Authors/Contributors: ENBIX, Stok, DIALOG, Owens Corning Canada LLP, Chandos Construction, Stantec
Summary:
Watch the recorded sessions from the ENBIX stream at Buildex Alberta 2025 below;
Building Energy Modelling Using the Volta Parametric Tool
With the introduction of tiered codes in the building code, there was an opportunity for builders to compare their buildings against other builders when it came to energy efficiency. The National Building Code of Canada Alberta Edition had five tiers of energy efficiency leading to net-zero-ready homes. The speaker discussed the current level of performance of new builds based on data and trends from permits across Alberta. This data helped ENBIX target which parts of building design and construction to focus on when creating tools, resources, and training programs.
The session then turned to the free energy efficiency design tool for builders. Alberta Ecotrust Foundation contracted Volta to create a high-level parametric model for residential archetypes in Alberta. This tool was created to reduce the barrier of energy modeling for designers and builders. It was aimed at those who had started building prescriptively and slightly better than Tier 1, as well as those who wanted to estimate what it would take for future designs to meet higher tiers of the energy code.
High-Performance Facades for Human and Environmental Health
Explore how high-performance facades and sustainable materials enhance holistic health and well-being in the built environment. This session examined the intersection of building envelope engineering and wellbeing conscious strategies, focusing on the use of healthy materials, improved occupant comfort, and ethical supply chain. Discover how integrating these elements can foster a more sustainable and health-focused approach to building envelope design. Simulated real-world scenarios were presented and the discussion focused on how different facade designs and material selections impact envelope performance, people, and climate.
Revitalizing The SunRise: Deep Energy Retrofit and Decarbonization and BIPV Case Study
The SunRise Building recently underwent an incredibly challenging revitalization project: a deep energy retrofit targeting 65% GHG emissions reductions, while rescuing an old, dilapidated building and bringing much-needed sustainable, affordable housing units to market. This case study (recorded at Buildex Alberta 2025) guided attendees through the project inception, decarbonization strategy and verification, financing requirements, and construction execution. The speakers also presented outcomes in energy savings, GHG emissions reductions, and embodied carbon results, demonstrating how these were achieved through energy and carbon modelling.
Building Lighter, Living Better: Mass Timber, Life Cycle Assessment, and the Future of Design
Amid rising climate and policy pressures, every material choice is a carbon decision. This session used real-world case studies, including a museum, office, and community centre, to explore how Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and embodied carbon analysis shape low-carbon design. Attendees learned how to integrate early-stage carbon modelling, mass timber strategies, and adaptive design goals to balance durability, cultural relevance, and performance. Targeted for intermediate to advanced architects, developers, and policymakers, the session translates data into action and inspiration. Participants will gain practical tools for carbon goal-setting, procurement, and stakeholder collaboration across institutional, commercial, and mixed-use projects. Special focus is placed on Indigenous values and rural contexts where climate goals and cultural priorities align.
Designing Alberta’s Schools for a Just & Sustainable Future
As Alberta builds new schools, optimizing energy efficiency, reducing embodied carbon, and balancing socio-economic factors are key. While energy codes assess consumption by floor area, this study on recently designed schools evaluates energy use and embodied carbon per occupant. It analyzed how school design and operations impact performance and equity. The research also explored links between per-occupant energy/carbon metrics and community socio-economic status, identifying potential disparities between schools in lower- and higher-income areas. By exploring a variety of recent school designs in Alberta and other areas of Western Canada, this analysis aimed to improve and support more equitable, sustainable, and culturally meaningful school environments.
It’s a (Low Carbon) Material World
Zero-carbon buildings will soon be the norm. Embodied carbon is now a significant factor (~50%) in mapping architecture’s carbon footprint. In this session (recorded October 2025 at BUILDEX Alberta), attendees learned how to make carbon-smart choices in the design phase to enable zero-carbon buildings for long-term operational savings. Shafraaz Kaba shared how the built environment can have a significant influence on lowering our industry’s carbon emissions and how this opportunity can also save project costs using principles of Lean culture and collaboration. Discover tips, tools and tricks on how to source and select materials and major building systems and how they may have long-term implications for operational carbon as well.
