Lio & Associates has an extensive background in and understanding of building technology, construction and building science.  Members of the firm have participated as consultants on a number of projects ranging from studies and publications to training initiatives.

Studies

Since 1986, members of Lio & Associates have been involved in the development of many studies commissioned by various organizations including national and provincial governments, housing authorities, utilities, trade associations, builders, developers and product manufacturers. Studies have focused on aspects of building construction with a particular emphasis on housing.  Many have examined aspects of building regulation, codes and standards, building construction, energy use, indoor air quality and sustainability.

Lio & Associates has been retained by builders, developers and product manufacturers to facilitate design and construction approvals.  Michael Lio is often asked to mediate disagreements between builders and building code enforcement officials.  He has been retained to provide expert testimony relating to code interpretation and has appeared in front of the Ontario Building Code Commission on numerous occasions.

Studies have examined: the diffusion of energy technologies in the marketplace, substandard building product imports, integrated space and water heating equipment, challenges for the Canadian building materials manufacturing industry, the nature of  market transformation, and approaches to harmonizing the national and Ontario building codes, gaps in the protection provided by new home warranties across Canada.

For various clients, Lio & Associates developed Division A Code approval applications, Code change proposals and various studies to demonstrate code compliance. Over the last decade the firm has developed an expertise in the guards in use buildings.

In 2010, the firm has examined housing affordability in the province of Alberta.

Publications

Lio & Associates has produced a substantial number of publications on housing and housing technology in Canada.  In 1990, 1993, 1999, 2010 and 2014 Michael Lio acted as technical expert and project manager for the Ontario New Home Warranty Program (now Tarion) and Ontario Ministry of Housing funded Code and Construction Guide for Housing.  This publication, the first of its kind in North America, presented in easy- to-understand language and illustrations the requirements of the Building Code.  Tens of thousands of copies have been sold and it has been used as a model for similar publications across Canada.

In 1995, Michael Lio co-authored Housing Energy Design. This book describes approaches to designing housing with energy consumption as a design criterion.

In 1996, members of the firm were part of the team that revised CMHCs popular Canadian Wood-Frame House Construction manual.  Lio & Associates also authored CMHC’s Renovator’s Technical Guide, which provides renovators with the necessary tools to diagnose resolve and avoid problems encountered during renovation projects.  The firm developed CMHC’s Best Practice Guide: Fire and Sound Control in Wood-Frame, Multi-Family Buildings.

The first-of-its-kind publication Light-Weight Steel House Construction    Handbook was developed for the Canadian Sheet Steel Building Institute.

Lio & Associates extensively researched basement insulation to better establish the causality of condensation in basements for the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing. The research culminated in the production of a best practices publication for builders that was distributed across the province.

Consulting

Since 1986, members of Lio & Associates have been involved in the development of many studies commissioned by various organizations including national and provincial governments, housing authorities, utilities, trade associations, builders, developers and product manufacturers. Studies have focused on aspects of building construction with a particular emphasis on housing.  Many have examined aspects of building regulation, codes and standards, building construction, energy use, indoor air quality and sustainability.

Lio & Associates has been retained by builders, developers and product manufacturers to facilitate design and construction approvals.  Michael Lio is often asked to mediate disagreements between builders and building code enforcement officials.  He has been retained to provide expert testimony relating to code interpretation, including in front of the License Appeal Tribunal, and has appeared in front of the Ontario Building Code Commission on numerous occasions.

In 2015, Michael Lio was retained by the title insurance provider LAWPRO to assist in two litigations. He reviewed the statement of claims and initial adjuster reports for both cases and provided his professional opinion regarding home construction and renovations.

Lio & Associates has been involved in a number of important projects regarding economics and environment. Many of these have been used as justification for changes to Canadian building codes, fundamentally changing building construction in Canada.

Studies

Members of the Lio & Associates team have conducted a number of influential economic studies of residential energy demand and consumption on behalf of the many clients at various times between 1986 and 2010.  These studies have provided the rationale for the increased levels of thermal insulation required in almost every version of the Ontario Building Code since 1990.  These studies led the way for requirements that were differentiated based on climate and fuel type, that included full height basement insulation and that were aligned with EnerGuide 80 levels of efficiency.

In 1995 members of the firm completed a study of implications of adopting the National Energy Code for Housing in Ontario.  Aside from economic modeling the study also estimated externalities from greenhouse gas production from various space heating equipment.

Other economic studies have also been conducted for Ontario Hydro (Study of Supplemental Electric Basement Heating, 1991) and for CMHC (Cost/Benefit Study of Healthy Housing in Canada, 1999).

The firm has conducted numerous economic studies of envelope and mechanical systems. In 2001, it compared infrared natural gas construction heaters to propane convection construction heaters and assessed the thermal indoor environment, costs, and operational issues for home builders.

Members of the firm have been involved in ventilation and indoor air quality research including a study of residential mechanical ventilation which set the groundwork for changes to the Ontario Building Code.

Studies have examined water conservation, green builder practices in North America and northern Europe, housing affordability in Alberta

Sustainable Buildings

Michael Lio has been involved in the R-2000 Program since 1982 having served during that time as the Canadian Home Builders’ Association’s national design evaluation auditor, the Ontario Home Builders Association provincial quality assurance auditor, in addition to being involved in the Program as a design evaluator, inspector, and instructor.   He has been involved in numerous R-2000 and HOT2000 related projects completed for governments and utility agencies.   Michael Lio has authored the R-2000 Design Evaluation Guidelines and Design Evaluator Seminar.  He has acted as the Chair of the Board of EnerQuality Corporation which delivers the R-2000 and ENERGY STAR® Programs in Ontario.  In 1999, Lio & Associates were project managers for the EnerGuide for New Housing Pilot Project.   The pilot, commissioned by a consortium of government and non-government organizations, tested the feasibility of the EnerGuide for New Housing in Ontario.

In 2003, Lio & Associates completed a study of greenhouse gas emissions in the residential sector in Ontario.  The study identified how the construction of new housing would need to change to meet the targets of the Kyoto Protocol informing the Building Code development process.

From 2002 to present, Lio & Associates led the Building Canada team to assist some of Canada’s largest builders in improving building performance and reducing construction time and cost.  Building Canada houses have been built in Toronto and Halifax.  In a number of cases the team has successfully reduced the cost of an R-2000 upgrade to zero.  The team has embarked on an ambitious three year plan to transform the nature of Canadian Housing.

In 2008, Lio & Associates was commissioned by Union Gas to research the changes to energy efficiency legislation in the 2006 Ontario Building Code as compared with its predecessor.

From 2005 to 2008, Michael Lio was President of EnerQuality Corporation. In three years he developed a new strategic plan, restructured the organization and established and implemented a new governance plan and stakeholder model. The organization went from near bankruptcy to profitability over the three years of his stewardship.

In 2007, Michael Lio was invited to speak at the Global Energy Efficiency Conference in Washington D.C.

In 2010, members of the team developed a builder workshop which presented the 2012 energy efficiency requirements of the Ontario Building Code.  In two years, the workshop was delivered to more than 2000 builders. architects, designers and building officials.

Michael Lio has served on a number of agencies, boards and committees representing the public interest and is involved in the governance of various organizations.

Advocacy

Since 1984, Michael Lio has represented the consumer interest on a number of boards, council and committees.  He has sat on standards committees for Canadian Standards Association (CSA), Underwriters’ Laboratories of Canada and Canadian Gas Association (CGA). Since 1986 he has represented the consumer interest on the Ontario Ministry of Housing’s Ontario Building Code Amendment Advisory Committee.  From 2008 to 2014 he was a member of the National Building Code Standing Committee on Housing and Small Buildings.

In 1991, he directed the Consumers Association of Canada’s (Ontario) intervention in the Ontario Hydro 25 Year Demand/Supply Plan Environmental Assessment Hearings.  He acted as Chair of the Hydro Task Group which established Association policy direction.  From 1991 to 1994 Michael Lio co-chaired the provincial Council on Renewable Energy, a Ministry of Environment and Energy council which provided policy advice to the Minister.

Michael Lio authored the Consumers Association of Canada’s (CAC) position paper, Building Codes and the Consumer, as a response to the 1996 government consultation paper, Back to Basics.  He developed the Consumers’ Council of Canada’s policy on cable as part of a 1998 contract with the Canadian Cable Television Association.

In 2000, Michael Lio was asked to become a member of the Building Regulatory Reform Advisory Group (BRRAG) to provide advice to the Ontario Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. Since 1999 he has been a member of the Ontario New Home Warranty Program Board’s Consumer Advisory Committee.

Michael Lio served as the Executive Director of the Consumers Council of Canada from 2000 to 2008. From 2009 to 2014, Michael was the Executive Director of the Homeowner Protection Centre of Canada, an advocacy group dedicated to helping homeowners across Canada deal with issues relating to construction, and the products and services they purchase.

Tribunals

In 1992, Michael Lio was appointed through an Order-In-Council to serve on the Ontario Building Code Commission.  The Commission adjudicates disputes between building permit applicants and municipal Chief Building Officials.  In 1995, he was appointed Vice-Chair of the Commission. He served on the Commission for six years.

In 1996, Michael Lio was asked to become a public representative on Advertising Standards Canada’s National Consumer Response Council.  The Council reviews and adjudicates all consumer complaints about English national advertising that allegedly violate the Canadian Code of Advertising Standards.  He has often acted as chair for the Council.  Michael Lio has also served as a member of numerous Trade Dispute Panels.  These panels adjudicate trade disputes between advertisers.

Boards

From 1992 to 1994, Michael Lio was a member of the Ontario Public/Private Sector Energy Efficiency Consortium.  The Consortium developed action plans intended to further energy efficiency in the province.  In 1995, the Consortium became the Canadian Energy Efficiency Alliance (CEEA).  Michael Lio served as its Vice-Chair on its Board of Directors for 17 years.

In 1998, the CEEA and the Ontario Home Builders Association founded EnerQuality Corporation.  EnerQuality works to improve building performance and builder practices and to reduce the energy requirements and environmental impacts of low-rise housing. Michael Lio was Chair of the EnerQuality Board of Directors to 2003.  From 2005 to 2008, he act as President of the company restructuring and rescuing the organization from pending insolvency..

In 2002, Michael Lio was asked to become the first consumer representative on the Board of Directors of Advertising Standards Canada.

The Ontario Minister of Consumer and Commercial Relations selected Michael Lio as his appointee to serve on the Board of Directors of the Technical Standards and Safety Authority, where he served from 1998 to 2004.  He was also asked to become a founding board member of the Electrical Safety Authority, responsible for the safety and certification of electrical installations throughout Ontario. He served as a board member to 2008. From 2008 to 2014, he represented the consumer interest on the Tarion Board of Directors.