Belmont Building 1000 is a six-storey residential development with an underground parkade located in southwest Calgary. The design was evaluated under NECB 2020 Part 8 using the Performance Path to verify compliance with current energy-efficiency standards. Acacia Engineering Ltd. provided the full energy-modelling analysis, envelope assessment, and mechanical / electrical systems review.
Key Findings
- Energy Performance: The proposed building exceeds the NECB reference model by approximately 15 %.
- Thermal Efficiency: Normalized heat-loss coefficient improved from 0.157 to 0.130 W/m²·K, reflecting envelope enhancements and optimized glazing ratios.
- Envelope Design: The building features reduced fenestration (19.85 % FDWR vs. 33.3 % reference), improved window performance (U = 1.54 W/m²·K), and effective insulation systems providing up to R-38 for roof assemblies.
- Mechanical Systems: Air-sourced heat pumps with enhanced efficiency (COP 3.4 @ -17.8 °C) reduce electric heating demand. Condensing boilers (96.4 % efficiency) and high-performance HRVs (68 % SRE @ 0 °C) further support energy savings.
- Lighting & Controls: Interior lighting densities were reduced by 20 – 50 % across most spaces through LED fixtures and automatic controls, while exterior lighting was designed for safety and energy compliance.
- Service Hot Water: High-efficiency (98 %) gas-fired water heaters achieved an 8 % improvement over the reference design.
Environmental Impact
The project achieved a 19 % reduction in greenhouse-gas emissions, lowering total annual GHG intensity from 28.23 to 22.86 kg CO?e/m². This improvement represents approximately 156 t CO?e per year in avoided emissions compared to a reference NECB 2020 baseline.
Outcome
The analysis confirms that Belmont Building 1000 & Parkade exceeds NECB 2020 requirements and demonstrates a strong commitment to sustainable, energy-efficient multi-family development in Calgary’s growing Belmont community.
