Reference number : GC-2017-Q4-01895, amendment number : , agreement type : G, recipient legal name : Whitehead, Lorne (The University of British Columbia), recipient country : CA, recipient province : nan, recipient city : British Columbia|Colombie-Britannique, recipient postal code : nan, program name english : Engage Grants for universities, program name french : Subventions d'engagement partenarial pour les universités, program purpose english : Windows pose one of the biggest challenges to energy efficiency in cold climates because the desired high_x000D_
clarity and durability require windows to be made from solid glass or plastic panes which provide little thermal_x000D_
insulation. This is particularly true in controlled environment agriculture, where the energy required to_x000D_
maintain adequate temperatures in a traditional transparent greenhouse is prohibitive in cold climates._x000D_
Innovation related to cost-effective, energy-efficient, cold-climate greenhouses has the potential to substantially_x000D_
improve food security in northern Canada by enabling food growth on non-arable land nearby the communities_x000D_
where it is needed, thereby increasing the quality and reducing the cost of fresh fruits and vegetables. A new_x000D_
variable-insulation technology developed at UBC has the potential to address this challenge. In this project,_x000D_
UBC and Northerm Windows and Doors will together develop a sealed window system to make cold-climate_x000D_
greenhouses cost-effective and energy-efficient. If successful, such a window system can enable a new northern_x000D_
greenhouse industry to flourish and could be adapted to meet the needs of other locations in Canada,_x000D_
particularly where it is predominantly cold and reasonably sunny in the winter, as well as in other possible_x000D_
applications, including skylights and solaria, solar heat capture structures, and cold-storage appliances., program purpose french : Windows pose one of the biggest challenges to energy efficiency in cold climates because the desired high_x000D_
clarity and durability require windows to be made from solid glass or plastic panes which provide little thermal_x000D_
insulation. This is particularly true in controlled environment agriculture, where the energy required to_x000D_
maintain adequate temperatures in a traditional transparent greenhouse is prohibitive in cold climates._x000D_
Innovation related to cost-effective, energy-efficient, cold-climate greenhouses has the potential to substantially_x000D_
improve food security in northern Canada by enabling food growth on non-arable land nearby the communities_x000D_
where it is needed, thereby increasing the quality and reducing the cost of fresh fruits and vegetables. A new_x000D_
variable-insulation technology developed at UBC has the potential to address this challenge. In this project,_x000D_
UBC and Northerm Windows and Doors will together develop a sealed window system to make cold-climate_x000D_
greenhouses cost-effective and energy-efficient. If successful, such a window system can enable a new northern_x000D_
greenhouse industry to flourish and could be adapted to meet the needs of other locations in Canada,_x000D_
particularly where it is predominantly cold and reasonably sunny in the winter, as well as in other possible_x000D_
applications, including skylights and solaria, solar heat capture structures, and cold-storage appliances., agreement title english : Development of a prototype glazing unit with variable insulation and light transmission, agreement title french : Development of a prototype glazing unit with variable insulation and light transmission, agreement number : EGP, agreement value : 25000.0, agreement start date : 2018-03-07, agreement end date : nan, description english : nan, description french : nan, expected results english : nan, expected results french : nan, additional information english : Grant or Award spanning more than one fiscal year (2017-2018 to 2018-2019)., additional information french : Subvention ou bourse octroyée s'appliquant à plus d'un exercice financier (2017-2018 à 2018-2019)., owner organization : nserc-crsng, owner organization title : Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada | Conseil de recherches en sciences naturelles et en génie du Canada