New Energy Performance Requirements are Coming
The Province of BC has set new timelines and requirements for increased building energy-efficiency performance in the BC Building Code. The CleanBC strategy, released at the end of 2018 reaffirmed the target that by 2032, all new buildings will be built “net zero energy ready”, or 80% more efficient than new buildings today. The building code will move towards this target starting in 2022, when new homes will need to perform 20% better than current code requirements, and again in 2027 when they will be 40% more energy efficient.
The Energy Step Code is BC’s roadmap to meeting these future performance requirements. The building industry and local governments can prepare for future code changes because we know what’s coming and when.
The Energy Step Code in Maple Ridge
Local governments can choose to require certain steps of the Energy Step Code in advance of when they will be required by the Building Code. Many BC municipalities are already requiring up to Step 3 for Part 9 buildings city-wide. Before determining if, and how, to adopt the Step Code in Maple Ridge, the City decided to support local builders with training opportunities and a demonstration project. With funding support from BC Hydro, the City launched “Building Better with the Energy Step Code” a builder and staff capacity building project. The project included a builder workshop in early 2018, energy modelling training for building department staff, and collaboration with a local builder and Energy Advisor to build and document the construction of a Step 3 home.