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| The Benefits of a Better Building Envelope Longer Building life Research has shown that inadequate building envelopes, whether caused by incorrect design or poor construction practices, can be responsible for severe decay and damage to the fabric of a building. This is often caused by the exfiltration of airborne moisture, condensation and pollutants which proper air barrier and vapour diffusion retarder systems would normally prevent. CanAm has been active in developing and applying repair measures which stop this uncontrolled migration, and prevent such problems as efflorescence, spalling, or even complete breakdown of exterior cladding materials. The result is increased life expectancy for buildings. Improved Comfort Building occupants have demanded increased comfort. They expect not only to be warm enough, or cool enough, but also to enjoy a draft-free and pollution-free indoor environment. Zerodraft Calgary has extensive experience of addressing comfort problems in both the home and the workplace, from industrial plants and hospitals to high-rise apartment buildings and single family homes. In 1986 CanAm pioneered Total Tune-Ups which offered simultaneous envelope and mechanical system check-ups. This integrated approach has given utilities, builders and homeowners, a better understanding of the different factors that act together to deliver comfort at an affordable cost. CanAm also worked with mechanical systems manufacturers to combine heat recovery ventilation technology with an air sealed building envelope in order to provide a quality environment at a lower operating cost. Lower Energy Costs Rapidly increasing costs for heating and air conditioning made building owners pay more attention to energy conservation during the late seventies and with the skyrocketing energy costs it is even more relevant today. It was discovered that heat loss caused by uncontrolled air leakage through the building envelope could be responsible for more than 40 per cent of the cost. We have since developed air leakage control and envelope repair techniques which have enabled building owners to reduce energy costs, while enjoying the benefits of controlled ventilation. Canam (Zerodraft) has also helped building owners take advantage of many government and utility funding programs designed to stimulate more efficient use of energy. The company took an active role in the development of an Ontario Hydro incentive program aimed at reducing electrical demand in apartment buildigns. Many energy service companies, whose rewards are based solely on cost savings, have used CanAm's envelope repair services to reduce their clients energy costs. |
