BC Energy Step Code - Build Energy Smart

The Regional District of Kootenay Boundary has committed to implementing the BC Energy Step Code for new homes and buildings in RDKB electoral areas on January 1, 2021. Builders and homeowners can choose to follow the Energy Step Code’s performance path or the existing prescriptive path in the BC Building Code.

The Build Energy Smart Project is aimed at providing support and resources to the building industry to help you prepare for the Province mandating Energy Step Code in 2022.

Please take a look on this page at courses and conferences available, take our brief survey and join in the conversation with your building industry colleagues on our forum.

BC Energy Step Code

The Province of BC has committed to taking incremental steps to increase energy-efficiency requirements in the BC Building Code to make new buildings net-zero energy ready by 2032. The Province's first step is to require all new buildings to be 20% better than current building code by 2022.

The Energy Step Code's performance path establishes a desired outcome, and leaves it to the design and building team to decide how to achieve it. The current BC Building Code’s prescriptive path means buildings must meet specific requirements for insulation, windows, furnaces, water heaters, lighting and other equipment and systems.

To comply with the Energy Step Code, builders engage an energy advisor who uses energy modelling software and on-site testing to demonstrate that both their design and the constructed building meet the requirements of the Energy Step Code.