CECA U of T Student Chapter Helps Homeless Centre

A student-driven energy-efficient retrofit of the Good Shepherd Centre in Toronto has helped the homeless facility cut its electricity costs by 40%. The centre is housed in a 100-year-old building.

The retrofit was led by members of a Canadian Electrical Contractors Association (CECA) U of T Student Chapter. After the students did the planning, a collaborative group of associations, contractors, and suppliers funded and implemented the lighting retrofit, says CECA. They did the work as a tribute to the memory of George Docherty, a prominent member of the Electrical Contractors Association of Ontario and of the Greater Toronto Electrical Contractors Association.

As reported by Hina Alam in The Toronto Star, the 18-month project involved retrofitting LED lighting and installing motion sensors in areas that aren’t frequently used. Project costs were about $42,000.

Good Shepherd Ministries is a registered charity located in downtown Toronto. Founded in 1963, Good Shepherd Ministries operates Toronto’s largest free meal program as well as providing shelter, clothing, medical care, and other vital services for people struggling with homelessness and poverty. For more information, please visit www.goodshepherd.ca or follow us on Twitter @goodshepherd_to.

To learn more about the project, read Hina Alam’s article: https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2017/06/20/u-of-t-engineering-students-pitch-in-to-make-good-shepherd-ministries-greener.html