BC’s Buildings are About to Get Significantly More Energy-Efficient
The CleanBC climate plan includes new deadlines and requirements for boosting energy efficiency in new construction. Here’s the scoop.
New buildings in British Columbia are about to get significantly more energy efficient. Just over three years from today, every new building in the province will need to be 20 percent more energy efficient than those built to 2018 code requirements.
As of 2022 builders will need to meet the performance requirements of Step 3, Part 9 and Step 2, Part 3 of the BC Energy Step Code. Five years after that, the requirements will increase again, as the province moves another “step” up the energy efficiency staircase on the way to net-zero energy-ready new buildings in 2032. Here’s what it looks like:
British Columbia Premier John Horgan confirmed the new targets last week in releasing CleanBC, the first phase of his government’s new climate change and clean growth strategy. Reaching the province’s greenhouse-gas targets, he said, will involve “changing the way we build our homes to ensure we do so with as little impact as we can.”
The province has long stated that it will require net-zero energy-ready new construction by 2032 — a target that helped catalyze the development of the BC Energy Step Code. In setting the two new interim targets, government also reaffirmed its 2032 target. The deadlines send industry and governments a clear message: The net-zero energy-ready requirement is real, it’s happening, and you need to start getting ready for it now.
In addition, CleanBC specifies that “new standards for building [retrofits] will be developed by 2024, guided by the model National Energy Code. Under this new code, retrofits to existing buildings will bring them up to modern standards for efficiency and comfort.”
Additional Regs Will Target Hot Water Tanks, Windows
CleanBC also sets the stage for coming performance requirements for space heaters, hot water tanks, and windows:
“Between 2022 and 2025, new energy efficiency standards will be set for space heaters, water heaters and residential windows. These will build on improvements introduced in 2018, which set new standards for lighting, air source heat pumps and gas fireplaces.”
It also hints that a home-energy labeling program is in the works.
“B.C. is also exploring an energy rating requirement for homes and buildings across the province at the point of sale or lease, similar to what we’ve seen on vehicles and appliances for many years.”
The rating system would make it easier for buyers and renters to factor energy costs into their decisions while giving owners another incentive to make their buildings more efficient, the province said.
Expansion of EfficiencyBC
The province also committed to a significant expansion of its EfficiencyBC program, to include:
- Targeted low-interest financing — allowing people to make improvements and pay for them over time with savings from their energy bills;
- Specialized support for small businesses, and rental housing;
- Specialized support for Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities; and
- High-efficiency equipment incentives for new construction.
New Low Carbon Buildings Innovation Program
Starting in the coming year, the province will also offer new incentives for builders, developers and manufacturers to stimulate the development and demonstration of innovative, low-carbon building solutions:
“The Low Carbon Buildings Innovation Program will accelerate the availability, acceptance and affordability of high performance solutions such as advanced building designs, advanced construction methods and ultra-efficient building components.”
Funding will be available for projects in three categories, through bi-annual competitive calls, CleanBC states:
- Research — building solutions that show promise but may require further innovation before being commercialized (e.g. vacuum insulated wall panels and windows, natural gas heat pumps);
- Commercialization — building solutions that have been tested and are ready to be scaled up for wider application (e.g. high-performance prefabricated external insulation systems); and
- Demonstration — building solutions currently available in the marketplace that require demonstration to build industry capacity and public acceptance (e.g. such as net-zero energy ready construction).
Along with stimulating the development of new ideas, the program will prove to the market that existing technologies work and deliver their intended benefits, the province said.
This will increase the capacity of B.C.-based industries, generate consumer confidence, and help to lower the costs of new technologies and building approaches over time.
Many British Columbia local governments have adopted at least Step 1 of the BC Energy Step Code—which positions them well for the upcoming new deadlines, because their builders will be already familiar with the new requirements. In the past year, utilities, local governments, and training institutions have offered extensive support, education resources, and incentives (find all incentives at efficiencybc.ca) to help industry get up to speed.
To stay in the loop on all new opportunities, sign up here to receive the Energy Step Code Stakeholder Update. For more on the BC Energy Step Code, visit energystepcode.ca.
Glave Communications produced this post on behalf of the Training and Communications Subcommittee of the Energy Step Code Council, with resource support from BC Hydro. In an effort to increase awareness and understanding of the BC Energy Step Code, the Energy Step Code Council is sharing information on how and why builders and communities are using the new standard. Local governments may use the BC Energy Step Code, if they wish, to incentivize or require a level of energy efficiency in new construction that goes above and beyond the requirements of the BC Building Code.
