New projected Buildings Climate Zones data, computed from global climate model projections, offer information on the climatic changes expected throughout this century and the impacts that these changes will have on the energy demands of buildings. The maps show that energy demands for buildings will shift toward a decrease in heating demand.
Click here to view an interactive map of the new Buildings Climate Zones data
Climate has a major impact on a building’s design and energy performance. Designers and engineers use energy codes, such as the National Energy Code of Canada for Buildings (NECB) to ensure that a building can safely and comfortably withstand a wide range of weather conditions. The NECB has divided Canada into six “Climate Zones” to guide energy efficiency requirements.
Buildings should be designed to function under the climatic conditions to which they are exposed throughout their full design lives, which is why integrating future climate data into our building designs is crucial. Two essential parts of this process are future weather files and future design values. Explore our Learning Zone articles to learn more:
Our vision is to enable meaningful adaptation in the buildings sector. Our Buildings Sector Module provides easy access to building-relevant climate datasets, information, guidance, and case studies demonstrating the use of climate data in adaptation efforts.
Coming next, we will be posting new Learning Zone articles to the Designing Future-Ready Buildings topic, and we will be adding additional types of technical data needed in building design, such as future climatic design values by the Pacific Climate Impacts Consortium.
Check out CBC’s new interactive humidex tool, featuring the same data found on ClimateData.ca.
Physical Scientist Kenneth Chow from the Canadian Centre for Climate Services, who helped create ClimateData.ca‘s humidex projections, is also featured in a recent CBC story on Humidex.
In the latest Climate Data in Action blog post, Stephanie Arnold, Prince Edward Island Climate Services Specialist, and Lian Vroege, Adaptation Research Support Officer, examine “adaptation pathways” and demonstrate how data from ClimateData.ca can be used in an adaptation context.
Climatedata.ca is a collaboration between Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), the Computer Research Institute of Montréal (CRIM), Ouranos, the Pacific Climate Impacts Consortium (PCIC), the Prairie Climate Centre (PCC), and HabitatSeven.
Below are some noteworthy updates from our partners.
Join CLIMAtlantic on August 10 at 3pm (ADT) to explore ideas, potential projects and collaborators for funding proposals for Climate Change Adaptation Program from Natural Resources Canada (NRCan)!
Since there are separate processes and timelines for Indigenous and non-Indigenous applicants, this online workshop will provide tailored facilitated networking and collaboration opportunities for each.
Please note: we expect only those interested in submitting a proposal or in collaborating on a project to participate, and those with project ideas to come prepared to share them.
The deadline to submit proposals to NRCan’s Climate Change Adaptation Program is September 22. Projects must be in the following categories: adaptation skills, economics, emerging issues, and/or natural resource sectors.
Check out ClimateWest’s newest report, A Snapshot of the Changing Prairie Climate. This plain language report is designed to be an accessible, timely, and accurate snapshot of the past, present, and future climate for those who live in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. Prepared by the Prairie Climate Centre, the report highlights three major weather and climate hazards specific to the Prairies, and how they are affecting, and will continue to affect, our way of life across seven sectors.
As we transition to a future where climate resilience becomes a core element of building design, we are continuously expanding our learning resources to guide you on this journey. We invite you to stay connected with us by subscribing to our updates and joining us on social media to ensure you don’t miss our new offerings.
Together, let’s shape the future of Canadian infrastructure: resilient, adaptable, and ready for the challenges and opportunities that our changing climate brings.