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Presentation updated November 2023

For the Meeting Name Goes Here

Presenter name, title, organization�Month Day, 2023

The Zero Carbon Step �Code: An Introduction

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Buildings and climate change
Overview of the regulation
Compliance options with sample projects
Sample proposed implementations

Today’s Presentation

In this presentation, I will walk you through:

How buildings are contributing to climate change.
What the new regulation is, where it comes from, and how it works.
What it seeks to accomplish.
The compliance options available to builders and developers.
And a hypothetical implementation by a local government.

I’ll also share a handful of examples of various new or recent buildings from around the province that would likely comply with its various levels, and take your questions.
And before we dive in, a disclaimer. This presentation is intended to be a high-level and plain-language introduction to recent revisions to the British Columbia Building Code. The source material is technical, and there are exceptions—and exceptions to the exceptions. It’s intended to as an overview for elected officials, builders, consultants, and service providers. In short, this isn’t legal advice.
Also, we’re using the term local government in here, but the regulation is available to any authority having jurisdiction over the B.C. Building Code.

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Fossil fuels burned in buildings are driving climate change

29%

City of Kamloops

12%

British�Columbia

38%

City of �Prince George

57%

City of Vancouver

Relative share of overall carbon pollution produced by natural gas, fuel oil, and propane burned in buildings. �

The day-to-day operation of buildings contributes about 12 per cent of British Columbia’s overall greenhouse gas emissions.
However, when we take stock of emissions at the community scale, buildings become either the number one or two source of carbon pollution. For example:

In the City of Kamloops, buildings constitute 29 percent of all community carbon pollution.
In the City of Prince George, they represent 38 percent of all emissions.
And in the City of Vancouver, buildings produce 57 percent of the community’s emissions.

Many, if not all, British Columbia local governments have their own climate change targets and climate action plans.
But, until recently, they have had a limited number of policy tools available to them to reduce emissions.
Considering these numbers, it’s clear that local governments will be challenged to meet their climate objectives without policy tools that target emissions from buildings.

Sources:

Provincial Inventory of Greenhouse Gas Emissions 1990-2020, Province of British Columbia.
City of Prince George. 2020 Climate Change Mitigation Plan. https://www.princegeorge.ca/media/134
City of Kamloops. "Community Climate Action Plan. June 2021. https://www.kamloops.ca/our-community/environment-sustainability/climate-action
City of Vancouver. Climate Emergency Action Plan. 2022.

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Leading residential sources of carbon pollution

Natural gas space and water heating equipment contributes the majority of household carbon pollution.

35%

Water heating

64%

Space heating

1%

Cooking

So, where do the greenhouse gas emissions from buildings originate?

Fossil fuel space and water heating equipment produce the majority of climate pollution in buildings; appliances and lighting play a smaller role.

In homes, natural gas space and water heating contribute 98.6 percent of average household emissions. The numbers are similar with commercial buildings.
Just shy of one million British Columbia households currently subscribe to natural gas service, which is used for space and water heating, and cooking.
In British Columbia, the average single family detached home emits about 4.9 tonnes of CO2e per year.
In communities beyond the reach of the natural gas distribution system, many British Columbians use propane, another fossil fuel.
While both the province and many communities have set targets to reduce carbon pollution, building emissions across British Columbia increased 1.2 percent between 2019 and 2020—the most recent year tracked.

Sources:

Annual Information Form, Year Ended December 31, 2021,” FortisBC, March 18, 2022.
The Office of Energy Efficiency at Natural Resources Canada (NRCan). National Energy Use Database (NEUD), 2019 Data. "Residential Sector British Columbia, Table 2: Secondary Energy Use and GHG Emissions by End-Use" and “Commercial/Institutional Sector - British Columbia and Territories - Table 2: Secondary Energy Use and GHG Emissions by End Use.”

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Zero-carbon electric equipment

Electric heat pump

Induction stove

Electric water heater

In British Columbia, grid electricity is close to zero emissions; 98 percent of it is generated from clean or renewable resources.
The province has also committed to a 100% Clean Electricity Delivery Standard that will ensure the grid is zero emissions.
A wide selection of efficient electric equipment is now readily available, with technicians and contractors needed to install and service it.
While electric baseboard heaters are still widely used across the province, they are not energy efficient. As a result, many builders are now specifying air-source electric heat pumps.
Electric heat pumps provide cooling in the summers and heat in the winters.
Cold climate heat pumps are built to work efficiently in conditions down to -25 degrees Celsius, with some systems maintaining an efficiency of over 200 percent at -18 degrees Celsius.
Further, electric induction cooktops are quickly gaining popularity in the marketplace, and efficient electric water heaters are also readily available.

Sources:

Cold-climate air source heat pumps: assessing cost-effectiveness, energy savings and greenhouse gas emission reductions in Canadian homes; Ferguson, A; Sager, J. 2022, 36 pages. https://www.nrcan.gc.ca/maps-tools-and-publications/publications/energy-publications/publications/cold-climate-air-source-heat-pumps-assessing-cost-effectiveness-energy-savings-and-gr/24208
“What is a cold climate heat pump?” Province of British Columbia, Better Homes BC, https://www.betterhomesbc.ca/products/what-is-a-cold-climate-heat-pump/

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Courtesy Innovation Building Group

Zero carbon energy systems - MURBs

Zero or low carbon building energy systems are also available for larger commercial, institutional, or residential buildings.
This is a 45-unit, three-storey condo development in Pemberton, B.C., occupied in March 2020.
The developer supplied domestic hot water heating for the suites with the eight air-to-water electric heat pumps shown here. The technician in the image is bending over because he is trying to hear the heat pumps. They are so quiet they can only be heard when you are right in front of them.
This project was built as a high performance building for less than it would have cost to build a code minimum building.

Sources:

“ZEBx Case Study: Orion – Real-Life Performance of a Step 4, All-Electric Building.” November 2022. https://www.zebx.org/case-study-orion-real-life-performance-of-a-step-4-all-electric-building/

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Courtesy HCMA

Zero carbon energy systems - Civic facilities

Three electric boilers will heat pool water at təməsew̓txʷ Aquatic and Community Centre

Local governments are also showing leadership on zero-emissions low-energy buildings—even with civic facilities that historically have relied heavily on fossil fuels.
This is the təməsew̓txʷ Aquatic and Community Centre which is under construction in the City of New Westminster. [Pronunciation help here.]
This is an example of a building where water heating is a major energy requirement.
This facility will heat pool water with primarily zero-emissions all electric heat pumps.
A rooftop solar photovoltaic array will supply 5% of the building’s total electricity, reducing demand on the grid.
The project team also selected highly energy efficient equipment, such as the Danish filtration technology shown here, the first installation in North America.
It is one contributing element to a low-energy mechanicals system, specific to the needs of the aquatics system.

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This brings us to the new regulation we are discussing today: The Zero Carbon Step Code
This is a new section of the British Columbia Building Code that local governments may use, if they wish, to regulate the greenhouse gas pollution produced by new buildings.
There are three important points I want to clarify off the top:

First, The Zero Carbon Step Code is not a part of the existing BC Energy Step Code. You can think of it as a sibling regulation. While the BC Energy Step Code addresses the energy-efficiency performance of new buildings, this new Zero Carbon Step Code targets their carbon performance. They both sit side by side within the BC Building Code but are two separate regulations, and a local government may use either, or both.
Second, the standard only addresses the emissions produced by buildings during their operation. It does not regulate a building’s embodied emissions, that is, those those generated by building material manufacturing, and transportation, and the carbon pollution that is produced by construction equipment.
And third, while we know that much of a given community’s carbon pollution originates with existing buildings, the Zero Carbon Step Code addresses new buildings only. In this way, it will reduce the number of buildings that will need to be retrofitted down the road.

Builders and developers working in communities that have adopted it will be required to demonstrate compliance with one or more of its levels. Before getting into how that will work, I would like to spend a moment explaining why the government has introduced it.

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Origin of the new regulation

“By 2030, all new buildings will be zero carbon, and all new space and water heating equipment will meet the highest standards for efficiency.”

– CleanBC Roadmap to 2030

In 2021, the province released its CleanBC Roadmap to 2030 climate plan. It included a commitment that “all new buildings in the province must produce zero greenhouse gas pollution from their operations by 2030.”
The province also established interim dates for mandatory carbon limits which we will cover later in this presentation.
In 2023, the Province of British Columbia entered the Zero Carbon Step Code into regulation as the pathway to get there.
Local governments may now reference the Zero Carbon Step Code in their building bylaws, if they wish.
It offers them a new tool to help them reach their climate objectives, and by extension, help the province meet its own greenhouse gas targets.
The Zero Carbon Step Code is available to all local governments except the City of Vancouver, which has its own building code and its own plan to reduce carbon from buildings.
This regulation is also optional for local governments, at least for now. In a few minutes, we’ll cover the carbon limits that the province will be introducing in the coming years.

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Staggered carbon performance tiers

Note: The Zero Carbon Step Code only regulates indoor equipment. It does not restrict outdoor grills, heated driveways, nor pools.

The BC Zero Carbon Step Code is based on varying and measurable performance levels or tiers.
Local governments that choose to reference the Zero Carbon Step Code in their building bylaws can specify the level of climate ambition they want their new buildings to achieve. The regulation staggers climate performance on three levels:

Moderate Carbon Performance,
Strong Carbon Performance, and
Zero Carbon Performance.

The province has also offered local governments a “measure only” option. You will see that at the bottom of the hierarchy.
A community using this option would require its builders to measure and report the amount of carbon pollution that their projects will produce. In many cases, this number is already available on the documentation that builders produce for to apply for a permit, this is just a more formal way to track it.
The province offered this as an information-gathering step, but it will not reduce their emissions.
As we will show in a few minutes, the province is offering local governments the opportunity to mix and match these levels, and also provide various flexible compliance options.

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Many types of buildings can be regulated under the Zero Carbon Step Code

Homes and smaller residential buildings

Part 9:

Smaller + simpler buildings, specifically…

Part 3: �Larger and more complex buildings, including…

Offices

Condos + apartments

Financial

institutions

Retail +

grocery stores

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Compliance options �and sample projects:�Part 9 homes

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COOKING

WATER HEATING

Zero Emissions Equipment:

SPACE HEATING

Fossil Fuel Equipment:

Part 9 Buildings: The prescriptive path for Zero Carbon Step Code compliance

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Part 9 Buildings: The prescriptive path for Zero Carbon Step Code compliance

The prescriptive path is simple and clear; builders choosing this approach will focus on the specific equipment allowed at each tier.

Fossil fuel water heating �and cooking allowed. Space heating must be zero carbon.

Fossil fuel cooking allowed. Space and water heating systems must be zero carbon.

No fossil fuels allowed. �Space and water heating and cooking must be zero carbon.

This diagram explains the equipment that builders who choose the prescriptive compliance pathway may use in each of the three tiers:

[CLICK TO ADVANCE EACH LEVEL]
…Moderate Carbon Performance, a builder pursuing the prescriptive compliance path can install fossil-fuel cooking and water heating equipment. But the home’s domestic heating system must be zero carbon.
….Strong Carbon Performance, a builder pursuing the prescriptive compliance path must install zero-carbon space and water heating systems. Fossil fuel based cooking equipment is still allowed at this level under the prescriptive path.
….Zero Carbon Performance, a builder pursuing the prescriptive compliance path must ensure that all the home’s equipment — space and water heating, and cooking equipment — is zero emissions.

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Part 9 Buildings: The performance path for Zero Carbon Step Code compliance

Builders choosing this approach will focus on decarbonizing heat and hot water; they can still include fossil fuels in cooking and other minor end uses.

Note: Calculations only consider emissions produced by heating, cooling, ventilation, and domestic hot water equipment. Builders need not include emissions from auxiliary end uses (e.g., cooktops or clothes dryers) nor backup heating sources (e.g., wood stoves or decorative gas fireplaces) that are not designed to cover the home’s entire heating load. They may include this equipment at any tier.

Homes at this tier must emit:

<2,400 kg CO₂e per year and
<6 kg CO₂e per m² per year GHG intensity

Homes at this tier must emit:

<800 kg CO₂e per year and
<2.5 kg CO₂e per m² per year GHG intensity

Homes at this tier must emit:

<500 kg CO₂e per year and
<1.5 kg CO₂e per m² per year GHG intensity

Homebuilders can also use the performance path to comply with the Zero Carbon Step Code.
Here are the tiers associated with each level. Note: The metrics shown here only apply to homes larger than 1,100 square feet.
The Province has also created separate metrics for smaller homes. (Refer to Table 9.37.1.3. of the BC Building Code for more information.)
A builder going this route will use software to calculate how much carbon pollution the home will produce once built and operating, and disclose the values to a building official in advance to confirm compliance.
If a builder opts to pursue this performance path, they may include a natural gas fireplace, cooktop, or clothes dryer and still comply with the top tier (“Zero Carbon Performance”).
You may be wondering why the “Zero Carbon” level shown here has a value larger than zero. This reflects the fact that, while British Columbia’s electricity grid is very low emissions, it is not yet zero.
The province has proposed a 100% Clean Electricity Delivery Standard for the BC Hydro grid, and once that’s in place, zero will really mean zero.

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Courtesy thinkBright

Zero Carbon Performance: Westside Residence, Invermere

Four bedrooms

143 square metres

Climate Zone 6

All electric systems: �Air source electric heat pump, conventional electric hot water tank.

248�Kg/CO₂e/yr

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Zero Carbon Performance: Sechelt

Two bedrooms

88 square metres

Climate Zone 6

All electric systems: �Electric baseboard heaters and electric heat pump domestic hot water

Courtesy Carbon Wise

108�Kg/CO₂e/yr

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Compliance options �and sample projects: �Part 3 Larger buildings

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Part 3 Buildings: The performance path for Zero Carbon Step Code compliance

Note: In Part 3 buildings, Zero Carbon Step Code calculations consider heating, cooling, ventilation, and domestic hot water, plus cooking appliances and gas fireplaces.

Developers must use the performance compliance pathway

Larger residential buildings:�<7 kg CO₂e / m² per year
Offices: <5 kg CO₂e / m² per year

Larger residential buildings:�<3 kg CO₂e / m² per year
Offices: <3 kg CO₂e / m² per year

Larger residential buildings:� <1.8 kg CO₂e / m² per year
Offices: <1.5 kg CO₂e / m² per year

Offices

Larger residential

buildings

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Note: Zero Carbon Step Code calculations consider heating, cooling, ventilation, and domestic hot water, plus cooking appliances and gas fireplaces.

Part 3 Buildings: The performance path for Zero Carbon Step Code compliance

Developers must use the performance compliance pathway

Hotels and motels: <9 kg CO₂e / m² / year
Retail and services buildings:�<6 kg CO₂e / m² / year

Hotels and motels: <4 kg CO₂e / m² / year
Retail and services buildings:�<3 kg CO₂e / m² / year

Hotels and motels: <2 kg CO₂e / m² / year
Retail and services buildings:�<2 kg CO₂e / m² / year

Retail and services

Hotels and motels

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Moderate Carbon Performance: First Avenue Supportive Housing, Prince George

Four stories�48 units

3,037 square metres

Climate Zone 6

Courtesy Connective

Natural gas hot water, through-wall electric heat pumps in each unit,

induction cooktops

3.9

kgCO2e m²/year

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Courtesy Latreille Architectural Photography

Zero Carbon Performance: UBC Okanagan Skeena student residence, Kelowna

220 units

7,018 square metres

Climate Zone 5

All-electric heat, hot water, and cooking.

0.66 kg CO2e m²/year

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Sample implementations: �Local governments

proposing to use the�Zero Carbon Step Code

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Provincial Pathway: Stepping up to 2030

TODAY

2030

2027

2024

TBD

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Implementation: Pursuing regional alignment

Tiers and timelines

Info

Sessions

Surveys

Labs

Engaging with industry

Meetings

Convening local governments

Proposing an approach

Cities

Villages

District Munis

Towns

Electoral

Areas

With the knowledge that the Zero Carbon Step Code was in the works, some local governments have started to develop implementation schedules.
In 2022, after reaching out to all of its members, the Capital Regional District (CRD) convened the District of Saanich, City of Victoria, and District of Central Saanich in an engagement exercise.
Given the lead role that industry will play in implementing the Zero Carbon Building Standard, the CRD invited building associations into the process.
The industry work included information sessions, surveys, “solutions labs” - smaller, more focused sessions identifying challenges and opportunities - additional engagement sessions, and follow up one-on-one meetings and phone calls.
The work identified technical and process constraints that the industry might face.
Following the engagement, staff with the District of Saanich, City of Victoria, and the District of Saanich aligned their recommendations and took them to their respective councils for approval.

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Implementation: District of Saanich + City of Victoria

TODAY

Offices

All Condos + �Apartments

November 2023

November 2024

Houses, townhouses, duplexes, triplexes, or garden suites.

July 2024

Condos + �Apartments 6 storeys or fewer

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Presenter name, title, organization�contact@email.ca

Thank you!