Grant: Alliance Grants

In the face of the rising housing crisis yet compounded by the environmental crisis, the mounting challenge lies in finding the solutions that are not only cost-effective but also environmentally friendly. Motivated by the reality, the objective of the proposed project aims at developing a new technology to build green portable houses for alleviation of the housing problem that people with a lower socioeconomic status are facing, yet without compromising environmental consideration. For this purpose, we are proposing to develop fully recyclable sandwich panels with comparable physical properties made of commercial panels and then utilize these panels to design temporary houses that are portable and can be quickly assembled on site. Compared to the current temporary housing technology that is made of non-environmentally friendly materials, our proposal presents a solution both environmentally and cost conscious, aiming to strike a reasonable balance between these two main considerations. This project is proposed as an exploratory project for one year with the intent and desire to develop a long-term project afterwards. The scope of the research encompasses two main elements: i) structural insulated panels (SIP) and ii) deployable panels for portable housing, garnering the two together to form a framework for the development of the proposed portable green houses. Through this project, three graduate students will be trained for engineering careers in this emerging field. Not only will this project help to address the housing issue but also the environmental issue. Furthermore, this proposed project is focused on the temporary houses for the people with a lower socioeconomic status. Once developed, these houses can be used by governments and communities to create livable spaces for the disadvantaged people. All these efforts would help maintain Canada's leading position in the world to address social, economic, and environmental challenges.