Green Building Technologies is a research initiative that brings SAIT Polytechnic together with industry partners devoted to the identification and development of environmentally friendly products, programs, systems and services to fundamentally change the construction of buildings. Find out more about our work through the links below:

• Why is SAIT Involved?
• How SAIT Contributes
• Milestones
• Contact
• Relevant Links

January 24, 2008 - SAIT was part of the first-ever, all-western Canadian team to successfully enter the Solar Decathlon. Winners were announced on October 16, 2009 and the team was pleased with their 6th place finish – a very respectable achievement for a first time competitor.

December 1, 2008 - SAIT formally established a GBT program with three main goals: to lead industry in implementing GBT; provide training for students in these technologies; to enhance commercialization of the technologies.

The Climate Change Central EnviroTech Solutions (C3 ETS) project was announced and funded through a grant from Western Economic Diversification. This project focuses on advancements in Net Zero energy, envelope and advanced wall assemblies as well as home sensors and system interface.

November 27, 2009 – SAIT is named as one of three Polytechnics Canada members to be awarded a grant from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) College and Community Innovation (CCI) Program. The $2.2 million dollar grant extends through a five-year term with research focusing on four main areas of research (listed below). Projects within each area will be added as work progresses.

Fall 2011 – Plans are underway for the development of a new GBT office, using shipping containers. The design incorporates a wide array of advanced technologies, including green roofing and photovoltaic systems.

The first of the series, the Discovery 4, celebrated its grand opening on February 10, 2010 and was awarded Custom Project of the Year at the October 3, 2011 Net-Zero Energy Awards. Check the brochure (link to .pdf - opens a new window) for more info.

The Discovery 5, moved to the community of Altadore in September 2011, will test wall systems that meet Holmes Approved Homes specifications and concentrate on water conservation and architectural ecology. Learn more about key aspects of this latest Net Zero home by downloading these posters in pdf format.

Home Sensor Project – working with a grant from Climate Change Central, this project aimed to create a new home energy management database and interface for the Net Zero Envelope. It involved a number of partners, including: Avalon Master Builder, Emercor,  and TR Labs. SAIT faculty and students were involved in the planning and installation of sensor components in the Discovery 4 House to monitor component efficiencies.

Coresmart Advanced Wall System – SAIT and Stylo Developments are working to prototype a new prefabricated wall system that will be an alternative to conventional stick frame construction. Research in this sector will define and monitor performance of the structure and the modified components used in its construction.

Rainwater Harvesting:  Research is being done in two areas for water conservation: heat recovery from used hot water, and the use of rainwater filtered by green roofs and living walls. Since untreated water will 'feed' the green wall, organic herbs and vegetables could potentially be cultivated inside the home. SAIT Polytechnic is in negotiations with the City of Calgary to develop an educational brochure on these technologies to raise public awareness and encourage adoption.

Culinary Garden and Soap Bubble Greenhouse – To further expand the hands-on learning offered to students in the School of Hospitality and Tourism, a year-round greenhouse is being designed and constructed. This unique structure will use solar power and soap bubbles as insulation through the harsh Alberta winters. Here, students will see how herbs, fruits and vegetables are cultivated, then use them in the Highwood Dining Room – one of SAIT’s “living classrooms.”

Waste Monitoring - By recycling, reclaiming and/or reusing construction materials, these building projects will divert an estimated 80 per cent from landfill sites. Students are helping to reclaim hardwood flooring from an old school gymnasium to be reused in the Discovery 5, and scraps of materials saved to be reused for alternate purposes on the project. Other materials are being recycled for use by others.

Simple Solar Balustrade – When Simple Solar received funding through the Innovation Voucher Pilot Program for its solar balustrade proposal, the company approached SAIT to be its approved service provider. A prototype of the system was developed at SAIT and  now serves as the porch railing on the Discovery 4 house.

Solar Shutter – Building integrated renewable components is critical to the acceptance and market viability of integrating new technologies into the commercialized market. Working with Thermal Dynamics, SAIT has developed a customized solar thermal flat plate collector. Typically mounted on rooftops to supplement domestic hot water heating, this unit is designed as a shutter and flanks the south-facing windows of the Discovery 4 house. It meets architectural controls by integrating the new technology into the wall assembly.

Photovoltaic – SAIT Polytechnic has developed a Photovoltaic (PV) Lab that allows the design, installation and testing of multiple unique photovoltaic solutions. It encompasses three separate units:

1. Roofing Modules - a series of eight foot square, stand-alone roofing panels, constructed with varying materials and hinged to test optimal angles for energy collection.

2. Mobile Lab - this unit will allow solar energy testing to take place in remote areas.

Photo by Carl Docksteader

3. PV Training Roof - a full size roof with traditional asphalt shingles that allows students to get real, practical experience working with various racking systems and solar panels.

SAIT Sustainability Framework - This research project will investigate and centralize a database of current and previous "sustainable" activities being done by the various departments, facilities, operations, students, faculty and staff to "green" the campus.

Working toward targeted achievement levels developed through partner organizations such as Green Campus Toolkit Association, the project will be divided into multiple phases and culminate in the identification of key projects to be taken on.