Mahsa Nakisa

Advisor: Mercedes Garcia-Holguera

Floor plan shows a building layout with labeled rooms: offices, washrooms, lobby, swimming pool, and jacuzzi. Surrounding trees add greenery.
Architectural elevation showing a row of buildings including a detailed brick structure. Trees and a flock of birds enhance a serene background.
Architectural elevation showing a building with multiple levels, trees lining a river, and silhouettes of people walking. Birds fly in a cloudy sky. Calm tone.
Cross-section of a multi-level building showing internal rooms, staircases, and an atrium. Arrows indicate airflow. Trees and birds are in the background.
Green-framed modern building with large glass windows and brick walls, surrounded by trees. The rooftop features solar panels, creating an eco-friendly vibe.
Modern building with a green lattice structure and glass facade. Trees line the street, and cars are parked below. The design is sleek and innovative.
A modern, glass-walled building with a green frame stands in a snowy urban setting. Bare trees and a parked car line the street, evoking a serene winter scene.
Modern interior courtyard with geometric red-brick architecture, green railings, and a patterned shadow. Potted trees add greenery, enhancing a calm atmosphere.

Integrating Passive Design Strategies with Dynamic Thermal Skin for Energy-Efficient Residential Buildings in Cold Climates 

In response to the global challenges of climate change and the energy crisis, there is a growing demand for sustainable and energy-efficient residential buildings with minimal ecological footprints. The residential building sector is particularly significant in addressing these challenges as it accounts for a substantial portion of energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions in Canada. From 2000 to 2019, energy efficiency in Canada's residential sector improved by 32%, thereby demonstrating the potential for continued advancements in reducing energy use and environmental impacts.

This thesis explores passive house integration design principles and innovative strategies as a thermal skin to optimize energy performance in residential buildings, particularly in cold climates. Passive house standards are known for their energy-efficient performance and thermal comfort and provide a framework for minimizing energy consumption through advanced insulation, airtightness, high-performance windows, limited thermal bridges, and heat recovery ventilation. However, these standards also present challenges such as design constraints, material sustainability concerns, and balancing insulation with solar gain.

To address these challenges, this research investigates approaches and theories that can inform the development of energy-efficient residential buildings in extremely cold climates such as those found in Winnipeg, Canada. Central to this inquiry is the exploration of thermal buffering techniques, which can mitigate temperature fluctuations by creating a regulated intermediate zone between indoor and outdoor environments. Additionally, the study considers the potential of biomaterials and innovative design strategies that balance advanced insulation with passive solar gain. By examining these approaches, this thesis seeks to adapt passive house principles to the specific demands of cold climates while enhancing functionality, thermal comfort, and sustainability.

Energy modelling tools, the implementation of energy-efficient techniques, and the analysis of sustainable materials all work together to positively influence the design outcome toward optimized energy performance. By integrating renewable energy systems and optimizing design strategies, passive house systems contribute to the evolution of energy-efficient residential architecture by offering viable solutions for mitigating environmental impacts in cold climates.

Keywords: energy efficiency, passive house, residential architecture, cold climate design, sustainable building system