BC ENERGY STEP CODE AND ZERO CARBON STEP CODE COUNCIL REPORT

BC ENERGY STEP CODE AND ZERO CARBON STEP CODE

TO: Council DATE: April 12, 2023 FROM: Leanne Taylor, Director of Development Services MEETING DATE: April 18, 2023

RECOMMENDATION

THAT the report dated April 12, 2023 from the Director of Development Services titled “BC Energy Step Code and Zero Carbon Step Code” be received for information.

BACKGROUND

At the Parks, Recreation and Environment Advisory Committee (PREAC) meeting on January 24, 2023, the Committee requested the following:

"The Committee discussed the Climate Action Strategy and the possibility of the Town moving to Step Code 5 more quickly than planned. The Committee requested an update from the Director of Development Services regarding the Step Code at the next Parks, Recreation & Environment Advisory Committee meeting."

At the PREAC meeting on March 28, 2023, the Director of Development Services provided an update to the Committee on the BC Energy Step Code and Zero Carbon Step Code.

COMMENTS

The BC Energy Step Code is an optional compliance path in the BC Building Code (BCBC) that local governments may use to incentivize or require a level of energy efficiency in new construction that goes above and beyond the requirements of the BCBC.

The Town is committed to taking steps to increase energy-efficiency in new buildings and added the Province’s Energy Step Code performance requirements in the Building Bylaw, which came into effect on January 1, 2023. New Part 9 buildings (i.e., single-family dwellings, duplexes and townhouses) and wood frame residential buildings up to 6 storeys must meet BC Energy Step Code 3 and new Part 3 buildings (other residential and commercial buildings) must comply with Step Code 2.

In addition to the BC Energy Step Code, the Province introduced a new “Zero Carbon Step Code,” in the BCBC, which take effect on May 1, 2023, and will be an optional Step Code for local governments to reduce reliance on fossil fuels in new buildings. This new Step Code (includes four emissions steps) will set a maximum annual amount of greenhouse gas emissions that each building is allowed to emit.

Locally, the City of Victoria and District of Saanich require BC Energy Step Code 3 for new Part 9 buildings and BC Energy Step Code 2 for new Part 3 buildings. The adoption of higher steps of the BC Energy Step Code will follow the Provincial adoption schedule, which is to meet BC Energy Step Code 5 by 2032.

Both municipalities have also endorsed the Province’s Zero Carbon Step Code. Saanich’s implementation schedule is as follows:

The City of Victoria was following a similar implementation schedule as Saanich; however, at a Council meeting on Thursday, April 6, 2023, Victoria Council passed a Council Member Motion to expedite the adoption of the Zero Carbon Step Code by reaching the highest standard (level 4 - zero carbon ready) for all Part 9 residential buildings by November 1, 2023 and all Part 3 buildings by November 1, 2024.

CONCLUSION

Adopting BC Energy Step Code standards further advance the Town’s commitments to reducing energy use and emissions in buildings. Staff will review the Province’s opt-in Zero Carbon Step Code and the implementation of BC Energy Step Code and Zero Carbon Step Code in Saanich and Victoria, and bring forward a report to Committee of the Whole in the future. Accelerating to BC Energy Step Code 5 before 2032 would require further engagement with the local building and development industry, and needs to be considered in conjunction with other policies and bylaws for improving energy efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions from new buildings to best meet the Town’s climate action goals.