TMU Intern’s Data Analysis Reveals $500K Savings and 1.5M kWh Energy Cut

TL;DR: A TMU engineering intern’s analysis of campus energy data identified $500,000 in cost savings and a cut of more than 1.5 million kWh electricity use in 2024.

Context Naima Samale, a third‑year computer engineering student, joined Toronto Metropolitan University’s Sustainability Office through the Career Boost program. Her placement gave her access to the office’s energy‑tracking system, which monitors campus electricity consumption and greenhouse‑gas emissions.

Key Facts Samale’s first assignment was to produce TMU’s inaugural Green Revolving Fund report. The fund recycles savings from sustainability projects into new initiatives. Analyzing eight retrofit projects completed in 2024 across four buildings, she found that LED lighting upgrades in the Student Learning Centre and cooling‑system upgrades in the Library together reduced annual electricity use by over 1.5 million kilowatt‑hours. The same upgrades cut carbon emissions by roughly 60 tonnes. Combined with a campus chiller‑plant curtailment, the projects generated more than $500,000 in cost savings.

What It Means The data confirmed that targeted energy‑efficiency upgrades deliver measurable financial and environmental returns. Energy manager Animesh Roy noted that the savings reinforce the business case for further sustainability investment. Samale emphasized that clear metrics—return on investment, waste reduction, operating‑cost savings—are essential for securing stakeholder buy‑in and attracting commercial partners to share costs.

The findings also support TMU’s broader climate goal of net‑zero emissions by 2045. By feeding the Green Revolving Fund, the university can finance additional retrofits, creating a virtuous cycle of savings and reinvestment. Samale’s experience shows that students without a formal energy background can influence campus climate strategy, encouraging broader participation through programs like the Sustainability Ambassador network.

Looking Ahead Watch for TMU’s next round of retrofits and the expansion of its Green Revolving Fund, which could amplify savings and push the university closer to its net‑zero target.