Grant: Applied Research Tools and Instruments Grants

Canada and the rest of the world have recently become concerned with possible solutions to climate change. As a result, the design and construction industries are now embracing the potential environmental and healt benefits of green building technologies including environmentally-friendly construction methods and materials. With very little change in building technologies occurring over the past 50 years, the time is overdue to develop new, efficient methods for this important industry. New research is urgently needed to meet municipal green building targets such as one million Net Zero homes by 2030, 80% reduction in landfill waste 2010 and 50% reduction in water usage, while simultaneously addressing federal policies on Greenhouse Gas emission reductions, improved indoor air quality and related building code restrictions. The Southern Alberta Institute of Technology Applied Research and Innovation Services established a Green Building Technologies (GBT) applied research initiative in 2008 as a timely response to these issues. The initiative has three main goals: to lead industry in implementing green-building technologies; to provide training for students in green-building technologies; and to enhance commercialization of green technologiesfor Canadian industry. The Building Integrated Solar Thermal Lab will work with industry to research solar thermal energy integration into commercial and residential building components and heating and ventilation equipment. The GBT applied research BIST Lab will research the performance and viability of existing solar thermal technologies in order to adequately aid industry in the development and prototyping of new solar thermal processes, products, technologies and multiple system integration.