Building Science Research at Services ecoPlus
At Services ecoPlus, every field assignment teaches us something about real buildings: indoor air quality, moisture, envelope conditions, airtightness, mechanical systems, energy use and occupant comfort. Our research program turns field experience into useful knowledge to better understand existing cold-climate buildings and support interventions that are healthy, energy-conscious and durable.
Our approach
Understanding the building as a system
Much specialized research isolates phenomena: indoor air quality on one side, energy performance on the other. Our work starts from occupied buildings, where moisture, ventilation, airtightness, insulation, use patterns and mechanical systems constantly interact.
Our approach combines scientific rigour with practical building knowledge to identify patterns from field observations. This allows us to study buildings as complete systems, where occupant health, energy performance, comfort and durability need to be understood together.
Our research streams
Indoor air quality and energy efficiency
Our research work is organized around two complementary streams. The first focuses on indoor air quality, moisture, mould and building health. The second focuses on energy efficiency, building envelope conditions, airtightness, insulation, mechanical systems, thermal comfort and energy use.
These two streams reinforce each other. Work on the envelope or ventilation can reduce energy losses, but it can also change moisture, air pressure, comfort and indoor air quality conditions. Conversely, an indoor air quality investigation often reveals envelope, infiltration, insulation or mechanical issues. This intersection is what Services ecoPlus aims to document more clearly.
Dr. Mitra Bahri
Our research program is led by Mitra Bahri, who holds a Ph.D. in Civil and Environmental Engineering with a specialization in indoor air quality.
Mitra has devoted more than ten years to this field, notably at the National Research Council of Canada (NRC), where she led research projects on building materials and their effect on the air we breathe. Over the course of her career she has authored more than ten peer-reviewed articles and serves as an invited reviewer for leading international journals in the built environment.
She is an active contributor to national and international standards: she co-chairs the Canadian Committee on Indoor Air Quality (CCIAQ) and is a voting member of the Standards Council of Canada (mirror committee ISO/TC 142). She is also a member of ASHRAE and the IAQA.
At Services ecoPlus, Mitra works both as a technologist — field surveys, sampling, energy modelling, report writing and client advisory — and as the lead of our research program.
Julien Chaput-Lemay
Services ecoPlus’ research approach is also shaped by Julien Chaput-Lemay, the company’s owner and leader since acquiring it in 2021, and a citizen-researcher involved in developing methods, tools and research questions that emerge from field practice.
His background combines entrepreneurship, technical building diagnostics, a varied academic path and written reflection on issues related to the built environment. This position allows him to connect the daily observations of field teams, client needs, the company’s accumulated data and knowledge from academic research.
In exploratory energy-efficiency projects, Julien brings the perspective of a practitioner-researcher: observing what existing buildings reveal under real operating conditions, then turning those observations into better questions. This approach helps Services ecoPlus treat renovation not only as a technical exercise, but also as a social, financial and operational reality where building health, comfort, durability and implementation feasibility must be considered together.
Data Foundation
More than fifteen years of field observations
The strength of our research rests on an asset few organizations hold: a database of thousands of building diagnostic reports, built up over more than fifteen years of field investigations across Canada, covering both indoor air quality and building performance.
Rather than a one-time snapshot, this database reflects real-world conditions observed across a wide range of building types and contexts. Its volume and historical depth allow us to study phenomena such as fungal contamination, moisture, air leakage, thermal losses and the links between comfort, ventilation and energy use.
Our Data Foundation Includes
Residential Buildings
Observations collected from a wide variety of housing types and building conditions.
Indoor Air Quality Assessments
Data gathered through environmental investigations and sampling activities.
Building Diagnostics
Technical observations related to moisture, ventilation, and building performance.
Long-Term Trends
More than a decade of field experience supporting future research and analysis.
Current Exploratory Projects
Our research program explores field-based questions across two streams: indoor air quality and energy efficiency. The projects below remain exploratory and help structure the analysis without presenting premature conclusions.
Long-Term Mould Trends in Residential Buildings
Exploring long-term patterns of fungal (mould) contamination in Canadian residential buildings using data collected through years of field investigations. This research aims to better understand how mould prevalence evolves across different building types, environments, and conditions.
Building Factors Associated with Mould Growth
Investigating the relationship between mould presence and building-related factors such as moisture conditions, ventilation performance, and commonly used construction materials. The goal is to better understand the environmental and technical conditions that contribute to fungal contamination.
Occupant Behaviour vs. Structural Causes
Examining the relative influence of occupant behaviour and building-related deficiencies on mould development. This includes factors such as ventilation use, moisture management practices, building envelope performance, and ventilation system design.
What it means for our clients
Service informed by research
This research component is not purely academic: it directly strengthens the quality of our services. Understanding indoor air quality, moisture, envelope conditions, ventilation and energy together helps us make better diagnoses, anticipate the cross-effects of interventions, and offer recommendations grounded in real building conditions rather than general rules of thumb.
Better Diagnostics
Our growing understanding of building health helps us identify potential issues more accurately and assess their underlying causes.
Evidence-Based Recommendations
Recommendations are informed by field observations, technical expertise, and ongoing analysis of real-world building conditions.
Proactive Problem Solving
Studying long-term patterns helps us recognize emerging issues and support preventative approaches whenever possible.
Continuous Improvement
Every project contributes to our collective knowledge, helping us refine our methods and strengthen the quality of future services.
Research That Works in the Real World
When you work with Services ecoPlus, you benefit from expertise shaped not only by professional experience, but also by a commitment to continuous learning, analysis, and improvement.
Join Forces for Innovation
We invite researchers, institutions, and industry leaders to partner with Services ecoPlus in advancing building science, indoor air quality and energy efficiency. Together, we can drive innovation, enhance building health, and set new standards for environmental excellence. Contact us today to explore collaborative opportunities and be part of a transformative journey in building performance and sustainability.