Enermodal Engineering: Building Research Projects

Research Projects

Envelope and IAQ Testing

Performance Assessment of an Advanced Condominium Project. Enermodal monitored the performance of an innovative apartment building design over a full year. Energy and water consumption results were compared with detailed computer simulations. A full range of IAQ tested were performed to assess air transfer between the parking garage and suites and the ventilation effectiveness of the air handling systems.
Client: CMHC

Ability of Building Roofing Systems to Withstand Moisture Leaks. Enermodal in association with Oak Ridge National Laboratory tested and simulated the ability of six roofing systems to dry out after a roofing leak. The analysis was done for summer and winter conditions.
Client: ASHRAE

77 Governor’s Road Condominium

Building Research and Monitoring

Energy Efficiency for Laboratories. A comprehensive study of energy efficiency measures for laboratories using the DOE-2.2 building energy simulation software. This work led to the development of a benchmarking tool for laboratories. The DOE-2.2 model includes 9290 m2 laboratory space and 9290 m2 office space. Existing laboratories can be compared to the benchmark to measure relative performance and ascertain potential energy savings. Enermodal is currently analyzing the influence of variable internal loads on HVAC performance in laboratories. Report is available on the LABS 21 web site.
Client: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Protective Glazings in Historic Churches. This study evaluated the energy performance implications of protective glazing in churches, including the impact of venting the glazing and thermostat setback. The project involved buildings in five different locations.
Client: U.S. National Park Service

Window and Glazing Performance in Office Buildings. Enermodal performed a parametric analysis of window options in large office buildings for climates throughout the world. Specifically, the research investigated the influence of forced air over window surfaces on building loads. (In hot climates, cold air is blown across the window surface and the air draws more heat into the building than predicted by building energy simulation programs.) Enermodal calculated the effective interior heat transfer coefficients for a range of glazing systems and compared their energy performance and impact on comfort conditions in the space.
Client: Guardian Industries

Field Monitoring of Solar DHW Systems. Enermodal conducted field trials on 42 solar domestic hot water systems over a two-year period. All systems were inspected, commissioned and monitored with results compared to computer simulations. The systems were re-inspected at the end of the process to identify any degradation or maintenance problems.
Client: Natural Resources Canada

Energy and IAQ Performance of Demand Controlled Ventilation. A building simulation model was linked to an indoor contaminant model to assess the potential energy savings and improvement in indoor air quality of controlling ventilation rates on CO2 levels. The study examined four climate types and several design and control strategies to determine the optimum system design.
Client: ASHRAE

Enermodal monitored the field performance of 42 solar DHW systems to assess their long term ability to reduce water heating costs

Market Assessment and Feasibility Studies

Potential for Solar Thermal Power Plants. Enermodal examined the current and future cost and performance of the two main types of solar thermal power plants. The study compared the cost of power from this technology to more conventional power sources in developing countries. The study also looked at the impact of carbon credits on the expected uptake of the technology. The study was used to allocate over $1 billion in project funding.
Client: World Bank

Technical and Economic Potential for Cogeneration Systems. In two studies for the natural gas utilities, Enermodal examined the potential for cogeneration to be a cost effective power option in the commercial and multi-unit residential sectors. A detailed cogeneration model was developed to predict annual cost savings. The model was applied to several building types to determine the type and size of markets where this technology was economically viable.
Client: Enbridge and Union Gas

Potential for Reducing Energy Use in Air Handling Systems. Enermodal researched all options to reduce fan energy use in commercial buildings. The technical and economic potential for each option was investigated and a market plan developed for the promising options. An industry workshop was organized to present the results and solicit feedback to ensure successful implementation.
Client: Natural Resources Canada

Enermodal assessed the global market potential for solar power plants for the World Bank