All Resources

This page lists all of the BC Energy Step Code resources currently available on this website. To find resources of particular interest to you, please visit Resources for Local Governments, Resources for Industry or  Resources for Homeowners.

1. BC Energy Step Code Requirements

• The amended Building Act General Regulation identifies two unrestricted matters enacted to support local government use of the BC Energy Step Code.
• The April 2017 amended British Columbia Building Code Regulation – provides the technical requirements of the BC Energy Step Code
• The January 2018 amended British Columbia Building Code Regulation – applies to building permit applications submitted on or after January 31, 2018
• Ministerial Order BA 2018 2 amending the BC Building Code (BC Energy Step Code) – applies to building permit applications submitted on or after December 10, 2018
  • Technical Bulletin B18-08 describes the changes to the BC Energy Step Code effective December 10, 2018

BC Energy Step Code Convenience Copies

• The BC Energy Step Code convenience copy (PDF, 467KB) applies to projects applying for building permits from April 7, 2017 to January 30, 2018
• The BC Energy Step Code convenience copy (PDF, 506KB) applies to building permit applications submitted from January 31, 2018 to December 9, 2018

City of Vancouver Energy Modelling Guidelines

• The City of Vancouver’s Energy Modelling Guidelines Version 1 (PDF), March 2017
• The City of Vancouver’s Energy Modelling Guidelines Version 2 (PDF), July 2018
  • You can also review a track changes copy of Version 2
  • Prior to December 10, 2018, the BC Energy Step Code referenced Version 1 of the City of Vancouver’s Modelling Guidelines; effective December 10, 2018, it references Version 2

2. Compliance Tools

BC Energy Compliance Reports – Performance Paths for Part 9 Buildings

These reports provide a standardized report template for Part 9 buildings complying with Subsection 9.36.5. or 9.36.6. of the  BC Building Code.

• BC Energy Compliance Report: Pre-Construction v1.1 (PDF, 112KB)
• BC Energy Compliance Report: As-Built v1.1 (PDF, 111KB )
• Compliance Report Instruction Manual for Energy Advisors Version 1.1 (PDF, 1.2MB). This document provides:
  • General guidelines for using the BC Energy Compliance Report
  • A table of instructions for completing the BC Energy Compliance Report
  • Details on how to use H0T2000 to calculate the BC Energy Step Code metrics
• Compliance Report Calculator Version 1.0 (XLS, 497KB). Use this document in conjunction with the Compliance Report Instruction Manual, above
• BC Energy Compliance Report Training Webinar (February 2018) – designed for EnerGuide Rating System energy advisors and service organizations, this recorded training session may interest other energy modellers as well – it introduces the BC Energy Step Code, provides a review of the BC Energy Step Code Metrics and introduces the BC Energy Compliance Report Instruction Manual and the Compliance Report Calculator
• Technical Bulletin B18-03 (PDF) (The BC Energy Compliance Reports – Performance Paths for Part 9 Buildings) – provides a plain-language description of the reports and how they can be used

3. Energy Advisors

Visit Energy Advisors to learn about what Energy Advisors do and how to find one for your building project.

4. Publications

Publications are listed alphabetically by title.

• An Illustrated Guide to Achieving Airtight Buildings | Published by BC Housing | 2017
• BC Energy Step Code: A Best Practices Guide for Local Governments (PDF, 5MB) | Published by the Energy Step Code Council and the Building and Safety Standards Branch | 2017
• BC Energy Step Code Builder Guide   | Published by BC Housing |  2018
• BC Energy Step Code Design Guide | Published by BC Housing | 2018
• BC Energy Step Code Local Government Survey 2017 (PDF, 424KB) | Published by BC Housing | 2017
• BC Energy Step Code Local Government Survey 2018 (PDF, 1.4MB) | Published by BC Housing | 2018
•  BC Energy Step Code 2017 Metrics Research | Published by BC Housing and the Energy Step Code Council | 2017
  • 2017 Metrics Research Summary Report (PDF, 2MB)
  • 2017 Metrics Research Full Report (PDF, 3MB)
• BC Energy Step Code 2018 Metrics Research 2018 Update | Published by BC Housing and the Energy Step Code Council | 2018
  • 2018 Metrics Research Full Report (PDF, 4.4 MB)
•  Capacity Scan for the Energy Step Code in Select BC Communities (PDF, 278KB) | Published by BC Housing | 2017
  • Capacity Scan Cover Note (PDF, 81KB)
• Consumer Guide to High Performance Homes | Published by BC Housing | No date
• Design Guidelines and Construction Standards for affordable housing projects funded or financed by BC Housing | Published by BC Housing | now updated to  reference the BC Energy Step Code
• Energy Step Code Training and Capacity Project Report (PDF, 4MB) | Published by the Community Energy Association and BC Hydro | 2017
• Guide to Low Energy Demand for Large Buildings | Published by BC Housing | 2018
• Illustrated Guide – Achieving Airtight Buildings | Published by BC Housing, BC Hydro and the City of Vancouver | 2017
• Market Scan in Select Industries for the BC Energy Step Code (PDF, 213KB) | Published by BC Housing | 2017
  • Market Scan Cover Note (PDF, 82KB)
• Professional Practice Guidelines: Whole Building Energy Modelling Services | Published by Engineers and Geoscientists BC and Architectural Institute of BC | 2018

Case Studies

Visit Case Studies to learn how and why builders and communities are using British Columbia’s new energy-performance building standard.

BC Energy Step Code Bulletins

Bulletin 1 – The BC Energy Step Code and Home Energy Labelling (PDF)

• Learn how local governments adopting the BC Energy Step Code for Part 9 buildings can, at no additional cost to the builder, ensure home buyers have a home energy label that provides information about the energy performance of the home
• Read the Put a Label on It full report (PDF, 1.1MB) to learn more about the opportunities and benefits of energy labelling disclosure for new homes

BC Energy Step Code Brand Handbook

The two-volume Brand Handbook provides design and style guidance for governments, organizations, or companies that would like to use the brand to communicate accurate information about the standard to constituents, customers, or stakeholders. The Brand Handbook consists of two sections. They are distributed as separate files, but intended to be used together:

• Volume 1: Design Guidelines  (PDF, 1MB)
• Volume 2: Style and Brand Usage Guidelines (PDF, 1MB)

BC Energy Step Code PPT

• An introductory Microsoft PowerPoint presentation presentation template (PPT, 4.7 MB)

5. Incentive Programs

Learn about a range of financial incentive programs for energy-efficient buildings constructed in B.C. for

• residential renovations
• residential new construction
• commercial renovations
• commercial new construction

Better Buildings BC: The Net-Zero Energy-Ready Challenge

Better Buildings BC is a provincial incentive program and juried competition designed to support, promote and celebrate the design and construction of net-zero energy-ready buildings. Expressions of interest must be submitted to the Program Administrator no later than 11:59pm on November 30 2018.

• Visit Better Buildings BC: The Net-Zero Energy-Ready Challenge for more information and application information

6. Videos

BC Energy Step Code Technical Training Series

This four-part technical-training series introduces builders and practitioners to the BC Energy Step Code, explains how it applies to Part 9 and Part 3 buildings, and reviews how local governments will enforce its requirements. Each session is about one hour.

• Part 1: Introduction to the Energy Step Code (video link) – summary (PDF, 251KB)
• Part 2: The Energy Step Code for Part 9 Buildings (video link) – summary (PDF, 252KB)
• Part 3: The Energy Step Code for Part 3 Buildings (video  link) – summary (PDF, 253KB)
• Part 4: Enforcement of the Energy Step Code (video link) – summary (PDF, 275KB)

Local Energy Efficiency Partnerships (LEEP)

LEEP hosts builders in collaborative forums, where they exchange insights and ideas with stakeholders. The result: Fresh insights on how to construct better, higher-performing homes more quickly and affordably.

BC Housing and BC Hydro recently co-produced a series of five videos to help demystify the various solutions that builders will be using to construct comfortable and energy-efficient new homes in communities that incentivize or require the BC Energy Step Code. Each video runs between 2:30 and 3:30. They can all be watched in about 20 minutes.

Summer 2017 Local Government Webinar Series

This three-part webinar series provided an introduction to the BC Energy Step Code.

• Webinar 1 | June 2017 | How Governments and Industry are Getting Ready for the BC Energy Step Code | external link to webinar 1
• Webinar 2 | June 2017 | A Sneak Peek Inside the BC Energy Step Code Best Practices Guide | external link to webinar 2
• Webinar 3 | July 2017 | Preliminary Insights from the BC Energy Step Code Costing Study | external link to webinar 3

Introductory Webinar on the BC Energy Step Code

The BC Energy Step Code and the Future of BC’s Built Environment (external link) addresses how the BC Energy Step Code works, and how local governments and industry can implement it.

7. Other Resources

• Energy Step Code Implementation Recommendations (PDF, 1.6MB) | Stretch Code Implementation Working Group | 2016
• Build Smart: Canada’s Building Strategy | Energy and Mines Minister’s Conference | 2017
• Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change | National plan to meet emissions reduction targets, grow the economy, and build resilience to a changing climate
• Near Zero |A green initiative sponsored by the City of Vancouver to gather data and encourage the construction of more high-performance, low-rise buildings
• Zero Emissions Building Exchange ZEBx | A centre designed to rapidly accelerate the knowledge, capacity and passion for zero emission buildings

Page Last Updated: December 10, 2018.