Concordia University Announces Bold Carbon Neutrality Plan PLAN/NET-ZÉRØ

MONTREAL--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today, Concordia University launched PLAN/NET-ZÉRØ, a bold project that aims to show how large institutions can work with diverse partners to target net-zero emissions now. As one of Canada’s largest and most urban universities, Concordia aims to achieve carbon neutrality before 2040 by transforming its two Montreal campuses into living labs that reduce energy consumption, optimize heating systems and encourage behavioural change.

“The need for a clean-energy transition to decarbonize our rapidly urbanizing planet is urgent,” says Concordia University President Graham Carr. “With 80 buildings across 62 acres on two very different campuses, Concordia offers a unique space to develop and test innovative, integrated, scalable decarbonization solutions that can be blueprints for cities around the world.”

The expertise of its Next-Gen Cities Institute and across the university in energy-efficient buildings, smart cities, electrification and renewables, sustainable mobility solutions, energy storage, applied AI, cybersecurity and smart-grid security is recognized globally. Concordia will take advantage of these strengths and its vast network of community, civic, academic and industrial partnerships to transform its campuses into open living labs.

“We want this innovation sandbox to generate an affordable toolbox for everyone,” continues Carr. “Although PLAN/NET-ZÉRO is a project at Concordia, it’s designed to be a project for Montréal, Québec and Canada—ultimately showcasing us as a global hub for green-energy solutions.”

The university will issue a public call for tenders this Monday for the selection of a collaborator to help design and build efficient retrofits and integrate smart-building tech and solar power for its pilot project at the Guy-De Maisonneuve building. The building combines offices, classrooms, student services, retail spaces and restaurants and sits above the Guy-Concordia Metro station. Its mixed use makes it a useful test bed for others to learn from.

PLAN/NET-ZERØ aligns with Concordia’s commitment to the objectives of the Partenariat Climat Montréal. It is also another big step in the university’s history of environmental leadership, including delivery on its Sustainability Action Plan, which was launched in 2020 and inspired by the determination of its students.

Read the full press release: https://www.concordia.ca/news/stories/2023/04/14/concordia-announces-its-bold-climate-initiative-plan-net-zero.html