Past Event

3:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

TEAM

Paul Benfield

Sarina De Havelyn

Joshua Idowa

Ashy Sebastian

3:45 p.m. – 4:15 p.m.

TEAM

Amir Ashraf Vaghefi

Dhrumil Umeshbhai Khatri

Alexander Zelenski

Decarbonizing building heating systems is crucial for Canada to achieve its 2050 net-zero targets. This study conducts a comparative analysis of Ontario and Alberta to identify the most effective clean heat technologies and strategies, considering the provinces’ distinct energy contexts. By conducting political, economic, environmental, technological, and social analyses, this study provides targeted policy recommendations to harness opportunities and mitigate challenges in the transition to clean heating. These recommendations will act as a strategic blueprint for stakeholders across Canada, ensuring the adoption of feasible, equitable clean heating solutions that align with Canada’s diverse energy landscape and decarbonization objectives.

4:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

TEAM

Mouldi Essid

Hasrat Kathuria

Dean Keranovic

Atiq Khan

The study is focused on creating financial options for energy-efficient retrofits in social housing in Cornwall. The city’s Climate Action Plan, released in March 2023, outlines its response to the climate crisis, aiming for a low-carbon future. One of its key goals is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) by focusing on efficient, carbon-neutral buildings. This project aims to provide low or zero-interest financing for energy upgrades in senior social housing, contributing to the city’s action plan for decarbonizing buildings by 2030.

The study highlights two federal grant programs to which the city can apply – Sustainable Affordable Housing and the Affordable Housing Fund, which offer grants, and low-interest and forgivable loans to municipalities across Canada. It will examine the technical, environmental, economic, and social impacts of these retrofits on senior social housing in the city. Under the technical analysis, the study aims to evaluate the impact of installing Solar Panels and Heat Pumps for senior social housing where utilities are paid by the City of Cornwall and finally suggestions on the potential of implementing the Energiesprong model.

The environmental analysis will calculate GHG savings and energy consumption savings from the above retrofits. The economic analysis aims to examine the cost of these different financing options for the city currently operating senior social housing. Lastly, for social analysis, the study looks at community benefits of these retrofits like increased well-being for seniors living in these social housings, job creation, adaptation, and resilience to the climate crisis.