As Chair of its Board of Governors, I set the goal of making Exhibition Place completely energy self-sufficient by 2010. Since then we have made great strides towards meeting that commitment, and in the process have become the world’s leading demonstration site of sustainability and energy efficiency.
Exhibition Place already houses Canada’s largest photovoltaic (solar power) array, a green roof, deep-lake water cooling and hydrogen energy displays. In 2007 and 2008 four exciting new pilot projects joined this growing showcase.
Geothermal
In 2008, we completed construction of the Geothermal Plant at the CNE’s Press Building. Significant energy efficiencies are being achieved every day, as the Plant uses the natural temperatures of the ground as both a heat source in winter and a heat “sink” in summer. This reduces gas consumption, lowers energy bills, and cushions us against rising fuel prices. Built in partnership with the City’s Energy Efficiency Office and Fleet Services Division, the system is 100% efficient and helps to create new markets for environmentally friendly technologies.
Tri-Generation
On March 7, 2007 I was joined by Mayor David Miller, representatives of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) and the Federal government for the unveiling of the $4.4 million Tri-Generation Project at Exhibition Place. This system has become the sole source of power and heat, and provides most of the cooling, for one of Exhibition Place’s premier facilities – the Direct Energy Centre. The project, supported by the FCM’s Green Municipal Fund, the Toronto Atmospheric Fund, and the City of Toronto’s Energy Retrofit Program, is one of the largest of its kind in Canada. Our Direct Energy Centre’s tri-generation system produces three forms of secondary energy: space heating, cooling, and electricity. It will soon be expanded across the 192-acre Exhibition Place site as a unique model for other campus locations.
LEDs
Energy efficient LED (light-emitting diode) streetlights were also introduced at Exhibition Place in the spring of 2007. This is the largest installation of LED streetlights in Canada.
The LED lights provide Exhibition Place with an opportunity to test how much money can be saved from electricity and maintenance costs. It is estimated that converting Toronto’s 160,000 streetlights to LED, an objective that I wholeheartedly support, could save about $6 million a year in electricity costs, not to mention reduce greenhouse gas emissions by over 18,000 tonnes – the equivalent to removing 3,608 cars from city streets. The addition of LEDs and the Tri-generation and Geothermal facilities to the many green initiatives already established at Exhibition Place – such as waste diversion, numerous building retrofits, and the Horse Palace’s Green Roof – goes a long way toward achieving energy self-sufficiency and stepping “off the grid” by 2010.
BMO Field
When Toronto FC kicked off their inaugural season on April 28th, 2007, it also marked the first of many events to be held at BMO Field – Canada’s only soccer-specific stadium. Funded by a unique public-private partnership between three different levels of government and Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment Ltd., BMO Field was built by PCL at a cost of $62.9 million. During the first four months of operation at BMO Field, approximately 240,000 rambunctious Toronto FC fans cheered on their team in their first twelve home games at the stadium on the lake shore.
In addition to being the home to the first Canadian MLS Franchise, BMO Field hosted one of the top three most watched sporting events in the world despite having only been in operation for less than three months. From July 1st to the 22nd, 2007, BMO Field was transformed into the National Soccer Stadium as it hosted the FIFA U-20 World Cup. More than 250,000 fans from around the world attended the twelve games over the course of nine competition days. On the condition that the next two Toronto FC seasons sell out – and we’re all hoping they will – BMO Field will undergo seating expansions to meet the continuing public demand.
BMO Field’s inaugural concert was held September 7, 2007. The phenomenally successful rock group Genesis launched the North-American leg of their “Turn It On Again” World Tour with an outdoor show. Phil Collins and company took the stage for the first time in fifteen years in Canada under a clear sky in front of a sold out crowd of more than 27,000 fans.
I am very proud to have been a leading force in creating this dynamic new facility, built specifically for the people of Toronto.
