Grant: Alliance Grants

In Canada, buildings account for 28% of end-use energy consumption and 17% of all greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The Government of Canada has legislated a 40% reduction of emissions by 2030 and net-zero by 2050; a significant reduction in building energy consumption and GHG emissions must occur if Canada is to meet these targets. In addition to the operational GHG emissions that are a direct result of heating or cooling our buildings, we must examine the GHG emissions generated from manufacturing, shipping, and installing building materials, often referred to as embodied carbon. CertainTeed Canada has partnered with Carleton University's Centre for Advanced Building Envelope Research (CABER) to test, optimize and validate the use of semi-rigid glass fibre external insulated product. This product will have a lower embodied carbon component when compared to current exterior insulation products due to the high amount of recycled glass as the raw material in the fabrication of the insulation product, and the use of electrical furnaces to melt the glass product. In this project, the semi-rigid glass fibre insulation will be tested using CABER's two-storey guarded hot box and pressurized spray rack to determine the thermal and hygrothermal performance of the product, as well as the wetting and drying characteristics of it. This data will be used to develop detailed hygrothermal models, which will then be used to predict life-time performance of the product in locations across Canada. These results will be used by CertainTeed to further refine the proposed product, and to provide required data to the end user on its applicability and durability within pre-designed residential and commercial building assemblies.