Length: 1 CEU
Topic: Advanced Technology
Delivery Mode: Online On-Demand
What's Included: Video, Quiz, & Certificate
Registration Fee: Members $50 | Intern $35 | Student $25 | Non-Member $75
This webinar is part of the RAIC 2025 Conference on Architecture!
The Toronto 2030 District will present our research conducted from 2020-2024 to understand credible and economical pathways to net-zero operational GHG emissions for Toronto using a design thinking lens for our research and programming.
The goals of the Pathways Research Project were to understand the current scope of GHG emissions and building assets, examine the cost/viability of transitioning existing on-site combustion systems to emission-free energy, and to examine whether deep retrofits can help reduce the cost of fuel switching and contribute to net zero pathways.
In this session, we will provide an overview of our Pathways Research and show how we developed and verified the breakdown of representative building types. We will also demonstrate how we developed existing systems and replacement systems and how it was costed, as well as show how we estimated the existing and new district peak. Lastly, we will provide a brief demo of our open-source data set as a potential model for your own community.
Apply research approaches and design thinking methodologies to develop replicable strategies for your municipality or building portfolio.
Evaluate the technical and financial feasibility of implementing on-site emission-free heating systems in various building contexts.
Assess the role of deep retrofits in contributing to a net-zero emissions pathway, considering both energy performance and carbon reduction impacts.
Identify and analyze key considerations for designing community- or portfolio-scale zero carbon building accelerator research and programming.
Subject Matter Experts:
Sheena Sharp
B.E.S., M. Arch., PPOAA, FRAIC
Principal Architect, Coolearth Architecture Inc.
Sheena Sharp has over 25 years of experience in the architecture profession. Sheena is the principal Architect at Coolearth Architecture inc., a 15-year-old firm which focusses on low carbon building. In establishing her own firm, she has focused on buildings of all types, including post occupancy studies, and rural architecture with a particular interest in energy analysis and retrofits. Her portfolio includes re-purposing existing buildings with a specialty in small offices and housing, both market-driven and affordable. Two of her recent projects include a Net-Zero carbon childcare for the City of Toronto, and a 55-unit mid-rise Net-Zero apartment for a seniors non-profit in Sudbury. She sat for 12 years on the governing council of the Ontario Association of Architects (OAA), serving 2 years as President. She was cross appointed for a year to the board of the Pro-Demnity Insurance Company, where she sat on the Finance Committee, which oversees the company's reserve fund investments. She has been involved with Toronto 2030 District since its inception, now serving on the board as Vice-Chair, and as co-chair of the Pathways Research Project and Accelerator.
Steven Pacifico
B.Sc. (Env.), M.E.S, GIS, ISO 14001, 14064, 26000, GRI, CDP
Executive Director, Zero Carbon Building Accelerator Program, Toronto 2030 District
Steven Pacifico is an energetic and motivated corporate sustainability practitioner with over 25 years’ experience delivering value driven sustainability and stakeholder engagement strategies for over 60 large North American and Canadian organizations, including extensive experience with government, civil society, and commercial real estate. Steven is currently the Executive Director, Zero Carbon Buildings Accelerator Program for the Toronto 2030 District with a mandate to support the electrification of building heat for mid-tier commercial real estate assets in the district. Before taking this role, Steven served as the VP, Sustainability, Innovation & National Programs, at Epic Investment Services, Director/Leader of Energy Exchange, and Director of Sustainability and Stakeholder Engagement, at the Delphi Group. Steven also worked for the Ontario Sustainable Energy Association (OSEA) and the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development (CESD). Steven holds a Master of Environmental Studies, with a specialization in business and sustainability, from York University’s Schulich School of Business and a Bachelor of Environmental Science, with honours, from the University of Guelph.
This webinar is in English. Closed captions have been provided in both English and French.
Pricing
Member: $50 / Non-Member: $75
Intern Member: $35 / Intern Non-Member: $75
Student: $25 (must be an RAIC student associate member)