NSERC Smart Net-Zero Energy Buildings Strategic Network

The NSERC Smart Net-zero Energy Buildings strategic Research Network (SNEBRN) proposed here will bebased on a previous network: the NSERC Solar Buildings Research Network (SBRN), which completed itsprogram at the end of 2010. The vision of SNEBRN is to perform the research that will facilitate widespreadadoption, by 2030, of optimized NZEB energy design and operation concepts suited to Canadian climaticconditions and construction practices. We also aim to influence long-term national policy on the design ofnet-zero energy buildings and communities in association with our partners. Joining 18 researchers from SBRNwill be 11 new researchers in the new Network's university team, making a total of 29 researchers from15Canadian universities taking part in the effort. In addition there are partners from government and industry.Major partners include the CanmetENERGY laboratory of Natural Resources Canada, Hydro-Québec LTE(Laboratoire des technologies de l'énergie) and Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. A broad range ofindustry partners is also planned, including the following: Philips (lighting and appliances, energymanagement), Alouette Homes and KOTT (prefabricated home manufacturers), Régulvar (buildingautomation), Unicel (curtain walls), Canadian Solar (PV manufacturer) and Gaz Métro. We will train over 100highly qualified personnel, thereby providing the leaders who will go on to join universities, industry andgovernment and provide further innovations and work to overcome the barriers to our vision. The mainnetwork goal is to develop optimal pathways for achieving zero average annual energy consumption at both thebuilding and neighbourhood levels. This will be achieved through combination of dynamic building methodsthat integrate a number of technologies: building-integrated solar systems, high performance windows withactive control of solar gains, short-term and seasonal thermal energy storage, heat pumps and smart controls. Indoing this, we will aim for simultaneous reduction of energy demands and shifting of peak loads throughtechniques such as predictive control operating both at the building and neighbourhood scales.Other Language Version of Summary (optional).