Environmental Research & Sustainable Design

Transforming the Built Environment Through Research, Innovation, and Action

At JoT Architecture, sustainability is more than a design strategy — it’s a responsibility. Our work bridges environmental research and architectural practice to reduce carbon emissions, improve building performance, and support long-term ecological resilience.

With decades of experience in sustainable housing studies, retrofit strategies, and off-grid design, our Ottawa-based team collaborates with government, non-profits, and Indigenous communities to lead projects that go beyond compliance — creating measurable environmental outcomes.

A bar chart titled 'Zerofootprint Results,' comparing total household emissions excluding work-related emissions across different numbers of occupants per household. The chart shows six groups of results with varying household sizes, from 6 to 1 occupant. The emissions are categorized into six sources: Heating, Electricity, Food, Waste and Other, Vehicle/Public Transit, and Air Travel, each represented by a different color. The tallest sections belong to Heating and Food, with significant contributions from Electricity and Vehicle/Public Transit, and smaller contributions from Waste and Other, and Air Travel.

Our Research

COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH PROJECT 
& HOUSEHOLD ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING PROJECT

Analysis of the potential to reduce the environmental impact of 100 households in five adjacent neighbourhoods by working with community environmental groups and a City of Ottawa carbon footprint calculator, carried out through the CMHC External Research Grant Program. The research included developing a technique for monitoring the environmental impact of households, assessment of the reasons for dramatic variations between households, and recommendations for the most cost effective methods for reducing environmental impact. The research project produced a 12% reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by participating households.

Bar chart showing zero footprint results for various study neighborhoods, illustrating the distribution of carbon footprint components like heating, electricity, waste, food, vehicle/public transit, and air travel as portions of the total carbon emissions excluding work.
Bar chart showing zero-footprint results comparing total individual emissions excluding work with the number of occupants in households. The chart uses colored segments to represent different categories of carbon footprint: air travel, vehicle/public transit, food, waste and other, electricity, and heating. The data is presented for households with varying number of occupants from 1 to 6.

ASSESSMENT OF THE CANADIAN HOUSING
SECTOR'S IMPACT ON THE ENVIRONMENT

Analysis of the relative and combined environmental impact of Canada’s existing housing stock including lifecycle and operating impacts from different dwelling types and neighbourhood settings, and a projection of the existing situation to 2025. Creation of a database which makes possible an analysis of all the individual components affecting environmental impact and an examination of alternative future scenarios. Prepared in collaboration with Marbek Resource Consultants and the Athena International Institute.

CMHC Research report cover with a photo of a row of Victorian brick homes, titled "Life-cycle Environmental Impacts of the Canadian Residential Sector".
A black and white map of an inner city area showing streets, buildings, and a public park. The map includes a legend with different house and building types, along with the number of dwelling units. CHMC Report

KAHNAWÀ:KE SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY

Review of the design and research carried out between 1997 – 2008 for the development of the Kanata Healthy Neighbourhood, a new development modeled on sustainable design principles and strategies for increasing knowledge and skills among community members. The assessment included consideration of cultural, social and economic factors, neighbourhood infrastructure, urban layout, architectural design and construction.

A grassy area next to a stone wall in a residential neighborhood with houses in the background under a clear blue sky.
Satellite map showing a town near a river with roads, residential areas, a lake, and surrounding greenery. The map includes labels indicating directions to Montreal and Chute-A-Gamy.
Aerial view of a residential housing development with 16 single-family homes, each with a driveway, on a green lot. The development is bordered by a curved road at the top and surrounded by trees and open land.

Our Projects

DUNBAR COURT DEEP ENERGY RETROFITS

A feasibility study undertaken in 2024 for deep energy retrofits to 42 affordable townhomes built in the 1980’s. It was determined that retrofits to the existing housing stock would greatly improve building efficiency and reduce emissions while allowing residents to remain in place. Exterior building envelopes, mechanical system upgrades, potential solar panel installation, and comparative energy modeling were undertaken as part of the study.
This project was completed in collaboration with Envari Energy Solutions, Cold Climate Buildings, McDonald Brothers Construction, and Nepean Housing Corporation.

A detailed architectural site plan showing multiple residential building blocks, landscaped gardens, pathways, and parking areas, with labels for apartment units and infrastructure details.
Architectural drawing of a multi-unit residential building with dark gray roof, gray and brown siding, multiple windows, and entry doors.

STILLWATER RETREAT  

An off-grid, 12 room wilderness retreat in the Lanark Highlands was designed for family use  and for groups of up to 20 people. Accommodation is provided in a large central building and yurts scattered across the property. This project incorporated solar and wind power, natural hot air ventilation through the roof, and high insulation values. Lumber used for this project was carefully harvested from the site and milled locally.

Architectural blueprint of a retreat house with floor plans, elevations, and circular ground floor plan, titled 'Still Waters Retreat, Lanark County, Ontario'.
Architectural drawing of a retreat house with landscape, trees, and rocks, including a plan view of the house and a side elevation
A wooden retreat house with a green metal roof, surrounded by trees with leaves, seen through branches and foliage.

BELGIAN EMBASSY

A retrofit of the Belgium Ambassador’s residence to solve significant comfort and organizational issues in the existing building. Work included improvements to the private and public portions of the residence, complete refurbishment of the building enclosure and mechanical equipment including new insulation, roofing, doors, siding, and decks based on the results of an energy audit, designed within the parameters of the heritage district.

A large, historic house with a stone and white wood exterior, multiple windows with black shutters, and a steep shingled roof. A flagpole with a flag stands in front of the house, surrounded by a well-maintained lawn and garden.

Let’s Build a More Sustainable Future

If you’re planning an energy retrofit, off-grid project, or environmentally focused development, JoT Architecture offers the research expertise and design innovation to bring your vision to life. Contact us to learn how we can help you reduce your project's impact — and maximize its potential.

Contact Us Today!

Architecture Informed by Environmental Research

Our sustainability research supports smarter, more informed design. We assess lifecycle and operational carbon, model future scenarios, and develop low-impact strategies at the building and community scale.

Our research initiatives include:

  • A CMHC-funded project that analyzed household environmental impact and achieved a 12% GHG reduction across 100 homes.

  • National-scale modeling of housing types and neighborhood layouts, exploring future emissions scenarios through to 2025.

  • A long-term evaluation of urban planning, cultural context, and architectural approaches for Indigenous-led development.

These insights directly inform our design decisions — from materials and energy systems to land use and infrastructure.

Built Projects with Environmental Impact

We apply our research findings through innovative design that pushes the boundaries of sustainability and resilience.

Highlighted projects include:

  • A deep energy retrofit feasibility assessment for 42 affordable townhomes, including energy modeling, solar potential, and mechanical system upgrades.

  • An off-grid wilderness retreat powered by solar and wind energy, built with locally harvested wood and passive ventilation systems.

  • Energy audit-driven improvements to a heritage residence, including new insulation, roofing, siding, and mechanical systems — blending performance with heritage sensitivity.

  • Each project demonstrates how sustainable design can reduce emissions, enhance comfort, and respect the integrity of people and place.

Advocacy, Knowledge Sharing, and Collaboration

We believe that advancing sustainability in the built environment requires systemic change. 

That’s why we contribute to:

  • Environmental policy development

  • Cross-disciplinary collaborations with energy consultants and researchers

  • Public education through presentations, reports, and exhibits

  • Design standards that exceed current code requirements

From project conception through post-occupancy evaluation, JoT’s integrated process ensures environmental thinking is embedded at every phase.

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