Building Science
Lecture 1: Background
Winter 2024
Brodie W. Hobson, MASc, EIT
Agenda
• Motivation
• Scope of this class
• Course overview
2
Motivation
Building science
• Building science: Field of study concerned with the control of heat, air, and
moisture in building enclosures to satisfy people’s comfort requirements.
• This is especially important in the context of our severe Canadian climate.
“There was a small boy of Quebec, Who was
buried in snow to his neck; When they said.
‘Are you Friz?’ He replied, ‘Yes, I is— But we
don’t call this cold in Quebec.’”
- Rudyard Kipling
Portrait of Rudyard Kipling by John Collier, 1891.
4
Canada’s energy use by sector (2018)
NRCan (2021) 5
Canada’s residential energy end use (2018)
Single family homes
Low-rise residential
NRCan (2021) 6
Canada’s commercial and institutional energy end use (2018)
High-rise residential Schools
Malls Office
Hospitals Leisure Restaurants
NRCan (2021) 7
Energy use and GHG emissions
• Energy use increased to 15,031 PJ in
2018 from 13486 PJ in 2000 (11.5%
increase).
• GHG emissions decreased to 728.5
MT CO2eq in 2018 from 730 MT CO2eq
in 2000 (0.2% decrease).
• Population increased to 37.6 million
people in 2018 from 30.7 million NRCan (2021)
people in 2000 (22.5% increase).
8
Our energy future
• World population will reach 9.7 billion by 2050 (8 billion currently).
• 66% of us will live in cities (53% currently).
• Increasing urbanization will result in construction of a city the size of Singapore
(5.8 million) each month until 2050.
Marina Bay, Singapore
ASHRAE (2018) 9
Our energy future
• 85% of the world has access to electricity, the other 15% wants it.
• Buildings use 60% of electricity world-wide.
• Buildings in the developed world use more than 70% of electricity.
• By 2040, 33% of all vehicles on the road are projected to be electric.
• 40% of world’s electricity comes from coal; this is not projected to change.
• Coal is responsible for 70% of CO2 emissions from electricity and produces
other emissions that are harmful to human health and the environment.
ASHRAE (2018) 10
Our energy future
• Building-integrated renewable energy
systems will become more
widespread.
• Traditional generation-transmission-
distribution path of electricity will
become multi-directional as more
buildings will become prosumers
instead of consumers. US DOE (2019)
11
Brill, Weidemann & BOSTI Associates (2001)
12
Effect of buildings on organizational productivity metrics
Workplace
Better Private vs. Flexible Work
KPI Benchmark Health Bonuses
Buildings Cubicle Office Options
Programs
Absenteeism
2 – 15 0.4 – 1.5 3.2 0 – 1.8 1.0 -
(days/year)
Turnover (%) 18 – 30 1.3 18 0 -
Self-assessed
0 2 – 10 8– 15 0 – 10 -
Performance (%)
Satisfaction (%) 60 – 80 4–9 5 – 10 0 – 12 - 0 – 10
Symptoms (%) 30 – 60 5–9 - - -
Health &
55 – 75 6 – 10 11 – 12 0 - 6
Well-being (%)
Newsham (2017)
13
Resilience in the age of climate change
• Ensure building remains habitable
several days after a natural disaster:
• Better airtightness/insulation
• Solar thermal energy systems
• Thermal energy storage
• BIPV/T and electricity storage
• Thermostat from poorly insulated
century old detached house less than
48 hours after power cut in an ice
storm.
O’Brien and Bennett (2016)
14
Performance attributes of a building
• Energy efficiency
• Environmental footprint
• Indoor environmental quality
• Resilience to the effects of climate change and extreme weather events
15
Roadmap to high performance buildings
• High performing building envelope design
• Airtightness
• Thermal mass utilization
• Low thermal transmittance envelope assemblies
• Emerging material and designs
• High efficiency building HVAC and lighting systems design and operation
• High efficiency chillers & heat pumps
• Modular LED lighting zones with daylight integrated automation
• Efficient distribution of ventilation, heating and cooling
• Smart building technologies
• Building-integrated renewable energy systems
• Building integrated photovoltaics and solar thermal systems
• Diurnal and seasonal thermal storage systems
• Batteries
16
Roadmap to high performance buildings
• High performing building envelope design
• Airtightness
• Thermal mass utilization
• Low thermal transmittance envelope assemblies
• Emerging material and designs
• High efficiency building HVAC and lighting systems design and operation
• High efficiency chillers & heat pumps
• Modular LED lighting zones with daylight integrated automation
• Efficient distribution of ventilation, heating and cooling
• Smart building technologies
• Building-integrated renewable energy systems
• Building integrated photovoltaics and solar thermal systems
• Diurnal and seasonal thermal storage systems
• Batteries
17
Scope of this class
Analysis approaches to acquire high performing envelope designs considering
complex heat transfer near structural elements and moisture transportation
and storage mechanisms.
https://www.buildingscience.com/documents/enclosures-that-work/high-r-value-wall-assemblies/high-r-value-
double-stud-wall-construction
19
Analysis approaches to acquire high performing envelope designs considering
complex heat transfer near structural elements and moisture transportation
and storage mechanisms.
Screenshot from LBNL THERM
20
Analysis approaches to acquire high performing envelope designs considering
complex heat transfer near structural elements and moisture transportation
and storage mechanisms.
Screenshot from WUFI
21
Emerging and common envelope materials and their thermal properties.
Yuving et al. (2017)
22
Emerging and common envelope materials and their other properties.
Self-adhesive membrane air barriers. Aerosol sealing.
Image: https://images.app.goo.gl/X7xHLYn1SDANZ42r8 Image: https://images.app.goo.gl/1uLPbWARmTBsFpet7
23
Analysis and design of windows – frames with thermal breaks, spacers, low-e
coatings, non-air gas fills, multi-glazing.
Image: https://argonprojectgf2014.weebly.com/fun-facts.html
Image: http://www.mjlogi.lv/en/glass-packets
Image:
https://www.constellationhome.com/md/installations/h Image: https://www.nulookwindows.com.au/thermalheart
ome-improvement/windows/buying-guide/
24
Analysis and design of windows – frames with thermal breaks, spacers, low-e
coatings, non-air gas fills, multi-glazing.
Screenshot from LBNL THERM
Screenshot from LBNL WINDOW
25
Analysis and design for passive and active thermal mass utilization.
Noguchi et al. (2008)
26
Psychrometric analysis of mechanical ventilation systems and their design
principles.
27
Approaches for envelope performance audits in existing buildings.
Xiong et al. (2021)
28
A brief history of building science
• OAPEC oil embargo, 1972-1973
• Conservation of limited non-renewable natural resources
• Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1975
• Kyoto Protocol, 1997
•
Image: Owen Franken/Corbis Historical/Getty Images
Major international effort to reduce GHG emissions
• Canada withdraws in 2011
• Paris Agreement, 2016
• Major international effort to control the effects of climate change
• Pan-Canadian Framework
• 30% reduction in GHG emissions by 2030
• Net-zero energy ready building codes & codes to support deep energy retrofits
29
Standardization of building science
• In the early days, designing high performing buildings was an aspirational goal.
• Performance was quantified and proudly celebrated with optimal certification
programs:
• LEED (1998)
• Green Globes (1996)
• Green Star (AU, 2003)
Image: https://ottawafarmshow.com/directions/eycenter/
• BREEAM (UK, 1990)
• BOMA Best (2005)
• Energy Star Buildings (1992)
• Minergie (CH, 1998)
• Many more…
30
Codes and standards
• More recently, countries have begun introducing legally binding documents that
enforce green building design practices that apply to all buildings.
• Model National Energy Code of Canada for Buildings (MNECB) was first
developed in 1997 as a model code;
• NECB was issued in 2011 (applies to commercial & institutional buildings and
MURBs);
• National Building Code was amended with a new Section 9.36 in 2012 with
requirements for energy efficiency (applies to residential buildings);
• Provinces incorporate these requirements into their building codes (Ontario
Building Code).
• Codes define minimum acceptable levels of building performance for all new
construction.
31
Codes and standards
• In many countries, in the last decade, high performing building design has
transformed from an optional environmentalist aspiration to a mandatory activity
for any building’s design.
• However, a major educational piece was left out – not too many AEC
professionals have ever received any formal training in building science.
32
Building energy codes and standards
• Sets out technical provisions to address energy efficiency in design & retrofits.
• Building envelope
• Lighting
• HVAC systems
• Compliance to an energy code
• Prescriptive path (e.g., providing exact amount of window-to-wall (WWR)
ratio, insulation, HVAC equipment, etc.).
• Performance path (e.g., demonstrating that a building meets a performance
requirement defined by the building code).
33
Building energy codes and standards
• Sets out envelope, HVAC, and lighting
requirements
• More recently some basic sensing & metering
and data archiving requirements are included
• ASHRAE 189.1 provides more stringent
requirements for insulation & airtightness and
HVAC equipment efficiency than 90.1
• Overall, the requirements for better
envelopes (tighter & with more insulation)
and HVAC equipment requirements have
been increasing since ASHRAE 90.1-1989.
34
Building energy codes and standards
• NECB – “a model code”
• Published by NRC (first started on 2011)
• Developed by the Canadian Commission
on Building and Fire Codes
• Not a binding document until the
provinces & territories adopt them
• New challenges
• Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean
Growth and Climate Change
• Goal: “Net Zero Energy Ready Buildings”
by 2030
35
36
Institutional level guidelines
37
38
WELL Certification for IEQ
39
Building science careers
• Building science consultants • Energy analysts
• Envelope consultants • Energy modeler
• Sustainability consultants • Energy manager
• IAQ consultant • Etc…
• Code compliance consultant
• Certification consultant
• Commissioning agent
• Energy systems auditor
40
Third Year Fourth Year Graduate Studies
Building Energy Modelling
ACSE/CIVE 4601
Building Pathology &
YOU ARE HERE Rehabilitation BLDG 5101 BLDG 5707
Introduction to Building Energy Modelling for
Building science for Engineering Existing Buildings
heritage buildings
Overview of different Building and calibrating
ACSE/CIVE 3209 topics related to buildings
ENVE 4106 energy models with ML
Building Science
Indoor Environmental
Analysis for HAM Quality
transport in buildings BLDG 5301 BLDG 5205
Design for occupant Building Energy Building Performance
comfort Management & Simulation
Optimization
ENVE 4107 Detailed exploration of
Building Services Data mining for building principles behind BPS tools
Engineering operations
Advanced design & operation
principles for building services
41
Course overview
ACSE/CIVE 3209 – Learning Outcomes
• Understand fundamentals of heat, air, and moisture transfer in buildings.
• Apply principles of building envelope design in a cold climate.
• Understand and apply design strategies to control heat, air, and moisture transfer in buildings.
• Understand fundamental concepts in relevant building codes and standards.
• Understand basic functionalities of hygrothermal simulation tools.
• Perform hygrothermal analysis for envelope assemblies.
• Understand analysis and testing methods for air infiltration.
• Understand analysis and testing methods for thermal conductance.
• Understand and apply design strategies to mitigate moisture damage in buildings.
• Understand psychrometric processes in buildings.
• Understand thermal performance metrics in building.
• Understand and apply thermal mass utilization strategies for energy efficiency and resilience.
43
ACSE/CIVE 3209 – Lectures, Tutorials, and Office Hours
• Lectures and tutorials:
• Class meets Mondays 6:05 pm to 8:55 am in Azrieli Theatre 302.
• All tutorials/problem analysis/labs are in CB 5301 unless otherwise announced.
• Office hours:
• Brodie Hobson ([email protected]) – Wednesdays 10:30 am to 11:30 am, CB 4207
• TAs – TBA
44
ACSE/CIVE 3209 – Topics and Tentative Plan
• Week of Jan 8: Lec 1 – Background
• Week of Jan 15: Lec 2 – Weather and Climate
• Week of Jan 22: Lec 3 – Heat Transfer and Storage in Buildings I (Online Asynchronous)
• Week of Jan 29: Lec 4 – Heat Transfer and Storage in Buildings II
• Week of Feb 5: Lec 5 – Heat Transfer and Storage in Buildings III
• Assignment 1 due Fri Feb 9 @ 11:59 pm (10%)
• Week of Feb 12: Lec 6 – Properties of Air
• Week of Feb 19: Reading Week
• Week of Feb 26: Lec 7 – Infiltration
• Week of Mar 4: Lec 8 – Ventilation
• Week of Mar 11: Midterm held in-class Mon Mar 11 @ 6:05 pm (20%)
• Assignment 2 due Fri Mar 15 @ 11:59 pm (10%)
• Week of Mar 18: Lec 9 – Vapour Diffusion
• Week of Mar 25: Lec 10 – Vapour Convection
• Week of Apr 1: Lec 11 – Moisture and Rain Control
• Week of Apr 8: Lec 12 – Final Exam Review
• Assignment 3 due Wed Apr 10 @ 11:59 pm (10%)
• TBA: Final exam held (50%)
45
ACSE/CIVE 3209 – Software
• LBNL THERM
• LBNL WINDOW
• WUFI
• All three required software are available through the Civil & Environmental Engineering desktop on
cuDesktop:
• https://carleton.ca/cudesktop/
• LBNL THERM and WINDOW can be directly installed on your own personal computer if you wish.
• Bring your own personal laptop with you to your tutorials/PAs/labs.
• Tutorials are intended to help you with your assignments and exams, including problem analysis as well
as demos and related examples for software.
• Some PAs and software demos will be followed by hands-on lab sessions.
46
ACSE/CIVE 3209 – Studying for the Midterm and Final Exams
• Lecture notes
• Worked examples from in-class and tutorials
• Midterm and final exam review
47
Questions?
[email protected]
48
References
ASHRAE (2018). Building Our New Energy Future. Accessed 3 January 2022. Available:
https://www.ashrae.org/File%20Library/About/Leadership/new_energy_future_web_061518.pdf.
Brill, M., Weidemann, S., and BOSTI Associates (2001). Disproving Widespread Myths About Workplace Design. Jasper, IN: Kimball Publishing.
Newsham, G. R., Veitch, J. A., and Hu, Y. (2017). “Effect of green building certification on organizational productivity measures”, in Building Research
and Information, 46(7), pp. 755-766. doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/09613218.2017.1358032.
Noguchi, M., Athienitis, A., Delisle, V., Ayoub, J., and Berneche, B. (2008). “Net zero energy homes of the future: A case study of the EcoTerra house in
Canada,” presented at Renewable Energy Congress, Glasgow, Scotland, July 19-25.
NRCan (2021). Energy Fact Book 2021-2022. Accessed 3 January 2022. Available: https://www.nrcan.gc.ca/sites/nrcan/files/energy/energy_fact/2021-
2022/PDF/2021_Energy-factbook_december23_EN_accessible.pdf.
O’Brien, W., and Bennett, I. E. (2016). “Simulation-based evaluation of high-rise residential building thermal resilience,” in ASHRAE Transactions,
122(1) pp. 455-462.
US DOE (2019). Grid-interactive Efficient Buildings. Accessed 4 January 2022. Available: https://www.energy.gov/sites/prod/files/2019/04/f62/bto-geb-
factsheet-41119.pdf.
Yuving, L., Wu, H., Huang, G., Yang, J., and Wang, H. (2017). “Thermal performance and service life of vacuum insulation panels with aerogel
composite cores,” in Energy and Buildings, 154(11), pp. 606-617. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2017.08.085.
Xiong, Z., Berquist, J., Gunay, H. B., and Cruickshank, C. A. (2021). “An inquiry into the use of indoor CO2 and humidity ratio trend data with inverse
modelling to estimate air infiltration,” in Building and Environment, 206(12), pp. 108365. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2021.108365.
49
