Toward Net-Zero Energy Labs in Northern Climate Montreal Examples.

Northern climate like the one in Montreal 4,557 DD (SI) - (8,200 DD (IMP)) presents huge challenges to the designers to reach Net-Zero Energy buildings. A large amount of the energy required is related to the heating of the outside air and the 24 hours/day, 7 days/week operation. It is not rare to be faced with labs designed a few decades ago which consumes in the order of 2150 kW-h equiv /m²-year (200 kW-h equiv/sq.ft.-year), compared to 540 kW-h equiv / m²-year (50 kW-h equiv / sq.ft.-year) and better for recent labs. This paper presents a list of potential options to improve energy efficiency. Three laboratories are presented with the different measures that were applied in those buildings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]