The high-performance building (and building supply) world is evolving at an ever-increasing pace, but we still took a few moments to ponder trends/issues that will increasingly impact the building industry in 2024.  Here they are:

1.    Accelerated adoption of heat pumps

The accelerated adoption of heat pumps can be attributed to several factors, driven by a combination of environmental concerns, energy efficiency goals, technological advancements, and policy initiatives. Heat pumps can be used for space conditioning and water heating. Here are some key reasons why we see a growing popularity and increased adoption of heat pumps:

• Energy Efficiency: Heat pumps are known for high energy efficiency. Instead of generating heat through combustion, as in traditional heating systems, heat pumps transfer heat from the air, ground, or water to provide heating or cooling. This process requires less energy input, making heat pumps an environmentally friendly and cost-effective heating and cooling solution.

• Renewable Energy Integration: Heat pumps can be integrated with renewable energy sources, such as solar panels or wind turbines.

• Incentives and Subsidies: The incentives offered under the Inflation Reduction Act as well as incentives by many Canadian provinces make heat pumps more affordable for consumers.  Many governments, local authorities and utilities offer incentives and subsidies to encourage the adoption of heat pumps. These financial incentives may include tax credits, rebates, or grants, making heat pump installations more affordable for homeowners and businesses.

• Technological Advancements: Ongoing advancements in heat pump technology have improved their performance, efficiency, and reliability. Modern heat pumps operate effectively even in colder climates, addressing historical concerns about their efficiency in extreme temperatures.

• Cooling: Heat pumps provide both heating and cooling capabilities in a single system. This dual functionality eliminates the need for separate heating and cooling systems, contributing to energy and cost savings.

• Building Codes and Standards: Building codes and energy efficiency standards increasingly mandate the use of energy-efficient heating and cooling systems. Heat pumps, meeting these standards, are favored in both new construction and renovation projects.

As the world continues to prioritize sustainable and energy-efficient solutions, the adoption of heat pumps is likely to remain on an upward trajectory, driven by a combination of market forces, policy support, and advancements in technology.

Small Planet Supply sells SANCO 2 Heat Pump Water Heaters and WaterDrop Drop-in DHW Heating Systems.

2.    Increased Awareness and Value of Good Indoor Air Quality

Covid-19 brought indoor air quality to the forefront of people’s attention and the wildfires in Canada and the United States have kept the topic top of mind.  Whether from health concerns or liability risk, almost everyone is thinking about what is in their indoor air. As a response, builders (and homeowners) are looking for ways to keep indoor air quality high and energy costs low.  That’s where mechanical balanced ventilation comes in, especially balanced ventilation with heat recovery.  Heat recovery ventilators and enthalpy recovery ventilators provide fresh air to building occupants while keeping heating and cooling costs low.  Balanced ventilation systems (HRV and ERVs) offer many benefits over supply or exhaust only systems including:

• Optimal Indoor Air Quality: Balanced ventilation provides a controlled and balanced exchange of both indoor and outdoor air. This ensures a consistent supply of fresh air while simultaneously exhausting an equal amount of stale air. The result is improved indoor air quality by reducing pollutants, allergens, and contaminants.

• Energy Efficiency: Unlike exhaust-only systems, balanced ventilation systems recover and transfer heat (in HRV systems) or both heat and moisture (in ERV systems) between the incoming and outgoing air streams. This process helps precondition the incoming air, reducing the load on heating or cooling systems and improving overall energy efficiency.

• Prevention of Pressure Imbalances: Supply-only and exhaust-only systems can create pressure imbalances within a building. Supply-only systems may cause positive pressure, leading to air infiltration, while exhaust-only systems may cause negative pressure, potentially pulling in unconditioned air. Balanced ventilation avoids these pressure imbalances, maintaining a more stable indoor environment.

• Controlled Ventilation Rates:  Balanced ventilation systems typically come with controls that allow users to adjust the ventilation rates based on occupancy, outdoor air quality, and other factors. This control ensures that the system operates at an optimal level for both indoor air quality and energy efficiency.

• Comfortable Indoor Temperatures: The heat recovery feature in balanced ventilation systems ensures that the incoming air is preconditioned, leading to more comfortable and consistent indoor temperatures. This is especially important in climates with significant temperature variations.

• Moisture Management (for ERV Systems): In addition to heat recovery, Energy Recovery Ventilation (ERV) systems transfer moisture between the incoming and outgoing air streams. This is particularly beneficial in humid climates, as ERV systems can help control indoor humidity levels, contributing to overall comfort.

• Noise Reduction:  Balanced ventilation systems are designed to operate quietly, minimizing noise disturbances within the living, or working space. This ensures that occupants are not disrupted by the ventilation system's operation.

If these reasons alone aren’t enough to consider balanced ventilation, many building codes and energy efficiency standards are mandating a switch to these systems, especially for tightly sealed, energy-efficient builds.

Small Planet Supply sells both Zehnder centralized HRV and ERV systems and Fresh-r de-centralized HRV systems. Both systems are Passive House certified, making them excellent choices for builders and homeowners who want a balanced ventilation system for their homes.  

Interested in learning more about these systems? Small Planet Supply will also be holding a Zehnder webinar on February 15.  You can register for the webinar below.

3.    An Increased “Charge” for Home Battery Systems

In the United States, the Inflation Reduction Act offers a 30% rebate on home battery systems with a capacity of at least 3 kWh, regardless of energy source.  Previously, only solar batteries were eligible for a tax credit. Tax credits and rebates (coming in 2024) will most likely heighten consumers and building owners to consider battery systems.   In addition to traditional home battery systems, using materials such as lithium-ion, or nickel-ion to store energy, thermal batteries are also eligible for the credit if they meet the capacity requirement. 

Thermal batteries are enjoying increased interest because of the number of ways they can be incorporated into a home to store and deliver energy.  Some of the materials used to create thermal batteries include phase change materials (such as paraffin wax or certain salts), water, salt hydrates and aerogels. 
There are numerous benefits for adding a battery to your home or project, including:

• Renewable Energy Integration: Batteries can complement renewable energy sources like solar panels. They can store excess energy generated during sunny days for later use, addressing intermittency issues associated with renewables. This integration enhances the overall sustainability of homes, allowing residents to rely more on clean energy.

• Energy Storage and Management: Thermal batteries store and release energy by utilizing phase-change materials. This technology enables homes to store excess energy during periods of low demand and release it when needed, contributing to efficient energy management. Homeowners can optimize their energy usage, reducing reliance on the grid during peak hours.

• Grid Support and Demand Response: Homes equipped with batteries can participate in demand response programs. During peak demand periods, these batteries can release stored energy back to the grid, providing support during times of strain. This not only benefits individual homeowners but also contributes to overall grid stability.

A current Small Planet Supply products that can be considered a battery system is Harvest (Thermal).  WaterDrop Systems can be considered a thermal battery and a system using Phase Change Material is in development.  Small Planet Supply will be carrying a new PCM battery system in 2024. Want to be notified when it’s availabe? Let us know.

4.    Increased appeal of mechanical systems that perform multiple functions

Both builders and homeowners are interested in the idea of mechanical systems that can perform more than one function.  From water heaters that can also provide hydronic heating to ventilation systems that can provide space heating and cooling, the appeal of one mechanical system serving multiple functions is undeniable.  At Small Planet Supply we recently introduced Harvest Thermal (now called Harvest) to our customers and the response exceeded our expectations.  The ability to have one system that provides hot water and space heating, while electronically monitoring and automatically adjusting for maximum energy savings and optimal occupant comfort, is highly appealing.  The optional second heat pump allows for cooling as well.  In 2024, we expect (and hope) to see more manufacturers work to integrate multiple mechanical systems into their products.  

Small Planet Supply products that currently perform multiple functions: Harvest (Thermal); SANCO2 Combi Systems. 

5.    Increased Utilization of Prefabricated Construction

More stringent energy-efficiency codes make prefabricated construction components appealing for builders.  Not limited to yester-years’ “mobile homes”, prefabricated construction can range from portions of a build to full-home construction.  Use of prefabricated components have been adopted by Passive House and other high-efficiency builders.  Reasons why include:

• Precision and Quality Control: Prefabrication takes place in a controlled factory environment, allowing for precision in the manufacturing process and stringent quality control measures. This is crucial for constructing the building envelope required for a high-performance build. Prefabricated components also can undergo rigorous quality assurance testing in a factory environment. This can include testing for air tightness, thermal performance, and overall compliance with Passive House or other high-efficiency building standards.

• Efficient Insulation: Prefabricated construction facilitates the use of advanced insulation materials and techniques, ensuring that the building envelope meets or exceeds the insulation requirements for a high-efficiency build. Proper insulation is essential for maintaining a stable and comfortable indoor temperature.

• Rapid Construction: Prefabricated construction methods typically allow for faster construction timelines. This efficiency is advantageous in Passive House and other high-efficiency construction projects, enabling quicker completion and reducing the duration of on-site activities that may impact energy performance.

• Customization and Design Flexibility: Prefabricated construction provides design flexibility, allowing architects and designers to create customized building solutions. The modular nature of prefabrication allows for a variety of architectural styles and layouts while adhering to Passive House principles.

Passive House organizations in both the USA and Canada often showcase projects that make use of prefab components.   

6.     Renewed Interest (and Action) in Building retrofits

Whether by coincidence or consequence, the carbon conversation has brought the building retrofit issue forward. Retrofitting a building for energy efficiency can be a more sustainable and environmentally friendly option than tearing it down and constructing a new building. Several reasons supporters have a preference for retrofitting:

• Resource Conservation: Retrofitting minimizes the need for new construction materials and reduces the environmental impact associated with extracting, manufacturing, and transporting new building materials. This approach helps conserve natural resources and reduces the overall carbon footprint of the building.

• Embodied Energy Savings: Embodied energy refers to the total energy consumed during the entire lifecycle of a building, including the extraction, processing, manufacturing, transportation, and construction of materials. Retrofitting typically requires fewer new materials and, as a result, leads to lower embodied energy compared to constructing a new building.

• Preservation of Existing Infrastructure: Retrofitting allows for the preservation of existing buildings, which may have historical or architectural value. Retaining and upgrading existing structures contributes to cultural heritage and helps maintain the character of urban areas.

• Reduced Construction Waste: Constructing a new building generates a significant amount of construction waste, contributing to landfills. Retrofitting produces less waste, as it involves modifying existing structures rather than demolishing and rebuilding. This aligns with sustainable waste management practices.

• Faster Return on Investment (ROI): Retrofitting projects often have a shorter payback period compared to constructing a new building. The initial investment in retrofitting can be recouped more quickly through energy savings and operational efficiency improvements, making it a financially attractive option.

• Energy Efficiency Improvement: Retrofitting allows for the incorporation of energy-efficient technologies and practices into existing structures. Upgrading insulation, windows, HVAC systems, and lighting can significantly enhance energy performance without the environmental impact of new construction.

The decision to choose to retrofit versus new construction is a complicated one and one that those interested in reducing carbon are working to better understand.  Architecture 2030 has a Carbon Avoided Retrofit Estimator available for policymakers, planners, building owners, developers, architects, heritage building offers and others to use for a high-level assessment of total carbon emissions of building reuse versus replacement.

So, that’s six of the trends we’re watching at the beginning of 2024. Feel like there’s a big trend we missed? Use the comment box below to join the conversation.

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