Toronto Child Care Facility Becomes City’s First Net-Zero Building

Toronto, Canada, is one facility closer to meeting its ambitious sustainability goals. Officials have celebrated the launch of Toronto’s largest city-run child care center and first net-zero building. At 19,000 square feet, the Mount Dennis Early Learning and Child Care Center provides space for 98 children, including two infant rooms, three toddler rooms, and three preschool rooms.

The city government operates child care centers throughout the community, and Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow said the new facility “shows what is possible when we put families and climate action at the center of our work.”

Buildings account for approximately 55% of greenhouse gas emissions in Toronto, and the new center supports the city’s commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2040.

The facility is fully electrified and not connected to natural gas. Its net-zero design includes advanced energy-efficient features such as:

• Super-insulated walls and roof, a method that uses more than the average amount of insulation to significantly reduce heat loss and gain;
• Triple-glazed windows with three panes of glass for better energy efficiency;
• Airtight construction, which reduces air leaks to keep the building temperature and energy use consistent;
• Geothermal heat pump system, which uses underground temperature to heat and cool the building;
• 264 solar panels located on the roof, which generate electricity, preheat domestic hot water, and recharge the geo-exchange field; and
• Energy recovery ventilators that improve indoor air quality by continuously exchanging stale indoor air with fresh outdoor air.

According to the city, these features will enable the building to produce as much energy as it consumes each year, significantly reducing its carbon footprint while providing a healthy, comfortable environment for children and staff.

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