The Berczy Glen neighbourhood in Markham, southern Ontario, is set to become the largest neighbourhood in Canada run on geothermal energy.
The project will harness geothermal energy from beneath the earth to heat and cool 312 homes, aiming for a "net-zero" energy footprint. It functions like a refrigerator, absorbing underground heat in the winter and cooling homes in the summer, significantly enhancing energy efficiency—a critical advantage in Canada, where heating and cooling consume the most energy. Each house will be connected by a single pipe, similar to an electrical grid, effectively reducing greenhouse gas emissions through a heat pump system that draws warmth from the earth's core.
The sustainable development is being backed by an $8.7 million investment from the Government of Canada and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities. Jeff Labine, media relations advisor for FCM, told Canada’s National Observer that once complete, the project is expected to lead to a 97 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions for space heating and cooling, and a total GHG reduction of 1,300 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent per year.
“Climate action can take many forms; using innovative technologies to make our neighbourhoods more sustainable is one of them,” said Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change in a statement. “Through this funding, the new Berczy Glen neighbourhood of Markham will be able to access clean and affordable energy using geothermal energy.”
Energy and Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson also praised the project, noting, “Energy efficiency means cost savings for Canadians.”
Markham mayor Frank Scarpitti stressed the project's significant role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and providing energy savings for homeowners.
Scarpitti described the funding as a “very strong vote of confidence” in the city's ongoing efforts to become the most sustainable community in North America.
“The geothermal system accomplishes several things: it provides efficient energy, increases energy savings for homeowners, reduces maintenance costs, and significantly reduces emissions,” Scarpitti said.
Scarpitti told Canada's National Observer about the importance of advancing technologies to build net-zero homes, especially as Markham's population is projected to grow from 365,000 to 450,000 over the next 20 years. He said incorporating these technologies from the outset is crucial to avoiding the need for costly retrofits in the future.
According to Geoff Stewart, President of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, municipalities are responsible for over half of Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions. Therefore, ambitious climate actions like the Berczy Glen neighbourhood project are crucial for achieving the 2050 net-zero target.
While the Markham neighbourhood will be the largest to run on geothermal, it won’t be the first. In 2014, Richmond, BC, approved a $12.3 million expansion for its Alexandra District Energy Utility, a city-run geothermal project, which is expected to save 9,500 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions over 12 years.
Comments
Thanks, this is encouraging news. It would be good to learn more about the technology. I know about some geothermal options so would be interested to know what kind this is. Also: who actually owns this particular geothermal system, is it the company that built it or the local community or the city? What's the name of the company and do they have systems running elsewhere, and so on. Also how the system works for individual houses: is it metered just like electricity, how is the household cost calculated? I guess I'm asking for another article :)
This is exactly the kind of adaptation measure that we need at scale in this country. Once connected, these homes can disconnect their gas lines, especially if the geothermal system also produces electricity. Let's hope the system is a public utility.
Excellent news!! This should be the norm going forward, and tell Enbridge where to go!!
In 2008 when we made an addition to my son's home as a granny flat for me, I suggested, and paid for the installation of a geothermal (or ground source) HVAC system . We had more than enough land to install the piping and some meticulous work by our contractor to install the complex sub floor piping and thermostatic controls for the various zones, including a large sunporch/mudroom/ all purpose room attached to the house. We were told that the system would become more efficient and effective over time and it has, but even that first year, the warm floors were delightful. Our previous heating was electric baseboards and as the cost of electricity accelerated we offered prayers of thanks for the reduction in electricity costs. Maintenance costs have been minimal.
I think community wide installations will be even more cost efficient and certainly more effective in lessening emissions. Together with air exchange heat pumps Canadians can become world leaders in reducing domestic HVAC costs.
Good for you, Betsy! Sounds idyllic.
There's a community near Okotoks, AB, called Drake's Landing that has district scale geothermal with the added heat from hundreds of solar hot water panels being collected and injected 80m into the ground during the hot season, stored and then withdrawn and distributed to the furnaces in individual homes. Last time I checked their website the rock heat storage mass had built up to over 80 degrees C in late summer over a period of three years.
My only beef with DL is that it's just another big single family zoned subdivision that is utterly dependent on cars. Long commutes on the #2 Hwy to Calgary employers are still required. It'd be perfect with multiple zones, continuous sidewalk retail and low rise townhouses all joined to the district heating system. Ultimately being connected to a regional frequent transit network, including regional fast commuter rail would liberate the entire community from fossil fuel and car dependence.
That's $27,000 per home served; if it last 25 years before it needs major new money spent, then it will have removed about 300,000 tonnes of carbon at a carbon-price of $267 per tonne.
In short, this is a great pilot project, but until they cut the price in half and then reduce it some more after that, it's going to be a very hard sell.
Roy I think you need to check your math. $27,000 / 300,000 = 0.09 or 9 cents a tonne.
That 8,7 million is well within that 3to 5% premium for energy efficiency. As mentioned in a big green article above.
When u cut your utility bill by 75% makes payments so much easier