Abstract

Despite Northern Canada’s unique environmental loads and challenges, homes are based on standards developed for the South. This thesis presents the development of a protocol for low energy homes (LEH) for northern Canada. The protocol integrated the building envelope system with passive solar design strategies for northern Canada. This research identified areas of interest and challenges for the region through literature review, interviews with occupants and builders, and data analysis of 1744 homes in the NWT from the EnerGuide energy rating service (ERS) database. A reference home was modelled to study design parameters such as thermal resistance values of building assemblies, window-wall ratios, thermal mass, BIPV/T system’s capacity, night window shutters, shading schedules, and ventilation rates. Optimization of solar design strategies can achieve a 49% energy savings. This finding gives policy makers a methodology for displacing housing energy demand by promoting design strategies to builders such as better orientation and optimizing window-wall ratios for solar heat gains, and integrating thermal mass in floors and on interior walls. Based on the findings of this research, a protocol for low energy homes for the North is presented which includes key relevant standards, guidelines, criteria and verification methods that are to be met through the design, construction, and operational stages. The Protocol anticipates and addresses significant related challenges of the remote region to promote a delivery system that involves all stakeholders, reduces delays and cost overruns.