BC Energy Step Code

BC Energy Step Code Adopted in the Township

After an extensive process of public stakeholder engagement and industry consultation, the Township of Langley has adopted the BC Energy Step Code  for use in new residential construction, effective January 1, 2019.

The adoption of the Step Code builds on the success of the Township’s voluntary Green Building Rebate Program, established in 2014.  Adopting the Step Code allows the Township to continue to meet goals within the community to conserve energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the operation of buildings.  Additionally, implementing the Step Code aligns with Provincial goals to transition to net-zero energy ready buildings by 2032.  This approach consists of:

• a series of consultation opportunities where industry readiness was identified to develop a community specific approach,
• clearly identifying the roadmap for intended timeline to incrementally adopt lower steps within the community using a gradual transition for the next five years,
• applying requirements at varying lower step levels initially across the community to allow building of industry capacity,
• supporting market transformation by gradually moving towards a harmonized application of uniform step requirements community wide,
• monitoring progress during the initial five years at the lower steps before considering progression to adoption of higher steps,
• providing a six month transition grace period for in stream projects to allow industry to prepare for upcoming projects,
• transitioning the existing Green Building Rebate program by continuing to offer financial incentives for voluntary performance beyond the applicable required step, and
• continuing to offer financial incentives to encourage ongoing training and education to support capacity building in industry.

What is the Step Code?

The Step Code is a new provincial standard that provides an incremental and consistent approach to achieve energy efficient construction. Through performance modeling and on-site testing, buildings constructed to the Step Code standard will exceed the energy performance requirements of the base BC Building Code.

The Step Code provides local government and industry with a clear framework to make progress towards the provincial goal that all new construction in BC is built “net-zero energy ready” by 2032. The Province defines a net-zero energy ready building as one that has been designed and built to a level of performance, such that it could (with additional measures) generate enough onsite energy to meet its own energy needs. It’s expected that net-zero energy ready buildings will be required by the BC Building Code by 2032.

Stakeholder Engagement and Consultation

The Township submitted a BC Energy Step Code Notice of Consultation  to the Province on November 7, 2017. Next steps in developing an adoption strategy include engaging the development and construction community, beginning early 2018.

Past Engagement Opportunities

• December 1, 2016: ENERGY STAR for New Homes Builder Workshop
• March 31, 2017: ENERGY STAR for New Homes Builder Workshop
• February 6, 2018: BC Energy Step Code Industry Workshop #1
• April 12, 2018: BC Energy Step Code Industry Workshop #2
• May 3, 2018: Presentation to UDI at Open for Business Breakfast
• June 11, 2018: Bylaw to adopt Energy Step Code receives 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd readings from Mayor and Council
• June 25, 2018: Bylaw to adopt Energy Step Code receives final reading from Mayor and Council

BC Energy Step Code Presentations and Webinars

For upcoming Step Code events, visit the BC Energy Step Code Calendar of Events .

For information on previous events, training opportunities, and past webinar recordings, visit BC Energy Step Code 2017-18 Presentations & Webinars .

For more information, contact the Township’s Community Development Division at 604-533-6018 or cdinfo@tol.ca.