Humber Polytechnic works with industry partners, like the City of Toronto, to perform energy audits and other environmentally focused projects.Supplied
Humber Polytechnic in Toronto is on track to be the among the first polytechnic institutions in Canada to hit net-zero carbon in 2029. The institution is set to meet this target by following its Climate Action Plan, a strategy to achieve significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.
As a professor at Humber, Dragos Paraschiv is preparing students for a career in the field of sustainable energy. He is excited to see that this commitment to sustainability goes beyond the classroom and is an important value to the Humber organization itself.
“This is the field I teach in, so seeing it come to life in the buildings where I work is an incredible experience,” says Paraschiv, a professor in the Sustainable Building Engineering program in the Faculty of Applied Sciences & Technology.
Humber embeds sustainability into everything, from operations to academic programming, to ensure students and partners are prepared for the transition to a green economy. Its decarbonization efforts prioritize the transition from natural gas to efficient electric-based heating systems across its three campuses. These projects will eliminate most of the fossil-fuel-based heating sources on campus, including installation of a geothermal system at its North Campus and conversion from natural gas to electric heating supplying many of its buildings across the campuses.
“Sustainability leadership means setting the bar high and then surpassing it,” says Ann Marie Vaughan, president and CEO. “Humber’s commitment to net zero in 2029 is about showing what’s possible and challenging others to step up and do the same. Humber is demonstrating that institutions can move faster, act smarter, and inspire real change by committing to sustainable innovation at every level.”
The institution is also focusing on the development of academic programs and professional learning opportunities related to a green economy.
Paraschiv says students in his program work on real projects with industry partners, such as partnering with the City of Toronto to perform energy audits on City facilities. “This gives students the chance to practice their academic knowledge acquired from courses in a real building and to calculate energy savings opportunities and do an economic analysis of the proposed measures.”
Students also work with Humber facilities staff, for example, analyzing energy use of a building after a retrofit. “These projects allow our students to see how, when systems operate in an efficient way, it results in better comfort for occupants, more efficient buildings, lower costs for building owners and reduced greenhouse gas emissions,” Paraschiv says. “They see that what they learn is feasible and see how it is making a difference.”
Vaughan says these student programs are an example of how sustainability is part of Humber’s identity and values. “From academic programming to campus operations, we’re equipping the next generation with the skills and knowledge to lead in a green economy,” she says. “Our sustainability investments are reducing emissions while driving long-term cost savings demonstrating that what’s good for the planet is also good for business and productivity.
“And by making our sustainability solutions open source, we’re ensuring that Humber’s progress serves as a blueprint for others. Tackling climate change requires collaboration, and we want to share our success so that industries, institutions, and communities can accelerate their own transitions to a sustainable future.”
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