Research at Ecoplus
At Ecoplus, every field assignment teaches us something about air quality and building health. We’ve made a deliberate choice not to let that knowledge go to waste. Our research program turns the experience gathered through our work into useful knowledge — for our clients, for the industry, and for healthier buildings.
Our approach
Where the field meets science
Most indoor air quality research happens in the lab, under controlled conditions. Ours starts from reality: real, occupied buildings, in the Canadian cold climate, with all their complexity. That grounding in the field is exactly what gives our observations their value.
Our approach combines scientific rigour with practical building knowledge. We apply proven analytical methods to data drawn from our own field work, in order to surface patterns that only a long-term perspective can reveal.
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 ÉcoPlus, Mitra works both as a technologist — field surveys, sampling, energy modelling, report writing and client advisory — and as the lead of our research program.
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.
Rather than a one-time snapshot, this database reflects real-world conditions observed across a wide range of building types and contexts. It is this volume and historical depth that allow us to study phenomena — such as fungal contamination in residential buildings — with a perspective that short-term studies cannot provide.
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.
Our Research Focus
Our research program focuses on indoor air quality challenges specific to cold-climate buildings. Our work currently explores:
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 isn’t purely academic — it directly strengthens the quality of our services. Understanding underlying trends helps us make better diagnoses, anticipate problems, and offer recommendations grounded in real data 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 ÉcoPlus, 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 ÉcoPlus in pioneering advancements in building science and indoor air quality. 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.