Cities play a critical role in addressing climate change, as the buildings and transportation systems that support daily life account for the majority of urban greenhouse gas emissions. In Edmonton, these challenges led to a bold vision to transform the former municipal airport lands into a new kind of neighbourhood designed to support sustainable living and reduce environmental impact.
Blatchford is being developed as a low-carbon community powered by renewable energy through the City’s district energy system, which provides heating, cooling, and hot water to homes and buildings. Builders in the community must meet custom Green Building Standards that exceed industry requirements for energy efficiency, while the neighbourhood design encourages walking, cycling, and transit use. Low Impact Development features such as bioswales, urban stormwater channels, and rainwater harvesting also help manage water naturally across the site.
When complete, Blatchford is expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by about 30,000 tonnes annually compared to a typical community. As one of the largest renewable district energy communities in Canada, the project is providing a model for sustainable urban development in Edmonton and beyond.
