Atlantic Focus Spring 2023

ATLANTIC

ADSUM SUNFLOWER

Net Zero for a supportive community

CANADIAN COAST GUARD

ATLANTIC REGIONAL HEADQUARTERS

LEED Gold building designed for longevity and worker comfort

HERITAGE HOUSE CONVERSION TO MODERN OFFICE

An EnerPHit first in Nova Scotia

PROVIDING PROTECTED AND CONNECTED RESIDENTIAL ECOSYSTEMS –ONE PRODUCT AT A TIME

Today, sustainability is not just something we discuss at forums and events, but an important reality of our everyday life. Homes, for example, are expected to become the single largest consumers of electricity and the biggest contributor of carbon dioxide emissions.

As a company, Schneider Electric focuses its efforts to provide a 100-per-cent protected and connected residential ecosystem using both the grid and distributed energy resources such as solar and battery. With more than 180 years of innovation in energy management and automation solutions, Schneider Electric constantly endeavors to help builders overcome daily challenges by meeting their needs through strong collaboration.

We need to have insight all the way to the plug and that’s why our connected home Grid to Plug solutions are a great fit. Our Wiser Energy solution, an AI-powered monitor, deciphers the electrical signature of each load in the house and feeds data to the homeowner via the Wiser Energy app which provides a detailed energy report, capability for setting goals, budgets, alarms and more. Studies have shown that homeowners provided with such energy data do make changes to reduce consumption.

Schneider Electric has introduced a line of connected wiring devices that operate in an app we call, Wiser Home, allowing a unique experience for each user. This gives homeowners peace of mind, convenience, lets them manage their energy usage and gives their home a modern look.

When it comes to ease of installation all the devices include self-grounding, quick ground wire installation and pressure plates for ease of wiring.

Wi-Fi or Z Wave intelligence allows homeowners to automate receptacles and lights or to control them remotely.

All the devices are available in two formats: screw and screwless with the rocker plates being interchangeable to keep switches clean during construction without changing the device. Homeowners are no longer limited to glossy white cover plates but can select multiple matte finish colour options to achieve a refined, minimalist elegance. This provides flexibility to adapt to any interior decor without the need to access the wiring, while the connectivity features provide personalization and energy savings.

Schneider Electric is paving the way to a proactive approach and showing leadership towards a smart and sustainable home, something that is no longer a nice-to-have but a must-have for every homeowner.

A message from Thomas Mueller, President & CEO, Canada Green Building Council

Welcome to the latest issue of Atlantic FOCUS, a partnership between Sustainable Architecture & Building Magazine and the Canada Green Building Council (CAGBC). In this issue, you’ll read about exciting new projects like the Adsum Sunflower 25-unit affordable housing project and the LEED® Gold certified Canadian Coastguard regional headquarters, among others.

This issue also celebrates the return of BuildGreen Atlantic, demonstrating the ongoing support for green building on Canada’s east coast. CAGBC looks forward to participating as a workshop sponsor.

Speaking of coasts, CAGBC’s annual conference will be returning to Vancouver. Building Lasting Change will run June 1-2, 2023 and host representatives from across the building spectrum. This year’s program will focus heavily on decarbonizing the building sector to achieve Canada’s ambitious climate targets.

This shift doesn’t alter our commitment to the more holistic benefits of green buildings. We continue to support green buildings as a way to eliminate environmental impacts, enhance biodiversity, and improve human health and wellbeing. However, in this critical decade for climate action, we recognize the need for decisive action – and zero-carbon buildings offer a proven solution to significant carbon reductions. Whether you are interested in new building design or retrofit, electrification or embodied carbon, green technology or sustainable finance, we hope you’ll join us in Vancouver and be part of this important discussion.

Since its creation 20 years ago, CAGBC has worked to provide the building sector with sustainable solutions that are as effective for business as they are for people and the planet. Our approach to carbon reduction builds on the industry capabilities we have nurtured since the early 2000s and now support through our Zero Carbon Building standards, Accelerating to Zero education series, and our industry-driven Accelerators and working groups.

Achieving meaningful climate action means all buildings must be zero-carbon, and deep carbon retrofits are essential. Meeting 2030 and 2050 targets will require building owners and operators to advance their asset- and portfolio-level transition planning. Building owners must consider investments in carbon reduction with every planned improvement or retrofit to ensure assets retain their value in the coming years.

As the real estate sector and other companies move toward adopting Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) goals as key performance metrics, CAGBC will be ready with the tools and services needed to measure, report and achieve environmental targets. The need to recognize and report climate risk will also increase interest in third-party certifications as a tool for the real estate investment community.

Now is a critical time for the building sector, and we hope you will join us at Building Lasting Change to contribute to the discussion and learn about the transition to zero carbon.

Sincerely,

Thomas Mueller President & CEO, Canada Green Building Council

ACCELERATING ZERO CARBON in prebudget consultations

Reaching net-zero emissions by 2050 requires the decarbonization of all of Canada’s large buildings starting now – and the financing of bold actions by the federal government.

As we approach the tabling of the next budget, the Canada Green Building Council has been advocating for the support necessary to put Canada on the path to zero.

Committing to decarbonizing the built environment in Canada will provide a global model that other countries can follow and, at the same time, ensure buildings and communities can better respond to climate change. As a co-benefit, the resulting retrofit economy will create new jobs, foster innovation, and grow Canada’s low-carbon supply chain.

The federal Budget plays an important role in financing the progressive initiatives that will accelerate the decarbonization of large buildings. In collaboration with the building and real estate sector, and to help sustain momentum and further the transition to zero-carbon buildings, CAGBC made the following recommendations for the 2023 budget:

1. To supercharge Canada’s retrofit economy, the government should Require zero-carbon transition plans for all building types and support their development as part of any deep carbon retrofit program. Transition planning ensures the effective timing and sequencing of carbon reduction measures.

2. To stimulate Canada’s supply chain of low-carbon construction materials, the government should Create a grant program that builds additional capacity for life cycle assessments and environmental product declarations (EPD) for products manufactured by small- and medium-sized Canadian companies.

3. To set the foundational blocks for decarbonizing Canada’s large buildings, the government should Fund a Building Data Strategy and a structure that collects and discloses data, enabling the labelling of industrial, commercial, and institutional (ICI) buildings.

4. To crowd in private investment for zero-carbon green buildings, the government should Support the adoption of high-performance building envelope technologies and the electrification of buildings through the extension of the investment tax credit for clean technologies (class 43.1). In addition, the government should ensure that eligible tax credits are transferable from non-taxable to taxable entities and support the upfront cost of deep carbon retrofit projects through a new incentive program for large buildings.

Learn more about CAGBC’s advocacy efforts at cagbc.org/ourwork.

INNOVATION in the Atlantic

Over the last year, the Canada Green Building Council certified over 16 projects in the Atlantic region. Among the buildings earning LEED or Zero Carbon Building Standard certification are hospitals, long-term care homes, schools and educational facilities, as well as corporate headquarters, service and industrial facilities. Two recent certifications include the University of New Brunswick’s Kinesiology building, and the Old Perlican Search and Rescue facility in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Kinesiology Building

Fredericton Campus, University of New Brunswick

Additional green building features include a living green wall, systems for rainwater harvesting and a vegetative roof, a solarpowered bicycle shelter outside the building, and level 2 electric vehicle charging stations. Trees cut down in construction processes were also repurposed, and thus, not wasted.

As a faculty that is committed to promoting health and wellness, the new Kinesiology building is a living lab that embodies this goal. The building was a collaborative effort between designers, builders, stakeholders, and future occupants to build something everyone is proud of. The new Kinesiology building is leading the way in creating a culture for healthy and sustainable spaces.

Search and Rescue Station

Old Perlican, Newfoundland and Labrador

The new Kinesiology building on UNB Fredericton campus recently achieved LEED Gold certification and is on track for WELL Building Standard certification. This building inspires students and the community to pursue a greener and healthier way of living. The 5,574 m2 (60,000 ft2) building will be connected to the existing Richard J. Currie Centre, which houses a multidisciplinary collaboration of researchers and partners focused on health.

Sustainability features of the building include the installation of earth tubes for fresh air preheat/precool, heat wheel energy recovery and natural ventilation, as well as displacement ventilation in the teaching auditorium.

Energy efficiency is served through LED lighting throughout the building, which responds to occupancy sensors which enable demand control strategies. The project also removed inefficiencies from the attached building (Currie Centre), and added thermal storage to the Kinesiology building. To maximize daylight harvesting, daylight sensors were added to classrooms, resulting in 73 percent of the building being in natural light despite having two sides facing a hill.

This new facility serves as a Search and Rescue (SAR) facility for the Canadian Coast Guard Atlantic Region and recently certified Gold under LEED BD+C v4 – surpassing its initial target of Silver. While “old” may be in the name, the Old Perlican facility has been designed to meet the requirements of the operations, safety, accessibility, and security of today’s modern Coast Guard.

The site includes a floating dock and associated marine infrastructure adjacent to an existing small craft harbour facility. The two-storey building also features a building envelope designed to resist the extreme coastal weather, on-site renewable energy generation, and a separate garage to accommodate the fast rescue craft workshop.

Occupant health and wellbeing was also top of mind in the design process, with accommodations for crew, and considers the unique needs of search and rescue operations in the North Atlantic.

Under the Oceans Protection Plan, new lifeboat stations will be opened to improve response capacity for marine incidents. In addition to the Old Perlican station, others will be located in Twillingate in Newfoundland and Labrador and the station in St. Anthony, Newfoundland and Labrador will be refurbished.

Canadian Coast Guard Atlantic Regional HEADQUARTERS

LEED Gold building designed for longevity and worker comfort

By Rolfe Kaartinen and Emad Miran

The new Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) Atlantic Regional Headquarters building located at the southwest end of St John’s harbour connects to parking areas, underground services and geothermal wells undertaken during an earlier phase of revitalization.

The 6,190 sq.m total gross floor area, four-storey steel frame building constructed by Lindsay Construction accommodates the approximately 183 staff servicing the entire expanse of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Planned according to the Federal Office Building Standards and Government of Canada Workplace 2.0 Fit-up Standards, the CCG Headquarters contains open and enclosed offices, support spaces including meeting rooms, quiet/ conversation rooms, kitchenettes, areas for shared equipment, printer stations, waiting and reception areas, other non-designated support space with fixed walls, first aid room or station and special purpose space for the respective CCG divisions.

Interior spaces are organized pragmatically to achieve the optimum desired adjacencies, exterior views, internal natural light penetration, efficient functional relationships, and security zone boundaries. The ground floor, which contains meeting rooms, executive offices and the elevator core, has the main entrance at the west end where the security office can manage access from the reception area, workshops and other areas.

1. The red, white and black palette of the façade reflects the colour of the Coast Guard fleet.

2. Rendering of interior spaces which are organized pragmatically to achieve the optimum desired adjacencies, exterior views, internal natural light penetration, efficient functional relationships, and security zone boundaries.

The building achieved LEED Gold certification due to sustainable practices which encompass highperformance building envelope design and glazing, high indoor environmental quality achieved through advanced HVAC systems and choice of building materials, and provisions for daylighting and views.

The architectural design gives the building a modern expression with a complementary and harmonious material mix of corrugated and flat metal panels, aluminum curtain wall, glazed sectional overhead doors and architectural concrete block.

The red, white and black colour palette and sloping forms of the Coast Guard fleet are adapted in an abstract manner to render the exterior facades of the building and highlight some of its features such as the protective overhang and the signage wall, the protruding meeting room, and the sculpted mechanical penthouse which presents a distinctive silhouette across the harbour.

The exterior envelope has been designed according to the ventilated “rainscreen” principle with wall assemblies that meet the 50-year full-service life and 30-year rehabilitation service life. The envelope assemblies were developed in concert with the integrated team (NORR / FMA/ Lindsay) and informed by energy modelling software and the model energy code.

Envelope integrity has been ensured by the continuity of the thermal, air, water and vapour control layers at all material and assembly transitions. The design exceeds the ASHRAE climate Zone 6 effective R-values stipulated for the thermal performance of the wall, floor and roof assemblies.

Exterior cladding is comprised of high-quality architectural concrete block, composite metal and wall cladding panels, and curtain wall. The materials wrap their way around and up the building elevations in a diagonal and horizontal banding which provides a unified, clear, and cohesive appearance.

This is helped by the fenestration which starts on the ground floor with sizable sections of curtain wall at the main entrance and office areas, progressing to clerestory openings at the workshops, and then ribbon windows around the office levels, eventually terminating with a full-height curtain wall expression on the third-floor building pop out.

1. Proposed building 6,233.5 m2 f.f.e. = 2.25m

2. Existing building

3. Concrete deck

4. Existing retaining wall

5. Emergency generator

Measures taken to reduce the operational and maintenance effects over the building’s 50-year life-cycle include:

• Creation of a compact and efficient floor plate.

• Efficient mechanical systems that are appropriately sized and located for efficient distribution of systems.

• Reduced number of mechanical shafts to provide for flexibility in the planning of future renovations.

• Using readily available materials to reduce long term operating costs, and a durable envelope to withstand freeze thaw cycles, and high winds.

• Employing modular systems that permit replacement of individual components.

• Use of environment-appropriate systems that resist corrosion such as stainless-steel masonry anchors and ties and high-performance paint systems.

Architectural design strategies to reduce energy use and increase user comfort include:

• Low-E coated high-performance glazing.

• Thermally-broken building envelope support systems.

• Wall, floor, and roof assemblies that meet or often exceed the NECB minimum standards for thermal performance.

• Renewable energy sources such as daylighting and geothermal heating and cooling.

• Efficient HVAC and LED lighting systems.

• Optimized building performance by employing energy modelling programs, occupancy and CO2 sensors, and air quality alarms.

First floor plan

1. Small meeting room

2. Collaborative space

3. Quiet room

4. MCI open office

5. Equipment storage room

6. Nat’l dgps ws & equipment

7. Ships crew hoteling

8 . Mail room 9. Battery charging room 10. Workshop storage 11. EIM workshop

working space

workshop

room

Building section

1. ROC briefing / special purpose board room

2. Collaborative space

3. Kitchen

4. Open office

5. Interview / exam room

6. Secure equip / document storage

7. Plotter room

8. Corridor

9. Sew workshop

PT wood blocking, 2% slope

22 gauge parapet flashing Cap sheet flashing Backing rod and sealant Metal siding

152mm structural metal stud, filled with mineral wool insulation

2 ply mbm roofing membrane with a positive lap over parapet

Vapour barrier to have a positive lap down sheathing

152mm structural metal stud

Structural HSS

Roofing type R1.1

PROJECT CREDITS

OWNER Public Works Government Services Canada

ARCHITECTS NORR Architects & Engineers Limited/ Fougere Menchenton Architects Inc.

STRUCTURAL ENGINEER DMG Consulting

MECHANICAL/ELECTRICAL ENGINEER Core Engineering Inc

GENERAL CONTRACTOR Lindsay Construction

CIVIL ENGINEER MAE Design Limited

LEED CONSULTANT Solterre Design

DURABILITY CONSULTANT WSP

PHOTOS Celebrity Photo Studio

Vapour barrier

Structural steel

Finally, the harbour location was used to advantage. The hills to the south were considered strategically in the design, with the lowoccupancy mechanical spaces being located on the ground floor toward the hill where the lack of natural light is not an issue. The laneway between the hill and the building acts as a “back of house” opportunity for the location of exit doors, mechanical room access, workshops, and recycling.

Facing the harbour, large expanses of glass provide excellent views and natural daylighting conducive to a productive, positive working environment.

ROLFE KAARTINEN, OAA, MAA, NLAA, AANB, MRAIC IS VICE PRESIDENT AND EMAD MIRAN, SENIOR ASSOCIATE IS PROJECT MANAGER, BOTH AT NORR ARCHITECTS & ENGINEERS LIMITED.

22 gauge metal flashing

Aluminum curtain wall

Vapour barrier to wrap entire window opening

Fill void around window opening with low expansion spray foam

Non continuous glazing connection back to structure

Structural HSS

Vapour barrier over 22 gauge metal flashing

152mm structural metal stud

16mm pre primed glass mat sheathing on 22mm hat channels connected to 150mm thermal spacers

Wall section detail

3. Rendering of the special purpose boardroom looking across St. John’s harbour to the city.

Health Check:

Why Commissioning Needs to be Part of Your Next Building Project

Buildings are getting more complicated, and the industry is struggling to keep up.

Modern building materials, systems and technology—when properly designed, installed, and maintained—save money on energy bills, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and create a comfortable environment for occupants.

And that’s the catch. Without commissioning and regular recommissioning oversight to verify if a building is operating to its designed intent, these benefits are often compromised or missed.

Like your health from infancy to adulthood, new and existing buildings benefit from early and ongoing health checks.

COMMISSIONING (Cx)

Commissioning is a quality assurance process for new buildings where Cx Providers review building systems and equipment, focusing on energy efficiency, maintainability, operability, and making sure the owner’s project requirements are met. Commissioning is not simply a construction phase task.

Energy savings modifications are found by Cx Providers during design so they can be incorporated before construction begins. This provides oversight and confirmation that the design is sound and the specified equipment is appropriate for the owner’s requirements. Our involvement continues through construction, where commissioned systems are rigorously tested and optimized to reduce energy consumption and increase building performance, which can attract high quality occupants and investors.

New buildings might appear in good order, but our team at EastPoint sees an average of 200 issues corrected during commissioning. “Building health checks” identify and correct problems that could otherwise remain unnoticed—costing money and potentially causing bigger issues down the line.

Key benefits of Cx to consider:

• Building systems become easier to operate and maintain. For example, a Cx Provider will review equipment for proper maintenance access, including tool clearance and working space. This reduces the risk of equipment failures and helps ensure that the building can be effectively maintained.

• People responsible to manage and operate buildings systems—and not just the systems themselves—are considered. The Cx process helps organize training for building operators, so they are properly oriented to new equipment and systems and are equipped with the necessary knowledge to operate the systems properly.

• It sets the baseline for future recommissioning. Cx documentation provides historical background information, apprising the recommissioning provider of the owner’s original intent for building operation.

BUILDING ENVELOPE COMMISSIONING (BECX)

Undertaking building systems and equipment commissioning is critical for a new building—and so too is commissioning of the building envelope. BECx is an increasingly sought-after specialization in commissioning to validate the constructability and performance of a building envelope to meet its designed intent. Given the critical role of the building envelope in overall building performance, many certifications, such as LEEDv4, are incorporating BECx for building project requirements.

BECx Providers apply building science and construction experience to protect the physical barrier between the interior and exterior environment. Walls, roof, windows, doors, and foundations—when properly designed, installed, and tested—will provide a durable envelope to address risks of unwanted heat, air, and moisture transfer.

Like standard commissioning, BECx is most effective when integrated before construction. BECx Providers are involved as early as pre-design to help define the owner’s project requirements, and to provide input on drawings, specifications, and shop drawings throughout design and tender phases, as well as construction phase involvement.

The Business Case for Commissioning:

On a typical project, a 1% spend of capital cost for Cx, and 0.2-0.5% spend for BECx, saves clients 5-10% a year on energy costs and 10-15% on operations and maintenance costs.

Key benefits of BECx to consider:

• It provides a more complete energy efficiency solution: Building systems may be working harder and less efficiently than needed if an envelope is not meeting its designed intent. BECx Providers identify energy inefficiencies in the building envelope during design and construction.

1. Old Perlican Search and Rescue Station, NL – Long-term durability and minimal maintenance for remote, harsh marine environment. LEED Gold Certified under LEEDv4 BD+C : New Construction. EastPoint was Independent Building Envelope Commissioning Authority (BECxA) and Building Commissioning Authority (CxA).

By addressing these inefficiencies, Owners can reduce energy consumption and improve the building’s sustainability.

• The building envelope plays a critical role in maintaining indoor air quality. The building envelope is designed, constructed, and tested to prevent the entry of outdoor pollutants and moisture.

• A durable building envelope can withstand the elements and last for many years. The building envelope is designed and constructed to meet the owner’s expectations for durability, reducing the need for costly repairs and maintenance.

• The building envelope affects the comfort of building occupants. The building envelope is designed and constructed to maintain comfortable temperatures and reduce drafts, ensuring a comfortable indoor environment.

• Risks of failure are reduced. Building envelope failures can result in damage to the building and its contents. The BECx process helps to reduce the risk of failure by ensuring that the building envelope is designed and constructed to meet the owner’s requirements and expectations.

RECOMMISSIONING (ReCx)

Recommissioning is a quality assurance process to improve energy efficiency, occupant comfort, and indoor air quality in existing buildings. ReCx Providers rigorously assess and optimize the performance of an existing building’s energy consuming systems, based on the current owner’s requirements and building occupancy.

The Business Case for Recommissioning:

ReCx for a typical building costs in the $10-30k range. Our findings and recommendations average a payback period of less than two years.

We recommend a building “tune-up” or check-in every five years. Here’s why:

• Changing occupancy loads benefit from updated systems strategies. Where remote work has become more popular, occupant densities may vary significantly day-to-day. Building systems need to become more reactive and dynamic to occupant needs. Conventional “set-and-forget” setpoints, schedules, and programming are becoming obsolete.

We typically find opportunity for demand control ventilation (DCV), which saves energy by reducing the amount of outside air the building needs to heat or cool. DCV is particularly important in buildings with varying occupancy levels.

• Building systems become less efficient over time as space use changes and equipment ages. ReCx Providers review equipment and systems with a goal of getting system back to its original high efficiency state. Repeating the ReCx process regularly supports a building that operates efficiently over its entire life.

• Risks can be identified and mitigated. As buildings age, systems and components can deteriorate or become outdated, leading to inefficient operation and breakdowns. The ReCx process can identify and address these issues, reducing the risk of unexpected failures or downtime.

• Opportunities are uncovered to improve building performance and tie-in with O&M activities. ReCx Providers can identify opportunities for larger retrofits that further improve energy efficiency and occupant comfort. Linking recommissioning approaches with day-to-day O&M practices is becoming the new normal—examples include monitoring motor amperage readings to identify fan or pumps that may be struggling, monitoring filter pressures to indicate when air filters need to be changed, and vibration analysis to identify motor deterioration before failure.

• The total cost of ownership is reduced. ReCx can extend the lifespan of building systems, reduce maintenance costs, shift reactive maintenance to predictive maintenance, and enhance the overall value of the building. Commissioning and recommissioning are practical investments in the overall health of new and existing buildings. Building owners and occupants benefit from lower operating costs, a healthier indoor environment, and improved building longevity.

CONTRIBUTORS:

- Charline Cormier CET, LEED AP BD+C, ID+C, GGP, Fitwel Ambassador, BECxP & CxA+BE Sustainability Manager

- Chris Russell P.Eng. PMP, LEED AP BD+C, CM-Lean Energy Engineering Manger

- Justin MacDonald P.Eng. CEM, CMVP, CBCP, LSS-GB Senior Energy Engineer

- Keith Estey P.Eng., CBCP, CMVP Senior Commissioning Engineer

Epekwitk Assembly of Councils Building Earns Four

The Epekwitk Assembly of Councils building is a pivotal landmark for the Mi’kmaq community of Prince Edward Island (PEI). Located on the Charlottetown waterfront, the building is owned, operated, and occupied by the Mi’kmaq organization and hosts the body responsible for negotiations, consultation, and governance development on behalf of the L’nuey, The Mi’kmaq Confederacy of PEI, and Epekwitk Development.

A Design Rooted in Culture

Traditional Mi’kmaq depictions of land are honored through the use of color and materials symbolizing red earth, and blending with adjacent buildings by use of circles and curves. A circular tower houses conference rooms, paying homage to Mi’kmaq “ Talking Circle”

The design was instrumental in the remediation of the site, once home to a CN Car Shop during the early 20th century. In all, the new Epekwitk Assembly of Councils is contributing to the revitalization of the area near the historic center of Charlottetown.

Prioritizing Sustainability

The Mi’kmaq community on PEI has deep-rooted concerns and beliefs regarding buildings and the environment. Coast Design Inc. considered area’s look and feel, incorporating sustainable elements to minimize its environmental impact. A green roof and native landscaping create a park-like oasis, provide occupants with beautiful views, and soften the industrial character of the area.

Green Globes Certification and Sustainability Achievements

Coast Design Inc. and the Mi’kmaq community opted for Green Globes certification for a resultsdriven sustainability framework supporting project

design and construction.

As previous users of Green Globes, Coast Design Inc. noted their appreciation of the certification’s straightforward, logical assessment stages and division of criteria into Environmental Assessment Areas, which organize targets for various disciplines.

“The questionnaire reminded us of the many design features that should be considered and ensured that they were implemented from the beginning,” notes David Lopes, Founder & Principal at Coast Design Inc. “This helped to prevent any elimination of features at the last minute to achieve budget savings.”

The project achieved 72% of the total applicable points, or Four Green Globes, with:

• An effective calculated overall insulation level of RSI 4.6 (R 2.8)

• Each floor having low-ambient heating central heat recovery variable refrigerant flow heat pump system, with indoor units distributed throughout for individual control

• An energy recovery ventilator to provide preheated air to each of the individual indoor units

• All LED fixtures

• Indoor lighting power density of 4.1 w/m2 (0.38 w/ft2)

ASHRAE Halifax Chapter

BuildGreen Atlantic 2023 Exhibitors

ASHRAE, founded in 1894, is a global society advancing human well-being through sustainable technology for the built environment.

Booth / Exhibitor

The Halifax Chapter supports students, engineers, contractors, sales professionals, building owners and other like-minded people to shape tomorrow’s-built environment today. Visit our website to join us for our next networking event and learn how you can participate. ashraehfx.com

Booth /

8:00 am - 8:30 am

CONFERENCE REGISTRATION

Outside Convention Hall C1-C2

Breakfast, Conference Welcome & Keynote Address

-

Convention Hall C1-C2

Minister Tory Rushton, Nova Scotia Natural Resources & Renewables; Mayor Mike Savage, Halifax Regional Municipality; Stephen MacDonald, CEO, E ciencyOne; Vicki Worden, President & CEO, Green Building Initiative; Daniel Bourque, President, ASHRAE Halifax Chapter

Keynote: Diversity as a Dividend - Sandra Porteous, MNP Consulting Group

Session 1A - Room 107

Session 1B - Room 108

Session 1C - Room 109

am -

Adsum's Sunflower Court: Passive Design Solutions for Net Zero, Affordable Housing

Molly Merriman, Passive Design Solutions

am -

- 12:00 pm

pm -

pm -

Break & Tradeshow Convention Hall C1-C2

Session 2A - Room 107

A Path to Net Zero & Net Zero Ready Homes at Scale

Brian Cooke, AeroBarrier Canada

Benefits of a successful recommissioning process from both a Financial and O&M Perspective

Justin MacDonald, Kyle MacKenzie, Michael MacDonald & Chris Russell, EastPoint

Session 2B - Room 108

Deep Energy Retrofits at Scale in Nova Scotia

Errol Pereira, Ryan Kelly, Charlotte Tonge & Chris Conrad, E ciencyOne

Keynote & Lunch - Tradeshow Convention Hall C1-C2

Strategies for Reducing Your Project’s Embodied Carbon

Zinta Upitis & Chelsea

Code-McNeil, Solterre Design & James Forran, Dalhousie University

Session 2C - Room 109

Energy Recovery

Ventilation Systems: Good – Better – Best Dan Richer, ITC Technologies

Keynote: The $2 Trillion Opportunity Tanya Doran, Stantec Panel: The State of Green Buildings - An International, National and Local Perspective

Vicki Worden, GBI; Tanya Doran, Stantec; Keith Robertson, Solterre. Moderator: Linda Munden, E ciency Nova Scotia

Session 3A - Room 107

Passive House Case Studies

-New Build and Retrofit

Lorrie Rand, Habit Studio

Session 4A - Room 107

Session 3B - Room 108

The Future of Decarbonizing Long-Term Care Facilities in Nova Scotia

Marc Rossignol, Nova Scotia

Power & Hayley Knowles, M&R Engineering

Session 4B - Room 108

Session 3C - Room 109

Making the Ocean Your Electrification Ally: The Case of the Bedford Institute of Oceanography (BIO)

Scott Shreenan, MCW Maricor Je Hilchey, BIO

Session 4C - Room 109

pm -

Green Buildings, Equity and Reconciliation: Highlighting Community Action

Moderator: Julia Sable, HCi3

Rodney Small, One North End; Veronica Gutierrez, & Kolade

Kolawole-Boboye, Hope Blooms, Gord Hart, E ciency Nova Scotia

pm -

-

Break & Tradeshow

Convention Hall C1-C2

Session 5A - Room 107

Mass Timber and Pursuing LEED Certification in Rural Communities in Atlantic Canada

Kendall Taylor, Root Architecture

David Porter, Atlantic WoodWORKS!

;

Closing Networking Reception

Convention Hall C3

Energy Considerations for Pharmaceutical Design for the BioVectra Expansion

Steven Ramsay, MCA Consultants

Electrifying Hydronic Systems & Modular Chillers

Chris DesRoches, Mitsubishi Electric Sales Canada Inc. & Michael MacKenzie, ITC Technologies

Session 5B - Room 108

Decarbonizing Low Rise MURBs in Nova Scotia: Analysis, Design and Construction Experience

Aaron Smith, M&R Engineering

Session 5C - Room 109

Role of Geo-Exchange in a Low-Carbon World

Steve Tweedie, Tweedie & Associates buildgreenatlantic.ca

ASHRAE Halifax Chapter

BuildGreen Atlantic 2023

Conference Sponsors

MARCH 30, 2023 | HALIFAX NOVA SCOTIA

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Lunch

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Closing Reception buildgreenatlantic.ca

Media Partner

Adsum Sunflower

Design team delivers Net-Zero community in 18 months

By Molly Merriman and Natalie Leonard

The Sunflower is a 25-unit long-term rental housing development and community centre for Adsum for Women and Children, a local not-for-profit based in Halifax. The project was one of the recipients of the first round of Federal Rapid Housing Initiative funding in 2020.

Adsum is an organization leading change in housing through advocacy, support, and services to end homelessness. The goal of the Sunflower was to create 25 new units of rental housing for Adsum clients who were experiencing housing insecurity and need a safe, affordable and permanent place to call home.

The Sunflower was built on the site of a former school donated by Halifax Regional Municipality that Adsum had converted into transitional housing. The building was outdated and its layout far from ideal. Although initial explorations were made to save the existing building, the project team ultimately decided to demolish and make way for new housing.

1. The new building footprints were designed to make use of the existing site and driveway of a former school to minimize disturbance. Eastcut Wood Building Solutions made the shop drawings for the wood-frame wall panels, floor cassettes and canopies which were then built in its factory for assembly on site. According to Eastcut General Manager Ben Dorey, panelized construction contributed to a low-carbon solution on the project.

Building B north elevation

Building D south elevation

1. Building A

2. Building B

3. Building C

4. Building D

5. Building E

The new building footprints were designed to make use of the existing brown site and driveway to minimize disturbance. The buildings were oriented for solar south to maximize solar gains and natural daylight, and their positioning close to Greenhead Road also allows for future expansion should Adsum opt to build more units.

The site design was based on the vision of creating a small pocket neighbourhood, and each unit entrance was designed to face onto a central courtyard to foster a sense of community and safety for the tenants, many of whom have experienced domestic violence. The community centre—outfitted with offices, program space, accessible washrooms and laundry, and a communal kitchen—was placed closest to the road, providing a buffer for the private dwelling units while acting as a connection point for the staff and tenants.

The two-storey housing units are distributed among four separate buildings, creating a sense of openness and respecting the existing density and fabric of the neighbourhood. The unit mix consists of one, two and three-bedroom units in stacked and townhouse configurations, with four fully barrier-free units placed closest to the community centre and parking.

A key design focus was to incorporate Passive House principles and to achieve Net-Zero—a must for the long-term financial sustainability of project given the below-market rents that were required through the funding model. By increasing the efficiency up-front through thoughtful design, reaching Net-Zero site energy became an attainable goal, and the resulting architectural design was able to address other vital client needs such as the creation of spaces that are light-filled, comfortable, buffered from outside noise, and resilient to storms.

The building envelope was designed for Passive House airtightness targets and detailed for elimination of thermal bridging. The energy modelling work was done iteratively throughout the design phases to achieve Net-Zero energy using only the available roof space for future PV modules, which informed the window layouts, insulation levels, and overhang shading.

3. The site design creates a small pocket neighbourhood in which each unit entrance opens to a central courtyard to foster a sense of community and safety.

4. Thoughtful design made reaching Net-Zero site energy an attainable goal while creating spaces that are light-filled, comfortable and buffered from outside noise. The top-ported, Fantech HERO® Fresh Air Appliance was installed within each housing unit to bring fresh air in and exhaust stale air out while optimizing the energy required to do so, and keeping the design focus at Net-Zero.

Building B - Ground floor

Building B - Second floor

1. Living/dining room

2. Kitchen

3. Bedroom

4. Bathoom

2. A view to Building E and Building A on the left. Highperformance triple-glazed vinyl windows, manufactured locally by Kohltech Windows & Entrance Systems contribute to the efficiency of the building envelope.

PROJECT CREDITS

CLIENT Adsum for Women and Children

PROJECT COORDINATION Affordable Housing Association of Nova Scotia (AHANS)

ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN AND ENERGY CONSULTING

Passive Design Solutions

ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING Equilibrium Engineering

STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING Andrea Doncaster Engineering

CIVIL ENGINEERING Servant Dunbrack McKenzie & MacDonald (SDMM) Ltd.

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE Clinton Pinks Landscape Architect

GENERAL CONTRACTOR Dora Construction

PHOTOS Julian Parkinson

LANDSCAPE PLAN DRAWING COURTESY Clinton Pinks

Landscape Architect

ALL OTHER DRAWINGS by Passive Design Solution

The durability of exterior and interior finishes was critical to ensure that ongoing maintenance costs and efforts would be minimized, since Adsum operates on a tight budget focused on serving the needs of their tenants. Vinyl siding was used in varying orientations, along with thermally modified wood accents to add warmth and visual interest.

The environmental impact of material choices was considered in the specifications. Locally available building materials were prioritized, and high embodied carbon materials were used only as necessary. The structural design eliminated bearing in the demising walls and reduced frost wall thickness from 8” to 6” resulting in a 25% reduction in concrete use.

A simple roof structure was designed to bear the added weight of the planned PV system. No structural steel was used, the amount of glazing was balanced for egress, daylighting, ventilation, energy performance and embodied carbon, and no formaldehydes were permitted in any interior finishes.

Locally manufactured triple-glazed vinyl windows were used throughout the project. Casement and awning sizes were kept compact to extend the lifespan of the operable windows. Window sizes were balanced in the energy model and low solar heat gain glass was strategically used to reduce the cooling loads to a level where air conditioning was not required.

The heating system decision was complex—a ducted heat pump was cost-prohibitive, and single ductless mini splits in each unit were deemed too complicated to operate and maintain, so electric baseboards were chosen as the main heat source. Efficiencies were found by sharing heat pump hot water heating between one-bedroom units, and all appliances and plumbing fixtures were chosen based on a combination of energy efficiency, ease of use,

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- 1/2” gypsum board

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and local availability. Centralized plumbing layouts, insulated water lines, and hot water heat pumps reduced hot water use by 75%, and low flow fixtures were specified to reduce overall water use.

Time was a critical factor throughout the project as the main federal funding source required that the project be substantially completed within a year of its inception. A collaborative and decisive design team was essential to bring the drawings from concept to construction documentation within six months. The Sunflower is now fully occupied and forms a key part of Adsum’s ongoing operations and long-term housing strategy.

Working under an integrated team model, the project was successfully delivered during the coronavirus pandemic within just eighteen months—an achievement that we hope can help demonstrate what is possible in addressing both the current housing and climate crises.

MOLLY MERRIMAN NSAA, OAA, MARCH, PROJECT ARCHITECT, PARTNER AND NATALIE LEONARD P. ENG., CONSULTANT AND ENGINEER, FOUNDING PARTNER ARE WITH PASSIVE DESIGN SOLUTIONS.

Asphalt shingle roofing

Engineered wood roof trusses

Rim joist

Floor supported on inner 2x4 bearing wall

2x4 structural studs 16” o.c.

1 1/2” R-6 foil faced type 2 EPS

2x6 studs w/ R-20 batt insulation, 24” o.c.

1/2” osb or plywood sheathing

tyvek or eq. drainage plane

4” slab on grade over R-20 type-2 EPS insulation

Outer wall panel fastened to inner wall panel with structural screws

R75 cellulose insulation

& BLUR THE LINES BETWEEN THE GREAT OUTDOORS YOUR HUMBLE ABODE

HERITAGE HOUSE CONVERSION to modern office

An EnerPHit first in Nova Scotia

By Lorrie Rand, Habit Studio

Nova Scotia’s first Passive House retrofit in Halifax, designed by Habit Studio and under construction by Root Developments, is near completion. The project involves converting a two-storey 1850s home into office space for the Habit Studio’s eightwoman architecture firm led by owners Judyann Obersi and Lorrie Rand.

Habit Studio specializes in Passive House design and sustainable whole home renovations, projects that deliver healthy and highly energy efficient buildings. Motivations for the project came from a desire for the team to be as comfortable at work as their clients are in their homes and to demonstrate a Passive House retrofit. While Habit has completed several deep retrofits that achieve nearly net-zero performance, none of their previous renovations has met the Enerphit targets.

1. The house in its near-original condition, uninsulated with antique wiring and representative of old Nova Scotia homes with a timber frame structure supported on a fieldstone foundation.

When Habit Studio purchased the house, it was in nearoriginal condition. It was uninsulated with antique wiring and had a wood burning fireplace in nearly every room. The structure is very representative of old Nova Scotia homes with a timber frame structure supported on a fieldstone foundation. The windows were single glazed with wood frames, including some with original sashes and frames. The initial blower door test result was 24 ACH50. Electrical bills from the previous owner were not available but the modelled primary energy for the building, which includes all electric loads, is 924kWh/m2/ yr with 641kWh/m2/yr strictly for space heating.

The EnerPHit standard has relaxed performance targets compared with a new-build Passive House project because of the limitations of working with an existing building’s geometry.

Designers can choose between two modelling approaches: the energy demand method and the component method.

The energy demand method works like a classic Passive House project, with heating demand and primary energy targets. These targets vary based on climate zone and for Halifax the space heating demand is 25 kWh/m2a. The component method outlines requirements for individual building components and does not limit energy demand. Both options have an airtightness target of 1.0 ACH50.

While the form of the building is simple, site conditions added complexity to the retrofit. A fundamental requirement of the Passive House building enclosure is the continuity of the insulation and air barrier system. It is much easier to accomplish this by adding insulation to the outside of the walls, however the Falkland house is attached to the adjacent building by a party wall and both the north and east walls are at the property lines.

Main floor plan before

Main floor plan after

1. Kitchen

2. Room 1

3. Room 2

1. Staff room

2. Conference room

3. Meeting room

4. Powder room/laudry 5. Hall 6. Entry

4. Powder room/laudry

5. Hall

6. Entry

2. and 3. The rear of the house as found, and a rendering showing the post renovation. The new windows are wood frame, aluminum-clad, triple-pane Passive House certified Elite 92 supplied by VETTA Building Technologies Inc., which will also supplied the Alnor ERV.

External insulation was not a viable option at Falkland, so it was designed as an internal retrofit.

The amount of insulation that can be added in an internal insulation is typically less than adding it outside because of the limitations of working around existing building elements and because it decreases usable floor area. For example, the house has a side hall plan layout with the stairs located on an outside wall. Space for insulation at the stair could be increased by only 2 inches. The component method offers more flexibility in meeting the targets when installing internal insulation, so this was the approach taken.

The existing wood shingles and board sheathing were retained, as such the retrofitted perimeter walls were designed to be vapour open.

They have been furred out, with staggered studs to make a 7-inch cavity, then filled with dense-packed cellulose insulation held in place with Intello Plus variable permeability vapour control membrane. The walls have a u-value of 0.24 W/m2K or RSI-4.1 (R-23).

Most window dimensions and locations were retained, however south- and east-facing window area was increased to optimize solar gains. The new windows and most doors are wood frame, aluminumclad, triple-pane. They have a g-value of 0.53 and an average u-value of 0.93W/m2K (RSI-1.08, R.6). The new front entry wood door with transom and sidelights emulates the original entrance but does not meet Passive House specifications, however, sourcing the door locally guaranteed the best fit. Despite the lower performance of this door, the average performance of all windows and doors in the building allows the window component target to be met.

PROJECT CREDITS

Second floor plan before

Second floor plan after

1. Room 5

2. Room 4

3. Room 3

1. Office 3

2. Library

3. Studio 2

4. Studio 2

4. Room 6 5. Hall 6. Bath

5. Office 2 6. Hall 7. Office 1

1. Existing shingles

2. Existing sheathing

3. Existing timber structure - ±8” cellulose insulation - 2x3 stud offset for 8” cavity

4. Intello smart vapour barrier

5. 2x4 furring

6. 5/8”type X drywall

Wall assembly

ARCHITECT Habit Studio

STRUCTURAL ENGINEER Osa Inc.

BUILDER Root Developments

PHOTOS Lorrie Rand and Matthew Rodgers

Wall assembly

SITE | LANDSCAPING | RAINWATER HARVESTING

>ACO Systems

>Filterra Bioretention Systems/Langley

Concrete Group

>Molok North America Ltd.

>Roth North America

>Wishbone Site Furnishings

STRUCTURE & EXTERIOR ENVELOPE

>475.Supply

>Airfoam Industries

>Arriscraft

>Architek SBP Inc.

>CAYAKI Charred Wood/ CFP Woods

>CBC Specialty Metals and Processing

>Engineered Assemblies

>Fraser Wood Siding

>International Timberframes

>Kalwall

>LP SmartSide

>Live Roof Ontario

>N.A.T.S. Nursery Ltd.

>Radon Environmental

>Siga

>Thames Valley Brick & Tile

Canadian Directory of Products and Services for Sustainable, High-Performance Building

www.sabmagazine.com/product-directory

THERMAL, WINDOWS & DYNAMIC GLASS

>Cascadia Windows & Doors

>Duxton Windows & Doors

>ENERsign Windows+Doors

>Inline Fiberglass Ltd.

>Innotech Windows + Doors

>JELD-WEN Windows & Doors

>Kohltech Windows & Entrance Systems

>LiteZone™ Insulating Glass

>NZP Fenestration passivhaus windows and doors

>VETTA Building Technologies Inc.

COATINGS AND INTERIOR

>Century Wood Products Inc.

>Dulux/PPG

>Forbo Flooring Systems

>Valhalla Wood Preservatives Ltd.

ELECTRICAL | PLUMBING | HVAC | RENEWABLES

>Aqua-Tech Sales and Marketing Inc.

>Big Ass Fans

>Daikin Applied

>Ecopilot Real-Time Energy Management System

>Fantech

>Mitsubishi Electric Sales Canada Inc.

>RadiantLink In-wall Heating

>Rinnai

>Sloan Valve

>Tempeff

>VCT GROUP

GREEN DESIGN SUPPORT + PROFESSIONALS

>Canadian Precast Concrete

Quality Assurance Certification Program

>Efficiency Nova Scotia

>FABRIQ architecture

The building is zoned to allow for additional storeys, so the roof structure was reinforced to facilitate future densification. Some original structure highlighting the heritage joinery has been left in place as an accent, with new 14” TJIs installed above this. The TJIs are filled with dense packed cellulose and tapered rigid polyisocyanurate insulation is installed above. The roof has a u-value of 0.092 W/m2K, or RSI -10.89 (R-62).

The basement space has a very low ceiling and will be used for storage and mechanicals. It will be heated and ventilated to ensure its air quality remains healthy and to keep the timber floor structure dry. The junction where the timber wall sits on the stone foundation has been air sealed with ProClima VISCONN liquid air barrier.

Fluid applied membranes are appropriate for surfaces that lack uniformity that would otherwise be nearly impossible to seal.

Ultimately the basement will be insulated but this will take place in a later stage as there is evidence of water ingress and this needs to be monitored and better understood before walls are enclosed.

The primary heat source is a mini-split heat pump installed in line with the ventilation ducting, and heat recovery ventilation with an ERV. Energy modelling predicts an 90% reduction in annual heating and an 87% reduction in total energy consumption after work is completed mid 2023 – a promising result in our journey to achieving very high performing buildings in which to live and work.

The last word goes to Root Developments, the builder on the project, which rightly states that the biggest challenge on a project like this is meeting the budget and schedule - but with a view to the longer goal of creating a fabulous repurposed building which not only helps the environment but also costs much less to operate.

LORRIE RAND IS PRINCIPAL AT HABIT STUDIO.

4. The interior stripped back to the original framing.

5. New framing added to reinforce the second floor and to thicken the exterior walls for more insulation.

6. View down the entry hall to the front door ready for the interior work to begin.

We see buildings like we see people.

Just as people have an impact on the world around them, buildings play an important role in shaping the environment and the communities they serve. Like people, buildings need to adapt and change over time. Making new and existing buildings healthy, efficient, and maintainable begins with conversations. We work sideby-side with those who own, occupy, and maintain facilities—enhancing the places that bring people together.