Waiting to inhale: Canadian clean air technology travels the world

Nu-Air Ventilation Systems Inc.

August 26, 2013 — Windsor, Nova Scotia

From the rural town of Windsor, Nova Scotia to the largest city in the world—Beijing, China—is a long way for a small Canadian enterprise to travel. Since 1992, Nu-Air Ventilation has been time-travelling with the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC-IRAP) to develop energy-efficient home ventilation products that have captured the interest—and business—of giant enterprises around the world. Among these is Everest International Trade Co. Ltd., which will be distributing 35,000 Nu-Air heat-recovery ventilator (HRV) units within China over the next five years. HRV delivers freshly filtered outside air into a building and extracts stale air from high-moisture areas such as bathrooms, kitchens and laundries. HRVs recover 70 to 90 per cent of heat normally lost in the heating process.

Nu-Air’s journey began as the winner of the Environment Canada’s Project Green competition for the most energy-efficient solution for residential and business properties—the Enerboss. Since then, the 20-employee company has grown by 13 per cent annually to revenues of some $3 million and staff of 36.

“Our award-winning Enerboss integrates heating, hot water, ventilation and air-conditioning systems,” says Nu-Air’s vice-president of Operations, Greg Caldwell. “It has been used in the Drake Landing Solar Community in Okotoks, Alberta as well as a City of Brampton, Ontario public housing development. It and our other environmentally friendly products are now attracting developers beyond Canada, including in Europe, the Caribbean and Japan.”

The Nu-Air/NRC-IRAP journey

Nu-Air’s most recent product, a natural gas fireplace with an integrated HRV, has just gone into production after eight years of research, development and testing.

“Eight years may seem like a long time, but without the support of NRC-IRAP and other Government of Canada departments, we may never have had the financial resources or human capital to carry on a project of this scope to completion,” adds Matt Kimball, Nu-Air’s controller. He points out that working with NRC-IRAP Industrial Technology Advisors (ITAs) over the years has been great. Our ITAs are “very engaged mechanical engineers who brought tremendous value to the table—it is a true partnership.”

One important connection facilitated by NRC-IRAP was with a number of Dalhousie University technical experts who helped Nu-Air with various projects along the way. “NRC-IRAP also connected us with the Digital Technology Adoption Pilot Program (DTAPP) to conduct a value-stream analysis of our production processes.” This was done by Dalhousie postgraduate engineering students, who consequently developed a production plan for the fireplace.

The time and resources spent on research and development led Nu-Air to develop the world’s highest-efficiency fireplace—and to be first to market with it. “The normal efficiency rate of gas fireplace appliances is 70 per cent; ours is 96,” says Kimball. His conservative revenue projection of $50 million over the next five years is based on capturing less than three per cent of the North American market. This growth will add 150 new jobs to the operation.

Voyage into the future

Nu-Air’s project list keeps growing, according to ITA Dennis Fowler. “NRC-IRAP has just approved three new projects that will help the company build on their technology, taking innovative applications to new heights,” he says. One of these is a research and development venture to integrate an air conditioner, heating unit and HRV to sell into the residential market.

Fowler attributes much of Nu-Air’s success to the fact that “they listen and take advice.” And for some two decades, NRC-IRAP’s advice has paid off in recruiting technical staff, connecting with specialists in natural gas, and collaborating with organizations and individuals on a number of fronts. “In addition, our funding support has been leveraged into hiring expertise they might not otherwise have had, and that helped them advance their products to the point where they’re competitive worldwide.”

Kimball reiterates that “we are very happy with the level of support NRC-IRAP provides to help small enterprises grow by deploying resources where they need to be deployed, and to ensure that research takes place where it’s needed.”

“We are very happy with the level of support NRC-IRAP provides to help small enterprises grow by deploying resources where they need to be deployed, and to ensure that research takes place where it’s needed.” Matt Kimball, Nu-Air’s controller