Grant: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
British Columbia Institute of Technology
$26,000.00
Integrated analysis of energy efficiency, indoor air quality and durability of buildings
FY 2013-14
Summary
The overall hygrothermal performance of a building depends on the dynamic interactions of the indoor environment, the building enclosure and the HVAC systems. Ignoring the interrelated and coupled effects of the three design aspects and exclusively dealing with only one aspect of the building design results poor overall building performance. A research program with holistic heat air and moisture (HAM) analysis approach is proposed. The research program area spans from materials and components to whole building performance and life-time cost analysis. These research areas are integrated in such a way that first, the HAM transport properties of materials that form a building envelope component will be characterized. Second, the hygrothermal responses of building envelope components in response to indoor and outdoor climatic conditions will be measured and analyzed. Knowledge of the hygromaterial properties of the materials will help to validate computer models, which subsequently will be used to predict the long-term performances of the assembly. Third, a whole-building field-exposure test laboratory, which is equipped with independent mechanical systems and indoor heat and moisture generators, will be used to study the dynamic interactions of building envelope components, mechanical systems and indoor environment. The laboratory will also be used to evaluate various new and retrofit building design options with the objective of choosing design parameters that can lead to a reduction in energy consumption while maintaining the indoor humidity at an acceptable level for occupants' comfort and health and the durability of building envelope components. Fourth, a life-cycle cost analysis of the alternative design options will be carried out to determine the best option that deliver high building performance at lower cost. The experimental study will be carried out using the two-story field-test facility at BCIT. The building envelope and whole building hygrothermal models that are developed by the applicant, Dr. Tariku, will further be developed to accommodate three-dimensional HAM flow, multi-zone airflow and life-time cost-benefit analysis.
Program
Discovery Grants Program - Individual
Location
British Columbia, Canada
Recipient Type
Academia
Type
Grant
Source
NSERC's Awards Data
As published
Application id
386112-2010
Name nom
Tariku, Fitsum
Department département
Construction and the Environment, School of
Organization id
5974
Institution établissement
British Columbia Institute of Technology
Province en
British Columbia
Province fr
Colombie-Britannique
Country en
CANADA
Country fr
CANADA
Fiscal year exercice financier
2013
Competition year année de concours
2010
Award amount
26000
Program id
RGPIN
Program name en
Discovery Grants Program - Individual
Program name fr
Programme de subventions à la découverte - individuelles
Group en
Discovery grants programs
Group fr
Programmes de subventions à la découverte
Committee code
1512
Committee name en
Mechanical Engineering
Committee name fr
Génie mécanique
Area of application code
603
Area of application group en
Construction, urban and rural planning
Area of application group fr
Construction, urbanisme et aménagement rural
Area of application en
Construction methods
Area of application fr
Méthodes de construction
Research subject code
1001
Research subject group en
Civil engineering
Research subject group fr
Génie civil
Research subject en
Construction engineering and management
Research subject fr
Génie et gestion du bâtiment
Partie
4
Nb partie
5
Application title
Integrated analysis of energy efficiency, indoor air quality and durability of buildings
Keyword
NSERC
Application summary
The overall hygrothermal performance of a building depends on the dynamic interactions of the indoor environment, the building enclosure and the HVAC systems. Ignoring the interrelated and coupled effects of the three design aspects and exclusively dealing with only one aspect of the building design results poor overall building performance. A research program with holistic heat air and moisture (HAM) analysis approach is proposed. The research program area spans from materials and components to whole building performance and life-time cost analysis. These research areas are integrated in such a way that first, the HAM transport properties of materials that form a building envelope component will be characterized. Second, the hygrothermal responses of building envelope components in response to indoor and outdoor climatic conditions will be measured and analyzed. Knowledge of the hygromaterial properties of the materials will help to validate computer models, which subsequently will be used to predict the long-term performances of the assembly. Third, a whole-building field-exposure test laboratory, which is equipped with independent mechanical systems and indoor heat and moisture generators, will be used to study the dynamic interactions of building envelope components, mechanical systems and indoor environment. The laboratory will also be used to evaluate various new and retrofit building design options with the objective of choosing design parameters that can lead to a reduction in energy consumption while maintaining the indoor humidity at an acceptable level for occupants' comfort and health and the durability of building envelope components. Fourth, a life-cycle cost analysis of the alternative design options will be carried out to determine the best option that deliver high building performance at lower cost. The experimental study will be carried out using the two-story field-test facility at BCIT. The building envelope and whole building hygrothermal models that are developed by the applicant, Dr. Tariku, will further be developed to accommodate three-dimensional HAM flow, multi-zone airflow and life-time cost-benefit analysis.
