[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ custom_padding_last_edited=”on|desktop” next_background_color=”#ffffff” admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”4.24.0″ background_color=”rgba(255,255,255,0.2)” use_background_color_gradient=”on” background_color_gradient_stops=”#ffffff 0%|#edf2f2 100%” background_color_gradient_start=”#ffffff” background_color_gradient_end=”#edf2f2″ background_image=”https:\/\/questcanada.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/QUEST-Swish-Full2.png” background_repeat=”repeat” min_height=”488px” custom_margin=”||0px||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”||-200px||false|false” custom_margin_phone=”||-200px||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|tablet” custom_padding=”0px||0px||true|false” custom_padding_tablet=”0px||0px||true|false” custom_padding_phone=”0px||0px||true|false” bottom_divider_style=”arrow” background_color_gradient_stops_tablet=”#ffffff 0%|#edf2f2 100%” background_color_gradient_stops_phone=”#ffffff 0%|#edf2f2 100%” transparent_background=”off” global_module=”11578″ collapsed=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row padding_mobile=”on” column_padding_mobile=”on” admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”4.19.4″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|tablet” custom_padding=”||0px|” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_divider show_divider=”off” disabled_on=”on|on|off” _builder_version=”4.16″ height=”110px” hide_on_mobile=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_text admin_label=”Category” _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”|600||on|||||” text_text_color=”#333333″ text_font_size=”16px” text_orientation=”center” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\nBlog\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_post_title author=”off” date=”off” comments=”off” featured_image=”off” _builder_version=”4.19.4″ title_font=”||||||||” title_text_align=”center” title_text_color=”#00a9a6″ title_font_size=”68px” meta_font=”|||on|||||” meta_text_color=”#a9bcbe” meta_font_size=”16px” text_orientation=”center” max_width=”75%” max_width_tablet=”” max_width_phone=”100%” max_width_last_edited=”on|desktop” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”18px||0px|||” title_font_size_tablet=”55px” title_font_size_phone=”37px” title_font_size_last_edited=”on|desktop” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_post_title][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”0|0px|0px|0px|false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row padding_mobile=”on” column_padding_mobile=”on” admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” max_width=”620px” custom_padding=”0px|||” use_custom_width=”on” custom_width_px=”620px” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/questcanada.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/QUEST-Author.jpg” show_bottom_space=”off” align=”center” align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” admin_label=”Author Image” module_class=”circular” _builder_version=”4.24.2″ max_width=”20%” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”-65px|||” border_radii=”on|100px|100px|100px|100px” border_color_all=”rgba(0,0,0,0)” box_shadow_style=”preset1″ use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” animation=”off” sticky=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_post_title title=”off” date=”off” comments=”off” featured_image=”off” admin_label=”Author Meta” _builder_version=”4.24.2″ meta_font=”|600||on|||||” meta_text_color=”#00a9a6″ meta_font_size=”16px” text_orientation=”center” custom_margin=”||0px|” custom_padding=”10px||0px|” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_post_title][et_pb_post_title title=”off” author=”off” comments=”off” featured_image=”off” admin_label=”Date Meta” _builder_version=”4.16″ meta_font=”|||on|||||” meta_text_color=”#333333″ meta_font_size=”16px” text_orientation=”center” custom_margin=”0px|||” custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_post_title][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”||||true|false” custom_padding_tablet=”0px|||” transparent_background=”off” padding_mobile=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_padding_mobile=”on” admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” width=”50%” max_width=”50%” custom_padding=”30px|||” use_custom_width=”on” width_unit=”off” custom_width_percent=”50%” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.24.2″ text_font_size=”15px” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n
When considering climate action, you might consider building new solar panels, wind turbines, and green fuel infrastructure. But what about maintaining the infrastructure we already have? In Canada, buildings are responsible for about 15% of Canada\u2019s greenhouse gas emissions, and the portion is even larger in provinces that use fossil fuels to heat buildings. We could tear down those existing buildings and build to net-zero, but that would be 11,000 times more expensive than simply retrofitting those buildings (yes, that\u2019s math, not hyperbole).[i]<\/sup><\/p>\n Even if every new building is Net-Zero Energy (a building that can produce as much clean energy as it consumes),\u00a0 most of the buildings standing today will still be in use in 2050\u00a0, and those buildings will need to be Net-Zero Carbon along with the rest of the country (or sooner, as per the recent IPCC report).[1]<\/sup>[2]<\/sup><\/p>\n According to Efficiency Canada\u2019s 2020 report about the much-needed Deep Retrofit Revolution, the annual retrofit rate needs to be increased from 1% of Canada\u2019s building stock to closer to 12%.<\/p>\n To implement retrofits at this scale, we need a retrofit solution that meets multiple criteria:<\/p>\n In response, ReCover decided to research external panelized retrofits, a technical solution that has shown promise in other regions<\/a> of the world.<\/p>\n This project studied the potential to use panelization to perform deep retrofits on six municipally owned buildings. Despite challenges adapting to Canada’s diverse buildings and climates, some Canadian projects successfully implemented panelized retrofit technology\u00a0.[ii]<\/sup>[iii]<\/sup><\/p>\n The project objectives were to make deep retrofits in Canada more feasible, showcase a panelized retrofit approach, and enhance confidence in this approach. It aimed for retrofit designs that can achieve at least a 50% reduction in energy use intensity (EUI), a Net-Zero Energy ready (NZER) scenario with potential for Net-Zero Energy (NZE) performance through solar PV, minimal disruption to occupants, low embodied carbon solutions, cost-effectiveness, and a payback period of 20 years or less.<\/p>\n ReCover partnered with six municipalities, each choosing one building for ReCover to study. The municipalities cover three different Canadian climate zones. Any nationally implemented retrofit solution should work in most, if not all, climate zones.<\/p>\n The buildings were as follows:<\/p>\n THE DESIGN<\/strong><\/p>\n The Panels<\/strong><\/p>\n ReCover used a standard wall panel design for each building, as illustrated in the image below. The insulation depth in the panels can be varied based on the desired performance, so the R-values of the panels varied for each building. Each building also had a different suggested exterior metal cladding.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/questcanada.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Deep-Retrofits.png” alt=”Urban planning” title_text=”Deep Retrofits” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.24.2″ text_font_size=”15px” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n The various components are as follows (referencing the labels in the image):<\/p>\n Even with careful investigation, it may not be possible to conclusively determine if components in existing walls inhibit vapour from passing through. For this reason, the team needed to design the panel to dry outward to mitigate risks from moisture build-up and rot. The team chose materials that minimized embodied carbon, using wood for the frame and cellulose insulation, which stores carbon within the panel structure.<\/p>\n The Mechanicals<\/strong><\/p>\n In three studies, the team recommended a fuel switch to either air or ground source heat pump systems. In one of the buildings, the team recommended a switch from an oil-fired boiler to an electric boiler. The team recommended keeping the existing oil boilers in the remaining two scenarios. These systems will ultimately need to be electrified in the future to meet net-zero targets; however, the business case needed to be stronger to change them as part of this project.<\/p>\n Each project was recommended a 90% efficiency enthalpy recovery ventilation system (ERV), and five of the six were recommended to install a solar PV system.<\/p>\n The Business Case<\/strong><\/p>\n Evaluation measures focusing on simple payback and short-term return on investment are counterproductive with assets as long-lasting as buildings. Economic evaluation through Total Cost of Building Ownership (TCBO) analysis is more appropriate for complex retrofit projects that change multiple interrelated building systems. Using TCBO allows us to understand the costs of the WHOLE building based on all major building operating and maintenance costs, including:<\/p>\n This analysis estimates the years it takes for the savings from a retrofit to exceed the costs of doing nothing. The retrofit cases studied had less-than-desirable TCBOs, and the projects were projected to take between 30 years or even up to more than 60 years before the savings exceeded the costs of business as usual.<\/p>\n OUR TAKEAWAY<\/strong><\/p>\n Until panelized retrofits are scaled, these one-off projects do not have a good business case. Our team was aiming for a payback that was better than 20 years. However, we did demonstrate promising greenhouse gas emissions savings and created beautiful designs that, should they be implemented, will bring the buildings into the next long chapter of their lives with minimal disruption to occupants.<\/p>\n ReCover\u2019s assumptions were that buildings with simple forms and high maintenance deficits would make for better business cases. Despite the financial findings of these studies, we believe additional research is needed to understand the best candidate buildings for panelized retrofits.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n [1]<\/sup> https:\/\/www.cagbc.org\/why-green-building\/retrofits-for-the-future\/<\/a><\/p>\n [2]<\/sup> https:\/\/press.un.org\/en\/2023\/sgsm21730.doc.htm<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n [i]<\/sup> Efficiency Canada, \u201cCanada\u2019s Climate Retrofit Mission: Why the climate emergency demands an innovation-oriented policy for building retrofits\u201d, July 2021, Pg. 17, https:\/\/www.efficiencycanada.org\/retrofit-mission\/<\/a><\/p>\n [ii]<\/sup> https:\/\/sundancecoop.org\/sundance-retrofit-project\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n