What is Toronto Green Standard v4, and what tier applies to my renovation?
Answered by AskBaily Editorial · Updated
Short answer
Toronto Green Standard v4 (effective 2022, updated 2024) is Toronto's sustainability overlay — four tiers of performance requirements on energy, water, waste, ecology, and air quality. Tier 1 is mandatory on substantial residential renovations and additions; Tiers 2-4 are voluntary but incentivized through Development Charge rebates. Tier 1 drives envelope performance, ERV/HRV, and heat-pump readiness on most substantial scopes.
In detail
Toronto Green Standard v4 came into effect May 1, 2022 and was refreshed January 1, 2024 to align with the City's TransformTO Net Zero Strategy. Adopted under section 113 of the Ontario City of Toronto Act and embedded in the Official Plan, TGS sets four ascending tiers of performance requirements across energy, greenhouse-gas intensity, water, ecology, solid waste, and air quality. Tier 1 is mandatory on most substantial residential renovations, additions, and new builds processed through Toronto Building; Tiers 2 through 4 are voluntary but unlock Development Charge refunds of 20% to 64% under the Eco-Roof and Sustainable Energy Refund programs.
For a typical low-rise residential addition over 50 sq m, Tier 1 obligations include a Total Energy Use Intensity (TEUI) target of roughly 170 kWh/m²/yr, a thermal envelope requirement that beats Ontario Building Code SB-12 by 15%, mechanical ventilation with heat or energy recovery (HRV/ERV) sized per ASHRAE 62.2, electric-vehicle-ready rough-in for one parking space, water-efficient fixtures meeting WaterSense thresholds, and at least 50% native or drought-tolerant species in new soft landscaping. New low-rise homes additionally trigger heat-pump-ready electrical capacity and a Greenhouse Gas Intensity (GHGI) cap of 8 kg CO₂e/m²/yr.
Compliance documentation is filed at building-permit intake using the TGS Statistics Template and the Energy Modelling Report (HOT2000 or equivalent for low-rise; eQUEST or IES for mid- and high-rise). Tier 2 adds a TEUI of roughly 130 kWh/m²/yr and ecological performance bumps; Tier 3 cuts to 100; Tier 4 targets net-zero-ready performance with on-site renewables. Practical impact on renovations: plan for continuous exterior insulation on new walls, triple-pane or high-performance double-pane glazing, ducted heat-pump or central-system readiness even if you keep gas in phase one, and a landscape architect or ecologist on the team if you are reshaping more than 25 sq m of soft landscape.
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