PLAN/NET ZERØ
Concordia University’s decarbonization initiative
Concordia has embarked on an ambitious project to decarbonize its campus infrastructure. It is transforming its two Montréal locations into ‘living laboratories’ where researchers, faculty, and students can come together to foster high-potential innovation… and provide a roadmap to decarbonize the world.
Building on a history of environmental leadership
PLAN/NET ZERØ will provide a model of how to fully decarbonize a university, reduce its overall energy consumption, and foster behavioural change. It will draw on Concordia’s vast research strengths in sustainability, its track record as one of Québec’s most energy efficient universities, and its robust ecosystem for innovation and research commercialization.
PLAN/NET ZERØ is rooted in the institution’s core values, embodied in the work of its Sustainability Action Plan. As one of Canada’s largest and most urban universities, Concordia is committed to achieving carbon neutrality before 2040.
PLAN/NET ZERØ aligns with Volt-Age, Concordia’s electrification research program, which brings together more than 140 researchers to address the technological challenges of electrification, as well as policy and development requirements.
As Canada’s premier electrification research program supported by a historic $123M grant from the Canada First Research Excellence Fund, Volt-Age is forging solutions to electrify society and decarbonize communities through applied research that integrates technologies for carbon-neutral buildings, advanced energy storage, smart grids, and the electrification of transportation.
Concordia at a glance
Creating a living lab for green innovations
Recognized for its expertise in areas ranging from next-generation cities to smart buildings, electrification and renewables, IoT, cybersecurity and applied AI, Concordia is well positioned to mobilize its vast network of community, academic and industrial partnerships to develop innovative solutions.
The university’s spaces will be used to pilot projects and equip the next generation with real-world experience. PLAN/NET ZERØ will leverage the multifunction campus environment for experimentation, collaboration, and evaluation of innovative technologies and methods.
Forward-thinking. Sustainability-focused.
researchers engaged in sustainability-related research
courses with sustainability-related content
best university in Canada for Sustainable cities and communities*
*Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2023 for the support of UN’s Sustainable Development GoalsWorking together for a greener future
PLAN/NET ZERØ strives to exemplify how large institutions can work with diverse partners to target net-zero emissions. Concordia will be a source for industry collaborations and venture capital in the cleantech sector.
PLAN/NET ZERØ data, ideas, successes — and setbacks — will be shared to support other major institutions in achieving more sustainable operations. This approach will not only benefit Concordia University, but also Québec as a leader in the transition to clean energy, and society overall as we move toward a sustainable future.
This content was created in collaboration with Concordia University.
