Most of the buildings that will exist in 2050 have already been built, and many are energy inefficient. Improving their performance is essential, but rebuilding them entirely can create new emissions through construction.
HSS Design Build is addressing this through a prefabricated retrofit system that improves building performance from the outside. Using detailed scans, the team designs and installs insulated wood fibre panels around existing structures, significantly reducing energy needed for heating and cooling. By focusing on retrofitting rather than rebuilding, and using renewable, lower-impact materials, the approach reduces both ongoing energy use and emissions tied to construction.
Early results show up to a 75 percent reduction in heating demand and a significant drop in overall energy use, while extending the life of existing buildings and creating a pathway for lower-emission upgrades across Alberta’s built environment.
