Zero Carbon Challenge
The Government of Canada shares and believes in the worldwide focus on reducing emissions to achieve net-zero emissions in the future. For Canada, the overarching goal is to reach our emissions reduction target of net zero by 2050. The first step in this roadmap is to reduce emissions by 40-45% from 2005 levels by 2030. Achieving both of these targets requires collaboration from both citizens and the government, as well as innovation across all levels of society.
On February 20th and 21st, the Centre for Urban Energy’s Clean Energy Zone hosted 14 eager students from various programs to participate in the Zero Carbon Challenge. The challenge required students to collaborate to design an innovative sustainable solution that addresses the impact of existing structure in helping Toronto achieve its Net Zero goals. The focus was placed on student housing, aiming to redesign spaces to meet sustainable living standards while maintaining comfort for students.
The winning team identified Pitman Hall as the perfect target because it had the highest annual emissions among all TMU buildings. This is due to Pitman’s reliance on natural gas and its challenges in minimizing heat loss. The team proposed three solutions to address Pitman’s issues: prioritizing the use of solar panels, triple-glazed window systems, and modifications to the interior (Fiber Optical LAN, LED lights, motion sensors, and thermal blinds). The solutions would result in an approximate 50% reduction in carbon emissions, a 20-40% reduction in heat loss, and a 30-50% reduction in energy loss.
The Clean Energy Zone offers a range of opportunities, such as the Power Up Program, which allows students passionate about clean energy and entrepreneurship to gain practical experience by working with Clean Energy Zone companies. For more information, please visit: Power Up Program Information (opens in new window)
What the participants had to say
"Participating in the Clean Energy Zone's Zero Carbon Challenge has equipped me with invaluable skills for my future career. Through interdisciplinary collaboration, problem-solving, and fostering a sustainability mindset, I've learned to innovate creatively and communicate effectively. This experience has not only prepared me to tackle complex challenges but also instilled a deep understanding of the importance of sustainability in any professional setting."
"I enjoyed how we were given background information about methods of zero carbon emissions at the beginning of the session. This helped my team discuss different sustainable methods to use.
The most relevant aspect for my future personal and professional aspirations was the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in a real-world setting."
"The collaboration as a group to create a meaningful solution to the Zero Carbon challenge was extremely important to me, as it allowed me to see just how efficiently groups can target problems within a short period."
"It has raised my interest in energy-related industries such as renewable energies and power production, which has sparked my curiosity to learn more about electrical engineering, particularly regarding power production efficiency and the viability of those solutions."
