The Township will be implementing Step 1 of the BC Energy Step Code as of January 3, 2022. This change is occurring to help ease the planned province wide transition to Step 3 in December 2022. More information on the Energy Step Code can be found at www.energystepcode.ca
To achieve Step 1, builders need to use a whole-building energy model to calculate the energy use of the building and conduct an airtightness test, but the performance of the building only needs to be as good as the base BC Building Code requirements for energy efficiency. The purpose of Step 1 is to familiarize builders with a new way of measuring energy efficiency although the actual construction of the building. Step 1 is expected to be cost minimal or cost neutral, as these costs are needed to bring buildings up to the energy performance standard expected in the BC Building Code.
BC Energy Step Code Info Sheet