Near Net Zero: A building with low energy usage such that it approaches the annual energy consumption of Net Zero Energy buildings, and, with additional measures, could produce nearly as much renewable energy as it uses on an annual basis.
Net Zero Energy Ready: A building with low energy usage such that, with additional measures, it could generate as much renewable energy as it uses on an annual basis.
Net Zero Energy: A building with low energy usage such that, with the use of active energy generation equipment, it can generate as much renewable energy as it uses on an annual basis.
Enclosure-First Approach: A building design and construction approach to reducing building energy consumption with a focus on improving the effective thermal performance and airtightness of the building enclosure. It is a key strategy in achieving high-performance and near net zero buildings.
Mineral Fibre: Defined by the ULC as "an inorganic, non-metallic vitreous fibre manufactured from rock, slag or glass compositions"
Pan-Canadian-Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change (PCF): Is the Government of Canada's plan to meet emission reduction targets, grow the economy, and build resilience to a changing climate. It includes a pan-Canadian approach to pricing carbon pollution, and measures to achieve reductions across all sectors of the economy. It also includes actions to advance climate change adaptation and build resilience to climate impacts across the country.
Heat/Energy Recovery Ventilator (HRV/ERV): An active building ventilation appliance that uses a passive heat exchanger element to transfer heat between outgoing exhaust and incoming supply air streams within the ventilation unit. Supply air is typically ducted directly to each living area, and exhaust air from bathrooms and kitchens.
Energy Modelling: A computer-based mathematical replication of aspects of a building, including its overall shape and size, enclosure thermal performance and airtightness, and mechanical systems usage and efficiencies. Building energy modelling is used to quantify the energy use of a building using standardized operation parameters and climate conditions. Energy modelling is also part of the building design process, where theoretical modifications can be tested for their impact on overall energy usage, and for showing building code compliance.
Thermal Bridging: A thermal bridge is a building component within an assembly that has a relatively high thermal conductivity (low thermal resistance) compared to other components around it. Where the other components resist heat transfer, the thermal bridge provides the easiest path for heat to pass through the assembly. Thermal bridging can result in cooler interior surfaces and greater potential for condensation and comfort issues, in addition to decreasing the effective R-value of the assembly.
Relative Humidity (RH): The ratio of the amount of water vapour in a volume of air to the maximum amount of water vapour it can hold at a given temperature. Often expressed in percentages. For example, fully saturated air is at 100% relative humidity.
Photovoltaic (PV): A method for generating electric power by using solar cells to convert energy from the sun into a flow of electrons by the photovoltaic effect. Solar cells produce direct current electricity from sunlight which can be used to power equipment or to recharge batteries.
Photovoltaic Array (PV Array): Is the complete power-generating unit, consisting of any number of PV modules and panels.