Sustainability news

Sustainability programs and research at U of T Engineering are at the forefront of alternative technologies that can mitigate the impact of climate change.

Heather Maclean

Heather MacLean recognized by CMHC for contributions to sustainability

8:07 AM: the Gardiner Expressway rumbles with thousands of vehicles driving downtown to work, each with its own combustion engine releasing a barely-visible trail of exhaust into the atmosphere. Is there a better way to move people around our city? If so, what is it? These are questions that Professor Heather MacLean (CivE) explores in […]

combine harvester

PURE green machine proves U of T engineers more than just design wizards

It may have hydrogen fuel cells, a solar panel and three lithium-ion batteries, but a new electric vehicle from students at U of T won’t be found on the highway – it’ll be working on the farm. A group of engineering students has proposed a new type of sustainable soybean harvester, recently winning first place […]

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A car that travels 1,152 kilometres on one litre of fuel

How much do you think it costs to drive from Toronto to Vancouver in the U of T Supermileage Team’s new eco-car? Hint: it’s less than a medium latte from your favourite coffee shop.Unveiled at the international Shell Eco-marathon this month, the tiny car from U of T engineering students is capable of traveling 1,152 kilometres on […]

U of T Supermileage Team

Engineering a more fuel-efficient engine from scratch

Last fall, eight engineering students from U of T crowded around a small leaf-blower engine and argued whether it could power the world’s most fuel-efficient vehicle. Then, they tossed it aside and started building a better one from scratch. Now – after their professors said it was impossible – that engine is at the heart […]

Murray Thomson

From bio-fuels to molten steel: How U of T engineers are curbing carbon emissions

Whether we’re transporting goods halfway across the planet, or making steel in large-scale factories, limiting our carbon emissions is an immense challenge. But Professor Murray Thomson (MIE) and his team at U of T Engineering are up to the task. Their research explores new types of biofuel, different combustion methods and advanced sensors that are […]