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Toronto suburb blazes a Canadian geothermal trail

The sustainable development is being backed by an $8.7 million investment from the Government of Canada and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities. Photo credit: Mattamy Homes

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.

The project will harness geothermal energy from beneath the earth to heat and cool 312 homes, aiming for a "net-zero" energy footprint. #Net-zero neighborhood #Geothermal #Climate Solutions #Affordable energy.

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.

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