) Design certification from the Canada Green Building Council.
"Responding to the climate emergency is critically important to Humber. As we live our key value of sustainability, we are driven by decisions to enhance our commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, and the health and wellness of the college community," said Aman Hehar, associate director of Energy and Climate Change. "Our Climate Action Plan is the next part of our long-standing efforts to lead climate change action, especially in the post-secondary sector."
Humber's Climate Action Plan includes three Scopes; Scope 1 and 2 emissions are greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that the college owns, has control over, or are from the generation of purchased energy.
The measures that will address the college's Scope 1 and 2 emissions include:
- Retrofitting existing building envelopes and modifying controls
- Optimizing existing building energy performance
- Replacing natural gas heating equipment with decarbonized options when it reaches the end of its useful life
- Converting existing steam distribution to low-temperature hot water and electrifying central heating sources
- Ensuring new builds, such as Lakeshore's Cultural Hub, meet rigorous, best in the country, energy-efficiency, and zero-carbon standards
The plan's Scope 3 emissions are out of the college's direct control. However, the project includes an enhanced commitment to advocacy to advance sustainability initiatives at the municipal, provincial, federal, and international levels.
In partnership with Colleges and Institutes of Canada (CICan), Humber is committed to leading by example, adopting sustainable practices and reducing the college's environmental footprint. Humber aims to accelerate practical solutions to reduce GHG emissions and enhance Canadian competitiveness by leveraging campus assets.
To learn more about the Climate Action Plan and Humber's Sustainability work, visit humber.ca/sustainability.
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About Humber College Institute of Technology & Advanced Learning
Humber College is focused on our students' future. As a global leader in polytechnic education, Humber students receive in-depth theoretical learning and hands-on experience with applied research and extensive industry connections. Humber provides career-focused education to more than 38,000 full-time and 19,000 part-time students and professional learners in-person at three main Toronto locations and online. A comprehensive range of credentials, including honours undergraduate degrees, Ontario graduate certificates, diplomas, apprenticeships, and certificates, prepare career-ready global citizens to move seamlessly from education to employment. More than 86 per cent of Humber graduates are employed within six months of completing their studies. Visit humber.ca.
For more information, please contact:
Nadia Araujo
Media Relations and External Communications Specialist
Humber College Institute of Technology & Advanced Learning
nadia.araujo@humber.ca |