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YMCA Community Resilience Centres with Backup Power Systems

Solution Overview

The YMCA of Greater Toronto developed its own Resiliency Strategy to guide efforts in supporting and enhancing community resilience, applying a climate resilience lens to strategic actions and priorities.[2][4] The organization is working to turn its facilities into a network of Community Resilience Centres by installing high-efficiency backup power systems to reduce the carbon footprint of its owned buildings while allowing these locations to remain operational during extended electricity grid power failures.[1] These Community Resilience Centres allow YMCA facilities to generate their own electricity on-site and continue to support the community even if the electricity grid is compromised in an emergency.[2][4]

Technical Components

The implementation involves installing high-efficiency combined heat and power energy systems at existing and new Centres of Community to allow them to generate their own electricity on-site.[2] The YMCA integrates other resilience-building and low-carbon microgrid measures including solar panels, battery energy storage systems, electric vehicle chargers, advanced controls, and backup generators where combined heat and power energy systems are not possible.[2][4] The organization is installing high-efficiency power generation equipment throughout its portfolio including solar panels and energy storage systems.[6] IESC's design team completed preliminary engineering work to size major pieces of equipment and worked with Combined Heat and Power and backup Natural Gas generator contractors.[4] The design team investigated the implementation of microgrid systems at YMCA sites to understand the challenges that might need to be overcome.[4] IESC developed performance criteria to provide assurance that Engineering Procurement and Construction organizations will deliver a robust and long-term functional system while providing flexibility to ensure costs are as efficient as possible.[4]

Implementation Details

The Cooper Koo Family YMCA, located at 461 Cherry Street in the West Don Lands of Toronto, was developed in partnership with Waterfront Toronto, Infrastructure Ontario, and the Province of Ontario.[1] This LEED Gold building houses a large green roof and a micro-grid including seven electric vehicle charging stations, a battery back-up and a small solar array.[1] The YMCA is working to install a high efficiency combined heat and power generator along with additional solar panel and battery capacity at the Cooper Koo Family YMCA, with enough capacity to remain operational in a blackout.[1] Working with its climate strategy consultants, Mantle314, the YMCA received funding from Natural Resources Canada to explore strategies for developing a resilient, low-carbon community energy system in the West Don Lands.[1] Mantle Developments worked with The YMCA of Greater Toronto to design facilities that can function as community reception centres during climate emergencies.[5] The YMCA at The David Braley Vaughan Centre in Vaughan and The Steve & Sally Stavro Family YMCA in Toronto achieved LEED Platinum certification in February 2024.[3] The Steve & Sally Stavro Family YMCA project includes a range of sustainable design strategies and materials including a green roof, bicycle parking, locally-produced low-emission materials with high recycled content, and certified wood.[3]

Benefits and Impacts

Both YMCA centres have been designed with climate resilience in mind and can act as public community reception centres during climate emergencies.[3] The City of Toronto's Resilience Strategy references the YMCA of Greater Toronto for their work to "increase community resiliency and protect vulnerable populations."[6] The facilities are designed to remain operational during extended electricity grid power failures, allowing them to continue supporting the community even when the electricity grid is compromised in an emergency.[1][4]

Climate Adaptation Relevance

The Community Resilience Centres address climate emergency preparedness by ensuring facilities can function as public community reception centres during climate-related events.[3][5] The high-efficiency backup power systems and microgrid infrastructure enable continuous operations during extended electricity grid failures that may result from extreme weather events or climate-related emergencies.[1][4]

Business Analysis

In 2024, the YMCA of Greater Toronto launched a new green building policy to ensure that all new construction and renovation projects are designed and built to the highest sustainability standards.[8] The organization received funding from Natural Resources Canada to explore strategies for developing a resilient, low-carbon community energy system in the West Don Lands.[1] The implementation involves partnerships with Waterfront Toronto, Infrastructure Ontario, the Province of Ontario, and climate strategy consultants Mantle314.[1][5] The organization's Resiliency Strategy guides the effort to increase community resiliency and protect vulnerable populations through strategic actions and priorities that apply a climate resilience lens.[2][4]

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