The BC Step Code: Building for Net Zero

A Net Zero home produces as much energy as it consumes. It is up to 80% more energy efficient than a typical new home, and uses renewable energy systems, such as solar panels, wind turbines, and geothermal heating systems, to produce the energy it needs. Net Zero homes maintain a connection to the energy grid for periods when their self-generated energy supply isn’t enough, or their surplus energy can be sold.

Net Zero homes are the homes of the future. In 2032, the BC Building Code will change so that every new home in BC will be required to be built to a Net Zero energy-ready standard. This means that they will have the infrastructure in place to be able to access an onsite renewable energy system, with the goal of being fully Net Zero in the future.

Housing has been identified as a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, and changes to the Code are one of the ways the provincial government is working to meet its climate targets. The National Building Code is also in the process of being revised to meet new energy efficiency standards.

To help consumers and industry professionals prepare for the change, the provincial government has introduced the BC Step Code. We’ll explain more about the Step Code later, but first, a bit more about the benefits of Net Zero homes.

Every part of a Net Zero home works together – as a system – to stabilize indoor temperatures, prevent drafts and cold spots, and provide fresh, filtered indoor air.  Net Zero homes help you breathe easy, are comfortable to live in, easy to manage, and have lower operating costs.

Building to a Net Zero standard requires the design and building team to think of the whole home as a single system whose components work together to achieve energy-efficiency, rather than as a collection of different parts under one roof. Builders can use a range of building methods and technologies to achieve the energy-efficiency goals, but they are subject to rigorous third-party testing and audits before a home can be labelled Net Zero, or Net Zero Ready by the CHBA, and receive an EnerGuide rating from the federal government. (For more on what it takes to become a Qualified Net Zero Builder and the design and testing process, please read our blog.)

As with any high-performance home, it’s the systems in a Net Zero home that have the biggest effect on the home’s performance: state-of-the-art wall systems, well-insulated roofs and foundations, triple-paned windows, heat/energy recovery ventilation systems (HRVs/ERVs), heat exchangers and heat pumps. (For more on some of Kemp’s favourite Net Zero solutions, plus a look at our Net Zero projects in progress, please read our blog.)

Net Zero homes are the future of housing – a future that’s coming fast. There are many reasons to build or renovate to Net Zero now, but here are four of the most compelling:

1. If you build a conventional new home today, your building will be out-of-date almost as soon as it is completed. By 2032, in less than a decade, that same home will be competing in the market with homes that are more cost-effective to operate, with superior heating and cooling systems, and the ability to adapt to new energy sources.

2. It is less expensive to build Net Zero features into your building envelope during a new build or major renovation, than to add them later.

3. With climate change posing an uncertain future, a home that requires less energy and can adapt to new sources will provide greater security and comfort for your family.

4. When you build a Net Zero home, you’re doing your part to protect against climate change and preserve natural resources for future generations.