Greenhouse gas emissions

Natural gas heating is one of our biggest sources of emissions. When heating equipment in our buildings reaches the end of its life, we're aiming to replace with electric heat pumps or hybrid systems, which will reduce natural gas consumption. 

This costs more upfront, but as natural gas prices continue to rise, electric heating will become the more affordable option over time.

We're upgrading our buildings with practical improvements like LED lighting, better insulation, and smarter heating and cooling systems.

These upgrades reduce the energy our buildings use day-to-day. Many of them also save money on utility bills, which helps offset the cost of larger projects.

We're looking at whether we have more building space than we actually need.

Consolidating services where possible can reduce the requirement for building space, which can lead to a reduction in emissions and operating costs.

Our water and wastewater treatment plants produce biogas as a byproduct of the treatment process. We're exploring ways to capture that gas and use it to heat nearby regional buildings, rather than letting it go to waste.

We're also looking at shared energy systems for new buildings.

Simple actions by the people who work in our buildings — like adjusting thermostats, turning off lights, and keeping doors and windows properly sealed — can add up to real energy savings.

We're building awareness and training so that everyone plays a part.

Niagara Region is taking steps to better understand how to reduce emissions across its buildings and move toward net zero.

Through a federally supported Pathway to Net Zero project, we worked with a consultant to complete detailed studies of 12 representative buildings. The results will inform overall planning, including future cost estimates and decision-making related to net zero initiatives.