Torontonians want greener buildings – and local government action

It doesn’t have to be this way. We now have clean and modern alternatives. What’s lacking is government action, including at the local level.  

A recent Abacus Data poll shows that most people in the City of Toronto want their buildings to be green and want their local leaders to take action to make this a reality. 

The poll shows:

• 84% of Torontonians support their local government introducing building requirements that reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
• 92% of Toronto residents support their local government implementing building requirements that would make buildings safer from extreme weather like heat and flooding.*

This overwhelming support is a call on the City to move forward on its planned Building Emissions Performance Standard (BEPS) for large existing buildings. BEPS would set limits on pollution in larger buildings over time, as part of a long-term plan. This would catalyze the installation of clean heating systems like electric heat pumps – which are already being adopted in Canada – to replace polluting gas furnaces and boilers. 

In addition to addressing local pollution, BEPS will make homes more liveable. Electric heat pumps double as air conditioners in the summer, ensuring residents won’t suffer through summer heat waves. Heat pumps can be fitted with filters that purify indoor air – an increasing necessity as we become more impacted by wildfire smoke. 

Retrofitting large buildings across the city will also stimulate the local economy and create good green jobs, adding an estimated 18,000 person years of employment over the course of 30 years.

City staff have been working on this policy for two years and have consulted with experts in various sectors.

There is a plan ready to go. So let’s see it! 

Council members and the mayor need to ensure the bylaw proposal is brought forward and support its passage.

Numerous municipalities have already adopted these policies, including Vancouver, New York City, Boston, and Seattle. 

This is a crucial policy for Toronto as 56% of the city’s emissions come from buildings. 

The adoption of BEPS will determine whether Toronto will achieve its climate goals set out in its TransformTO Net Zero climate action plan, unanimously adopted by council a few years ago. 

The policy for existing buildings is especially critical in the midst of the provincial government’s attacks on local green building policies for new buildings. Toronto’s Green Standard for new construction has been in place for over 15 years and is now under threat by Ontario’s Bill 17 and Bill 60. 

With the province throwing its weight around to control towns and cities, it’s more crucial than ever to introduce local policies which rein in existing building emissions. 

Large for-profit building owners already have to factor in the cost of capital upgrades for heating and cooling systems, among other things. BEPS would simply provide basic emissions limits to guide upgrades when they happen. The policy would provide a long enough timeline for building operators to factor it into existing schedules.

There are also numerous financial supports in place for building operators who may need assistance. For non-profit and low-income housing operators, the city can provide special funding and leniency to make the switch manageable. 

City staff and council members can ensure equity policies are put in place before BEPS is implemented, guaranteeing that the costs of retrofits are not passed down to renters and that landlords cannot renovict tenants. Such requirements are successfully being used across the US. 

We can have it all – safer buildings, less pollution, stronger tenant protections, and green jobs. 

A strong BEPS policy will be good for renters, workers, the local economy, and the planet. 

Torontonians have made it clear: They want a Building Emissions Performance Standard. And it must be introduced now if Toronto is to have a chance at meeting its climate commitments.

For additional information and resources, see: https://beps.taf.ca/.

*The poll, conducted in June 2025, reached residents across Toronto including Scarborough, North York, Etobicoke, and the old City of Toronto. Respondents also reflected a range of ages, housing types (both renters and owners), and income levels. Details can be seen here.