Current Projects
The CABER team is developing approaches to constructing building envelopes that optimize energy usage and moisture flow in existing buildings. These projects tackle all facets of building envelope performance, including the impact of moisture content in potent building materials, the impact of energy recovery ventilation on indoor conditions and finally, applicable retrofit solutions based on building age and location.
Additional areas of interest for research in the lab include:
- Innovative high insulation materials and techniques
- Durability and long-term performance of new building materials
- New approaches to constructing envelopes that are thinner & cheaper
- New methods for renovating existing buildings with less cost & disruption, looking into factory built models
- Determining them bodied carbon in building materials
- Deep energy retrofits
- VIPs aging and integration of non traditional building materials
- HAM simulation validation
- Monitoring moisture in wood construction
- In-situ air and thermal performance
Along with our research partners, CABER strives to provide tangible options in terms of retrofitting and optimizing building standards.
Northern Nomad Building Envelope Research:
In partnership with the Northern Nomad team, Chris Campbell from the CABER team researched the lifespan of Vacuum Insulation Panels, as well as the impact of energy recovery ventilation on indoor conditions. His researched focused on how indoor conditions can impact moisture levels within walls or enclosures.
To learn more:
Quantifying Uncertainties for Moisture Content Measurements in Wood Using Embedded Electrodes:
CABER team member Belal Daouk has set up an experimental process that involves using the electrical resistance technique to measure moisture content of several building materials. The goal of his research is to monitor how moisture content in common building materials such as wood, effect a buildings envelope.
Vacuum Insulation Panels (VIP’s):
By researching the hygrothermal properties of building envelopes in Canada, CABER team member Brock Conley has been working to determine which types of retrofits are ideal, based on the location and age of the building.
