Prefabrication of Affordable High-Performance Housing for Northern Canada

拟议研究的目的是为加拿大北部设计和建造负担得起的高性能（低能耗、低购买能源和坚固）住房开发一种方法。这项研究对北方的社会经济发展和环境保护都有价值。加拿大北部占加拿大陆地面积的50%以上，有近12万居民。统计数据表明，北方的经济和人口增长迅速，主要是由于工业发展和旅游业；然而，住房开发努力跟上这种增长的步伐。新住房供应不足，住房成本（所有权和公用事业）很高，很大一部分家庭无法满足核心住房需求（23.3%，而加拿大其他地区为13.7%）。核心住房需求的定义是条件充足、面积合适、价格合理。这种住房状况主要是由于北方特有的挑战，包括恶劣的气候条件、偏远、道路不足、能源价格高、缺乏熟练劳动力和当地建筑能力低。***将通过该项目开发针对北方环境和生活方式的经济适用和高性能住房的建筑设计概念。选择合适的建筑预制技术，减少时间和成本，保证建筑施工质量。研究、确定和开发适用于住宅的可再生能源系统、节能蓄能系统和节能空间供暖系统。将建立一个原型建筑进行示范和监测。***这项研究将在面临严峻气候和地理挑战的地区推进经济适用房和可持续住房的建筑技术。本研究的成果将促进北方住房和建筑业的发展，从而支持其社会和经济发展。这项研究也将有助于保护加拿大北部脆弱的环境。低能耗和坚固的住房将显著抵消城市增长带来的能源和电力需求。该研究项目还将有助于建立一个北方建筑研究学术中心

The purpose of the proposed research is to develop a methodology for the design and construction of affordable and high-performance (low energy consumption, low purchased energy, and robust) housing for northern Canada. This research is valuable for both social and economic development, and the protection of the environment in the North.***Northern Canada accounts for over 50% of Canada's land mass and nearly 120 thousand inhabitants. Statistics have shown that the economy and population are growing quickly in the North, mainly due to industrial development and tourism; however, housing development struggles to keep pace with this growth. The provision of new housing is not sufficient, housing costs (ownership and utilities) are high, and a significant portion of households cannot meet core housing need (23.3% compared to 13.7% for the rest of Canada). Core housing need is defined as adequate in condition, suitable in size, and affordable. This housing situation is mainly due to the challenges specific to the North, which include severe climate conditions, remoteness, insufficient road access, high energy prices, lack of skilled labour, and low local construction capacity.***Building design concepts that target affordable and high-performance housing for the northern environment and lifestyle will be developed through this program. Suitable building prefabrication technologies will be chosen to reduce time and cost and to ensure the quality of building construction. Suitable renewable energy systems, energy conservation enhancing thermal energy storage systems, and energy-efficient space heating systems for residential building will be investigated, identified, and developed. A prototype building will be established for demonstration and monitoring.***This research will advance building technologies for affordable and sustainable housing in regions facing severe climatic and geographic challenges. The outcomes from this research will promote the development of housing and the construction industry in the North, and hence support its social and economic development. This research will also help protect the fragile environment of northern Canada. Low-energy and robust housing will significantly off-set the energy and power demand due to urban growth. This research program will also contribute to the establishment of an academic center for northern building studies.**