Pathways Project: Tools for exploring how Toronto’s buildings can transition to net zero.
Our resources provide a roadmap for building owners, operators, and decision-makers to plan and implement decarbonization.
About the Pathways Project
The Toronto 2030 District’s Pathways Project brings together research and industry engagement to define practical pathways toward a zero-carbon building sector by 2050.
The initiative supports building owners, operators, and practitioners in developing informed decarbonization strategies, while advancing pilot projects that demonstrate scalable, real-world solutions.
Explore the Tools
Interactive resources to support your building decarbonization planning
Pathways Tool: Guide and Methodology
Learn how the Pathways Tool was built and what assumptions shape its outputs. Understand how to apply the tool and interpret results to support real-world decisions.
Pathways Tool: Capitalizing Building Decarbonization Calculator
Models different pathways to decarbonize commercial buildings based on user inputs. It shows the cost, emissions impact, and trade-offs of different retrofit strategies.
Project Phases & Reports
From 2020 to 2024, Toronto 2030 District worked with industry experts to better understand how commercial buildings in Toronto can transition to net zero.
This work resulted in a series of reports and tools that identify practical pathways, key technologies, and the actions needed to support building decarbonization.
Explore each phase below—each builds on the last to form a clear, evidence-based roadmap to net zero.
Phase 1
Pathways to Net Zero Background Working Paper
Pathways to Net Zero Background Working Paper
Examines what Toronto’s buildings, energy use, and emissions look like today. It finds that existing buildings and heating systems are the primary drivers of emissions and key to achieving net zero.
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Phase 2
Heating Energy Supply Decarbonization Report (Fuel Switching)
Heating Energy Supply Decarbonization Report (Fuel Switching)
Explores which alternatives to natural gas heating are most viable for commercial buildings. It finds that electrification—especially heat pumps—is the most critical and immediate pathway.
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Phase 3
Energy Efficiency
Energy Efficiency
Asks how reducing energy demand can support building decarbonization. It finds that efficiency upgrades lower costs and make fuel switching more feasible.
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Phase 4
Integrated Pathways to Decarbonization
Integrated Pathways to Decarbonization
Investigates how technologies like solar, storage, and district energy contribute to net zero. It finds that combining solutions is necessary, but fuel switching remains the priority.
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Phase 5
Toronto 2030 District Summary Report
Toronto 2030 District Summary Report
Brings together insights from all previous phases into a single overview. It identifies key actions and priorities needed to move from research to implementation.
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Phase 6a
Net-Zero Buildings Pathways Tool Guide and Methodology
Net-Zero Buildings Pathways Tool Guide and Methodology
Explains how the Pathways Tool was developed and how to use it effectively. It helps users understand assumptions, inputs, and how to interpret results.
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Phase 6b
Net-Zero Buildings Pathways Tool (Excel Open-Source Database) – Nov 2024 Update
Net-Zero Buildings Pathways Tool (Excel Open-Source Database) – Nov 2024 Update
Provides a practical tool to model decarbonization pathways for real buildings. It allows users to estimate costs, emissions impacts, and compare different retrofit strategies.
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