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Welcome to the June 2026 edition of Net Zero Times, your source for monthly updates from climate leaders in your community. As we move into the summer, we are excited to showcase a variety of local and global initiatives driving the transition to a sustainable future.
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This issue features several key topics and updates:
- Canadian Feature: A look at the new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Canada and Alberta, designed to unlock energy resources while driving massive investment in renewable energy and reducing emissions
- Decarbonization Feature: An exploration of peak demand in Ontario’s electricity market, highlighting why the most expensive kilowatt-hour in your building often happens at the wrong time
- Innovation Feature: The discovery of the "miracle" moringa tree’s ability to remove 98% of microplastics from drinking water, outperforming chemical alternatives
- Limelight Feature: Celebrating the 15 awardees of the 10th Annual Explore Ecology’s Environmental Stewardship Awards, recognizing leaders in sustainability and climate resilience
- Private/Public Sector: Insights from Parinaz Pakniat on how industrial-scale sustainable construction can help tackle Canada’s housing crisis
- Global News: Coverage of the United Nations General Assembly’s historic vote backing a world court opinion on the legal obligations of countries to address climate change
- Schools & Campuses: A focus on greening education through new toolkits for educators and George Brown Polytechnic’s strategic partnership with the City of Toronto’s Green Will Initiative
- Partner Spotlight: Act now before the Enbridge for energy-efficient control upgrades incentives expire July 1st.
Don't forget to mark your calendars for World Environment Day on Friday, June 5, 2026, a global call for climate action.
If you have an interesting story you would like to share with the community, please reach out to us at mcresswell@thomascoleinc.com
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The Most Expensive Kilowatt-Hour in Your Building Happens at the Wrong Time
For many large buildings, electricity costs are not driven solely by how much energy is consumed. Increasingly, the most expensive electricity is determined by when it is used.
In Ontario’s evolving electricity market, peak demand and system timing play a significant role in determining utility costs. Commercial and institutional customers often pay charges linked to their highest electricity demand during peak grid periods. These demand-based costs can materially increase operating expenses even if total energy consumption remains relatively unchanged
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Canada and Alberta strike agreement to diversify our exports, reduce emissions, and build a stronger economy
The world is changing rapidly. In response, Canada’s new government is focused on what we can control: building an affordable, competitive, and sustainable Canadian economy.
To that end, we must build our strength at home and diversify our export markets abroad. To advance these shared missions, in November, Canada and Alberta signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that unlocks the full potential of Alberta’s energy resources, drives massive new investments in renewable energy, and effectively reduces emissions.
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‘Miracle tree’ removes 98% of microplastics from drinking water, outperforming chemical alternatives
In a recent study, seeds from the ‘miracle’ moringa tree were found to match or outperform their chemical counterpart in filtering out aged PVC microplastics – one of the most harmful plastic types for human health. The findings could pave the way for a greener alternative for treatment plants.
The use of moringa for purification is as old as it is innovative: it is thought to have been used by Ancient Egyptians to remove bacteria and reduce turbidity of water.
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UN backs world court climate opinion; U.S. among few to oppose
The United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday voted 141-8 to adopt a resolution backing a world court opinion that countries have a legal obligation to address climate change, with the world's biggest historical emitter the United States among those opposing it.
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said the vote, in which 28 countries abstained, underscored that governments are responsible for protecting citizens from the "escalating climate crisis."
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🌟10th Annual Explore Ecology’s Environmental Stewardship Awards🌟
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The 10th annual Environmental Steward Awards by Explore Ecology were presented at an informal luncheon on Thursday, April 16, at the Cabrillo Pavilion for the second year in a row. The awards were established in 2016 by EE Executive Director Lindsay Johnson and Marketing/Communications Director Jill Cloutier and coincided with the annual SB Earth Day event.
Nominees and winners are voted for online by anyone who lives in SB County. The categories are SB County School Students, Teachers and Assistants, and Environmental Clubs. For 2026, there are 15 awardees representing sustainability, waste reduction, environmental education, climate resilience, and organic gardening.
| | Right Size Your HVAC Investments Save Capital and Boost Operational Efficiency Webinar Recording | | ‘A real menace:’ Here’s what environmental groups hope is next on Canada’s plastic ban list | | Moss-covered panels could offer air-cleaning cladding for city walls | | Grow your own groceries: Reducing food costs through gardening | | |
ACT NOW before these Limited-time offers expire.
Take Advantage of 2026: Controls enhanced offer
Custom Incentive:
$1.20/m3
Up to 75 percent of upgrade costs, to a maximum of $100,000/project
Eligibility:
- Purchase orders for your controls project must be dated and submitted to Enbridge before July 1, 2026
- For educational customers, purchase orders for your controls project must be dated and submitted to Enbridge before Sept. 1, 2026
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Project must be commissioned before Nov. 1, 2026
- Eligible projects must add energy-efficient controls to heating equipment or additional functionality to the existing control system.
- Projects must involve equipment upgrade costs rather than repairs or replacement.
Eligible projects must add energy-efficient controls to heating equipment or additional functionality to existing control system. Projects must involve equipment upgrade costs rather than repairs or replacement.
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Zero Waste in Manufacturing: How Industrial Recycling Programs Cut Costs and Waste
Manufacturing facilities generate a significant amount of waste, from metal scraps and plastics to cardboard and packaging materials. As industries face growing pressure to adopt sustainable practices, zero waste has emerged as a powerful approach to both reduce environmental impact and improve financial performance. Zero waste programs, particularly through effective recycling, allow manufacturers to minimize waste disposal costs, recover valuable materials, and streamline operations.
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