As a building ages, its materials and systems will deteriorate from usage and weathering. The long term energy performance of buildings needs to be monitored so that future maintenance can be gauged and costed properly.

To create an accurate picture of how energy efficiency measures are working, usage and performance data must be collected over the life of a building. Building scientists and construction professionals can use this data to map out maintenance and replacement plans. The information may also be used to formulate more durable and resilient assemblies and systems for the future.

DATA COLLECTION METHODS

According to Statistics Canada, annual Household Energy Consumption across our country shows an average of 90.5 GigaJoules per building, with individual provincial energy usage in households ranging between 63.5 GJ and 124.6 GJ per building. This data is collected every 2 years via the Households and the Environment Survey. For reference, the target energy use for Net Zero Energy homes is 40 GigaJoules or better per year.

Collecting the performance data of residential buildings may happen as:

• Surveys online or through mail.
• Smart metering and power consumption monitoring.
• Sensors placed in building envelope assemblies that measure heat and moisture migration.
• Monitoring of community power grids - shared PV solar or other renewable systems.

The challenge in collecting data like this may be related to concerns about privacy, or with gathering accurate information (esp. homeowner surveys). The systems we use in the future will need to be passive and impartial, with as little disruption to occupants as possible. Requirements may be needed to ensure that power suppliers don't use the data to single out or punish high energy users.