Energy considerations in the design of northern housing
The severe climatic conditions in the North (the region north of the southern limit of scattered discontinuous permafrost) and the high energy costs and consumption in northern housing are discussed. Ventilation and air exchange issues are reviewed in the context of current norms and standards. Form...
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| Format: | Report |
| Language: | English |
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National Research Council of Canada. Division of Building Research
1985
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.4224/20378984 https://nrc-publications.canada.ca/eng/view/ft/?id=9127a53d-9e1b-4a07-a922-96b839507b2b https://nrc-publications.canada.ca/eng/view/object/?id=9127a53d-9e1b-4a07-a922-96b839507b2b https://nrc-publications.canada.ca/fra/voir/objet/?id=9127a53d-9e1b-4a07-a922-96b839507b2b |
| Summary: | The severe climatic conditions in the North (the region north of the southern limit of scattered discontinuous permafrost) and the high energy costs and consumption in northern housing are discussed. Ventilation and air exchange issues are reviewed in the context of current norms and standards. Formulae for air infiltration are applied to "tight" buildings in severe northern conditions; these indicate very high rates of air exchange. The combination of mechanical ventilation and natural air infiltration during severe conditions may result in an unexpectedly high rate of total air exchange. Northern construction issues are outlined in the context of energy conservation, and the characteristics of typical heating and heat recovery equipment are discussed. An overview of other energy issues is also provided. Current practices in the design of the building envelope in northern housing are described. Il serait très ambitieux de vouloir traiter de manière exhaustive de tous les aspects de la consommation d'énergie dans les habitations du Nord. Tel n'est pas le but de cette communication; il s'agit plutôt d'une tentative visant à aborder certains sujets généraux qui sont particuliers à la conception des habitations nordiques. L'auteur a également tenté de soulever certaines questions nécessitant une analyse plus approfondie, notamment le rôle de l'apport solaire et les débits réels d'infiltration dans les conditions nordiques. L'auteur tient également à exprimer son regret de devoir traiter des conditions nordiques à partir de son bureau d'Ottawa, mais il espère que ce rapport, dans l'esprit qui le caractérise, sera accepté par les concepteurs et constituera l'amorce d'un dialogue plus intensif sur les problèmes techniques du Nord. Peer reviewed: No NRC publication: Yes |
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