The Comox Valley Regional District (CVRD) will be implementing the Province of British Columbia’s new BC Energy Step Code requirements that come into effect May 1, 2023. The updates to the BC Building Code will support a transition to net-zero buildings by 2032, reduce the amount of energy required by new buildings and offer an efficient set of standards for building energy performance.
“Implementing the new mandated BC Energy Step Code requirements align with several of the CVRD Board strategic priorities by helping to minimizing public costs of housing, providing cleaner air, utilizing less energy and providing increased livability in the region,” explains Electoral Area Services Committee Chair and Electoral Area B Director, Richard Hardy. “The goal is for all new buildings in BC to be net zero by 2032. Incremental increased Provincial requirements will be required in 2027 to help reach this goal.”
The new BC Energy Step Code changes include:
- Residential properties will need to meet step 3 of the BC Energy Step Code and large buildings will need to meet Step 2.
- In 2027, requirements will increase again and step 4 will be required for small buildings and step 3 for larger buildings.
- Introduction of “opt-in” carbon pollution standards to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions from new buildings.
- Intended to start as a local government opt-in program. Local governments can choose the level they wish to meet in their community by implementing a bylaw to enable that approach, with builders choosing to meet or exceed those local requirements.
- Back-up heat from woodstoves and decorative gas fireplaces will be excluded from GHG modeling in houses. This responds to feedback from communities that experience frequent power outages.
The new mandatory building energy step code will replace the current CVRD rebate policy for building to step 3 or above and will require the CVRD building bylaw to be amended to address the new Provincial changes. The current CVRD rebate policy for building to step 3 and above will be honoured until April 30, 2023 and then will no longer exist.
For more information on the new Provincially mandated Energy Step Code requirements coming into effect May 1, 2023 visit: www.comoxvalleyrd.ca/energystepcode
The Comox Valley Regional District is a federation of three electoral areas and three municipalities operating on the unceded traditional territory of the K’ómoks First Nation, the traditional keepers of the land. The members of the regional district work collaboratively on providing sustainable services for the benefit of the diverse urban and rural areas of the Comox Valley
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Media Contact:
Amanda Yasinski,
Senior Manager of Building and Bylaw Compliance
250-334-6049