Presentation Slides: Heat Pumps in New Construction
Visual presentation summarizing the staff report on heat pump implementation strategies.
Heat Pumps In New Construction
District of North Vancouver example
| Building type | Description | Former requirement | Requirement as of July 1, 2021 * |
|---|---|---|---|
| Part 9 residential | Single family home, coach house, smaller townhouse | Step 3 | Step 5 OR Step 3 with a low carbon energy system ** |
| Part 3 residential | Larger multi-family and apartment projects | Step 3 ( Step 2 if rezoning is not required) | Step 4 OR Step 3 with a low carbon energy system ** |
| Part 3 commercial | Larger commercial, office, and retail buildings | Step 1 | Step 3 OR Step 2 with a low carbon energy system ** |
| Part 3 commercial | Significant renovations | No requirement | Step 1 |
| Public sector buildings | Schools, libraries, colleges, recreation centres, hospitals, and care centres | No requirement | Step 1 |
* The requirements do not apply to renovations in residential buildings, and are not retroactive
** A low carbon energy system (LCES) is one that uses primarily low carbon energy sources to provide heating, cooling, and hot water for a building, and has a total modelled greenhouse gas intensity of no more than 3kg CO2e/m2/yr
Step Code
BC Energy Step Code comes into effect January 2022 to improve energy efficiency by 20% over the base Building Code in new construction.
- Part 9 (detached residential) buildings will be required to meet Step 3 of 5.
- Part 3 (complex – multifamily and commercial) buildings will be required to meet Step 2. (different for different building uses and materials.
2027: requirement to meet a higher Step Code level
2032: All new construction to be “net-zero ready” (i.e. able to be heated or cooled without emitting green house gases, typically by using renewable energy such as solar or geothermal)
CONCLUSION
- This approach only applies to new construction. Existing residences will not be required to update their heating systems.
- The Town will achieve similar objectives through full implementation of the Step Code by 2032.
- Voluntary adoption of a higher Step Code requires consultation requirements and a notification period set out by the Province.
RECOMMENDATION
THAT the September 9, 2021 report from the Senior Planner titled “Heat Pumps In New Construction” be received for information.
Document Images
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