The Ryerson Energy Centre was created in 1976. Its focus was non-petroleum based energy sources like solar, recycling, and uses for oil other than burning. The Centre became part of the Centre for Industrial Development in 1985 because the decline in projects that the centre was co-ordinating made it difficult to operate independently.

Helmut (Ken) Burkhardt received his Ph.D from the University of Stuttgart in 1964 and was a refugee during World War II. In 1967, he moved to Toronto with his wife. After doing research in thermonuclear fusion and magneto hydrodynamic energy conversion, he became a pioneer in renewable energy. He started working at Ryerson in the Department of Mathematics and Physics in 1974. He also worked in Ryerson's Energy Centre and as director, organized many conferences with the International Society for Systems Sciences and Science for Peace. He retired from Ryerson in 1996, becoming a proferssor emeritus. He is a member of the Canadian Pugwash Group, serving as President of its Council on Global Issues (2002-2009). In 2011 he became the President of Solar Energy Technology Inc.

Charles Simon is an architect with Charles Simon Architect + Planner originally at 42 Wellington Street Toronto and presently located in Eden Ontario.

William D. Stainton was a professor in the Department of Architectural Science at Ryerson Polytechnical Institute. He taught in the Building Science section of the Department.

Peter Meridew was a professor in the Architectural Technology Department at Ryerson.

Bryan Davey was a lighting applications specialist with Energy Conservation and Utilization Department at Ontario Hydro.

Bruce Robertson, B. Eng was the managing director for Petrosave Inc.

John Lstiburek worked for the Inertia Development Corporation.