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Our team at Building Knowledge Canada has extensive experience in designing, testing and commissioning, and energy and emissions modeling of high performance low rise residential (NBC/OBC Part 9) HVAC systems.
We firmly believe that HVAC systems for homes should be sized, selected, and designed in parallel with the building envelope design (energy modeling), emissions reduction goals, Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) targets, and future occupant satisfaction.
Effective mechanical system design goes beyond the individual components; it necessitates an integrated design approach that considers the house/building as a holistic system.
We are confident that rational, thoughtful enclosure design enables rational, optimized mechanical design.
The effectiveness of high performance mechanical systems depends significantly on the design and selection of enclosure R-values, window area/direction, U-value and SHGC, envelope air tightness, local climatic data, and much more. As we deeply understand the importance of right-sizing equipment and distribution systems to limit short cycling, comfort concerns and equipment failure, BKC applies long standing building science principles to every project, with a holistic lens on:
Energy Efficiency
Thermal Comfort Considerations
Carbon Emissions Reduction
Resiliency & Climate Adaptation Goals
Construction and Equipment Cost Optimization
Ease of Installation
Control Strategy Options
System Testing & Verification—once installed (Commissioning)
Reduce the need for costly adjustments during building construction
Insights and data on how to:
“Design for people. Good buildings will follow. With the occupant in mind, efficiency will follow."
Comfort is a subjective concept. It is very personal, but very real. Through integrating all aspects of building science, we believe homes and buildings can be designed and constructed wherein the occupant can control the interior environment, while simultaneously achieving energy use reduction and carbon reduction.
For more information, contact us.
Optimizing mechanical systems that meet and exceed building code minimums. We do that, and a lot more.
Using our holistic Builder 360° approach, we combine mechanical design with the energy and emissions modeling of the home while providing 3rd party design and testing support for volunteer programs such as ENERGY STAR® for New Homes, Net Zero Home, R2000, LEED® for Homes, Green Built Canada, and more. We bring all of the key design services into one Integrated Design Process (IDP).
This enables our clients to:
This integrated design approach makes modeling, optimizing, and designing mechanicals simple for our builder clients, with the dual aims of ensuring environmental efficiency and cost-effectiveness over the long term.
Building Knowledge Canada offers:
Heat Loss Heat Gain Calculations (CSAF280, ACCA Manual J)
Forced Air Duct Design and Sizing (HRAI Design Manual and ACCA Manual S, D, T)
Combo Heating Design and Sizing
Zoned Forced Air Heating/Cooling Systems
Low-Load Home Residential Design (ACCA Manual LL)
Small Diameter Duct Design, Sizing, and Part List (e.g RHEIA)
Hydronic Radiant Floor Loop Design
Mechanical Ventilation Report (Simplified)
Partially Dedicated Ventilation System Design & Report
Fully Dedicated Ventilation System Design & Report
HVAC Testing & Verification On Site
Our services can be mixed and matched to your needs.
Within these services, BKC also specializes in efficient, low-carbon resilient systems, as well as in low-load mechanical design for homes. We deeply understand the importance of right-sizing equipment and distribution systems to limit short cycling, comfort concerns and equipment failure. Beyond following procedures from technical manuals and meeting the building code, it’s important to ensure that mechanicals are sized to the design and expected long-term use of a home—as well as other existing systems. Typically, merely meeting code means getting an oversized system that isn’t efficient for the actual building.
Right-sizing ensures mechanicals are appropriately sized for:
The foundation of our flexible, holistic approach is to understand builders’ needs, before preparing and adapting designs that will optimize the performance of the high performance mechanicals you choose.
Early in the process, we engage with the builder’s key design and construction team. We ask lots of questions and seek to understand the most important goals for the project or home.
This step may involve some work on our part, behind the scenes! We work to analyze the energy profile, emission targets, building code and volunteer program objectives. This analysis is referred to as an Optimization that results in a proposed design package outline.
In an ideal IDP start-up meeting (often called a charette) we bring together the builder client and stakeholders to review the Optimization analysis. Cost savings are identified, conflicts are realized before final design, alignment of goals are understood, and design architecture, energy and emissions goals and HVAC designs are now aligned and ready to complete final design development.
With the IDP feedback, we then fine-tune the HVAC design (and energy and emissions, and other targets) and complete the design package for applicable building permits and construction installation applications.
On site testing of the installed HVAC system is encouraged and can be provided by our BKC High Performance Mechanicals Team. No HVAC system runs better than a TESTED and VERIFIED HVAC system! A field report and recommendations can be provided to both the builder and the installing contractor to ensure optimal installation and equipment set up have been delivered.
“We rely on Building Knowledge for all commissioning and verification of all Great Gulf low-rise projects. This includes all airtightness testing and all pre-development energy modelling on drawings for permits. Building Knowledge also provides in-house training for service, sales staff, and construction on the benefits of how to build, sell and service energy-efficient homes.”
