Join Us For Our Third Annual Deep Energy Retrofit Seminar!
ENFORM is excited to share that we will be hosting our third annual Deep Energy Retrofit Seminar – DER 25. The event will showcase exciting and emergent technologies that propel the Deep Energy Retrofit sector. Along with great conversation, we are providing free beer and pizza! This year’s DER25 will be held in person on May 29th, 2025, at Henderson Brewing Co at 5 pm. Our event is free and open to all post-secondary students, architects, engineers, and industry professionals. This year’s seminar features presentations on heat pump technologies, the adaptation of an existing building to combat climate change, and retrofitting masonry enclosure systems. Kindly find more information on the speakers and presentations below.
DER 25 is eligible for up to 3.0 hours of OAA Climate Action Continuing Education Credits. Certificates of Attendance will be provided by ENFORM.
Thanks to our sponsors!
Centura, Exterior Technologies Group, Entuitive and Facade Systems Inc
PRESENTATIONS BY…
Session 1 | Technology
C02 Heat Pumps
Deep Energy Retrofits are a highly effective way to reduce building carbon emissions whilst enhancing our urban environment – but they remain technically challenging in many respects. This session presents an innovative and highly promising technology to bring ultra-high efficiency heating and cooling systems to existing buildings via Air-Source-Heat-Pumps (ASHPs) that run on R744 (CO2) refrigerant. CO2 is a safe and extremely low GWP refrigerant that can run ASHPs at performance efficiencies equal to ground source heat pumps. The team of Matt Cameron, Kenny Smith and Kevin Stelzer describe the enormous benefits of such systems, the technical parameters of utilization, and how they can revolutionize existing building decarbonization.
Kenny Smith
Engineer and Principal, FirmSix
Matt Cameron
Manager, Vitalis
Session 2 | Case Study
Galbraith Building Renewal
Adapting existing buildings for a future climate is an integral part of addressing today’s climate crisis. This session presents the Galbraith Building, an aging building on the University of Toronto Campus that is in urgent need of renewal and deferred maintenance. The report, prepared by UofT Post-Professional Masters and PhD students and supervised by Alistair Vaz and Ted Kesik, examines a subset of future possibilities for the Galbraith building with the intention of initiating discussions and explorations, specifically in the tools and processes for triaging existing buildings, assessing complex interwoven factors, and articulating a phased path forward in a clear and concise manner.
Kevin Stelzer
Architect and Principal, ENFORM Architects
Alistair Vaz
Architect and Senior Planner, University of Toronto
Session 3 | Materials
Retrofitting Masonry Systems
Masonry assemblies are a common enclosure system present in Toronto’s residential neighbourhoods and older factory buildings. In this presentation, the advantages and disadvantages of various methodologies for retrofitting masonry systems will be discussed – including recladding from the exterior, adding insulation to the interior, and in some cases doing nothing at all – as well as factors of heritage preservation, building performance, aesthetics, and zoning. The session will also provide a deeper understanding of how existing masonry is analyzed during the investigative phase and how these findings influence critical design decisions.
Fariz Dhalla
Senior Building Envelope Specialist, Entuitive
Sean Cain
Project Director, ENFORM Architects