1

November 16th, 2017

Nicholas Heap Sustainability Project Manager

City of Richmond

Draft Recommendations for Implementing

the BC Energy Step Code in Richmond

8:00 am Welcome and introductions 8:10 am Overview of Step Code 8:30 am Educational and training resources re: Step Code 8:40 am Questions 8:55 am Energy Step Code implementation in Richmond - Process 9:00 am Overview of recommendations – Targets and timelines 9:15 am Overview of recommendations – Building permitting process 9:30 am Questions 9:40 am Cost of building to the Energy Step Code 9:55 am Questions 10:10 am Wrap-up

2

Agenda

3

November 16th, 2017

Nicholas Heap Sustainability Project Manager

City of Richmond

Educational and Training resources re:

BC Energy Step Code

| LOCAL GOVERNMENTS

| NGOs

| TRADES & PROFESSIONALS

| PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT

| BUILDERS & DEVELOPERS

| UTILITIES

Research and Support Resources

Completed or Underway:

• Resource hub: energystepcode.ca

• Training and Capacity Study

• Costing / Metrics Study

• Local government readiness survey

• Peer network for local government staff

• Webinars and presentations

4

Energy Step Code – Overview

Training & Resources: BC Housing publications

5

Anticipated Release Date

Description

September 2017 (available now!)

Illustrated Guide to Achieving Airtight Buildings

Winter 2018 Right-Sizing Your Heating System with F280

December 2017 Design Guide to the BC Energy Step Code for developers & designers

December 2017 Builder Guide to the BC Energy Step Code: (Part 9 Steps 1, 2, and 3; and Part 3 low-rise Steps 1 and 2)

February 2018 Builder Guide to the BC Energy Step Code v.2 (updated to include Part 9 Step 4; and Part 3 low-rise Step 3)

August 2018 Builder Guide to the BC Energy Step Code v.3 (updated to include Part 9 Step 5; and Part 3 low-rise Step 4)

Energy Step Code – Overview

Training & Resources:

6

Date Description

November 21, 2017 BC Housing: Build Smart: Air and Vapour Barriers (Vancouver / webinar)

November 22 - 24, 2017 Nov. 22: Nov. 23:

BOABC: Fall Education Conference Session: High Performance Buildings Session: Step Code Enforcement for Building Officials

November 23, 2017 GVHBA: High Performance Homes: Energy Step Code Seminar (Vancouver - UBC Robson Square, 800 Robson St.)

November 28, 2017 GVHBA: Cool Drinks - Home energy efficiency and the BC Energy Step Code (North Vancouver)

February 1, 2018 Engineers and Geoscientists British Columbia (EGBC): half-day session on BC Energy Step Code (Vancouver / webinar)

Upcoming BC Energy Step Code Presentations & Webinars

7

8

9

November 16th, 2017

Nicholas Heap Sustainability Project Manager

City of Richmond

City of Richmond process for

BC Energy Step Code implementation

Richmond’s Energy Step Code Implementation Process

10

• 2009 Central Area Plan: LEED Silver policy for new Part 3 development

• 2010 Council adopts energy and GHG reduction targets

• July 2014 Council adopts energy efficiency policy for townhouse rezonings

• May 2016 Staff report to Council noting development of Energy Step Code

• May Council directs staff to consult stakeholders on “how the Energy Step Code can be implemented in Richmond”

• June City notifies province of intent to reference Energy Step Code

Richmond’s Consultation Process

11

• June 29th

Builders’ Breakfast: Introduction to Energy Step Code

• July 27th

Builders’ Breakfast: Workshop re: Part 9 new development

• Sept. 6th

Stakeholder Workshop re: Part 3 new development

• Sept. 27th

UDI Liaison Committee update

• Oct. 10th

Energy Advisor focus group re: Part 9 Energy Step Code

• Oct. 26th

Multi-stakeholder workshop re: Part 3 Energy Step Code

• Nov. 16th

Builders’ Breakfast: Review Part 9 draft recommendations

• TBA Stakeholder workshop: Review Part 3 draft recommendations

Richmond’s Energy Step Code Implementation Process

12

What we heard:

• Enable builders to minimize costs

• Enable builders to access information and training

• Ensure that new standards are implemented & enforced consistently

• Ensure regulatory procedures minimize time delays

• Consistency and standardization

• Clear expectations and clear communication

• Better coordination within building sub-trades

Richmond’s Energy Step Code Implementation Process

13

• Dec 15, 2017 Local governments can reference Energy Step Code building standards in bylaws

• Jan 2018 Scheduled date of staff report to Council with recommendations for implementing the Energy Step Code.

• June 2018 Earliest proposed date for Energy Step Code entry into force • Townhouse rezoning policy phased out • LEED Silver CCAP policy phased out

14

November 16th, 2017

Nicholas Heap Sustainability Project Manager

City of Richmond

Draft Recommendations for Implementing

the BC Energy Step Code in Richmond

15

Energy Step Code – Overview

Richmond’s Regime: Part 9 Buildings - for Stakeholder Consultation

16

staff proposal as of Nov 7, 2017

Building type Current approximate

Energy Step Code Performance Level

Spring 2018 [lowest incremental cost*]

January 2020 January 2022 January 2025

Part 9 detached homes,

duplexes BC Building Code

Step 1 [0.2%]

Step 3 [0.8%]

Step 3 or 4 Step 4

Part 9 townhouses

~Step 2-3 Step 3 [1.1%]

Step 3 [1.1%]

Step 4 Step 4 or 5

Part 9 low-rise apartments

BC Building Code Step 3 [0.3%]

Step 3 [0.3%]

Step 4 Step 4 or 5

Part 9 commercial /

industrial BC Building Code BC Building Code ? ? ?

Part 9 all renovations /

additions BC Building Code BC Building Code ? ? ?

* BC Housing: Energy Step Code 2017 Metrics Research: Full Report

Staff draft recommendation: ~18 month introductory period at Step 1 gives builders time to gain proficiency in airtight building practices.

Current: City of Richmond Airtightness

Training Program funds local builders to improve their

airtightness construction practices prior to Energy Step Code

implementation.

Energy Step Code – Overview

Richmond’s Regime: Part 9 Buildings - for Stakeholder Consultation

17

staff proposal as of Nov 7, 2017

Building type Current approximate

Energy Step Code Performance Level

Spring 2018 [lowest incremental cost*]

January 2020 January 2022 January 2025

Part 9 detached homes,

duplexes BC Building Code

Step 1 [0.2%]

Step 3 [0.8%]

Step 3 or 4 Step 4

Part 9 townhouses

~Step 2 Step 3 [1.1%]

Step 3 [1.1%]

Step 4 Step 4 or 5

Part 9 low-rise apartments

BC Building Code Step 3 [0.3%]

Step 3 [0.3%]

Step 4 Step 4 or 5

Part 9 commercial /

industrial BC Building Code BC Building Code ? ? ?

Part 9 all renovations /

additions BC Building Code BC Building Code ? ? ?

* BC Housing: Energy Step Code 2017 Metrics Research: Full Report

Current policy: Rezoned townhouses are required

to comply with the BC Solar Hot Water Ready regulation

Staff draft recommendation: Upon Energy Step Code adoption, drop the requirement to comply with the BC Solar Hot Water Ready regulation.

Energy Step Code – Overview

Richmond’s Regime: Part 9 Buildings - for Stakeholder Consultation

18

staff proposal as of Nov 7, 2017

Building type Current approximate

Energy Step Code Performance Level

Spring 2018 [lowest incremental cost*]

January 2020 January 2022 January 2025

Part 9 detached homes,

duplexes BC Building Code

Step 1 [0.2%]

Step 3 [0.8%]

Step 3 or 4 Step 4

Part 9 townhouses

~Step 2-3 Step 3 [1.1%]

Step 3 [1.1%]

Step 4 Step 4 or 5

Part 9 low-rise apartments

BC Building Code Step 3 [0.3%]

Step 3 [0.3%]

Step 4 Step 4 or 5

Part 9 commercial /

industrial BC Building Code BC Building Code ? ? ?

Part 9 all renovations /

additions BC Building Code BC Building Code ? ? ?

* BC Housing: Energy Step Code 2017 Metrics Research: Full Report

Current: City of Richmond Airtightness Training Program funds local builders to improve their airtightness construction practices prior to Energy Step Code implementation.

Energy Step Code – Overview

In-Stream Applications

19

Staff draft recommendation: • Requirements effective three months after bylaw

adoption.

• Active rezoning and development permit applications at ESC adoption have one year after bylaw adoption to submit an acceptable Building Permit application under previous requirements.

• Projects endorsed by Development Permit Panel within six months of ESC adoption will have one year from DP issuance to submit an acceptable BP application under previous requirements.

Energy Step Code – Overview

Richmond’s Regime: Part 9 Buildings - for Stakeholder Consultation

20

Step Code Pre-Construction Report

21

Step Code As-Built Report

22

Energy Advisors

23

Staff draft recommendation: (per existing City policy for registered professionals) • Energy Advisors are to provide proof of general and professional liability

insurance: • at application for building permit, and • prior to occupancy

Note: •Under the BC Building Code, use of the EnerGuide Rating System / HOT2000 for energy modelling comes with a requirement to submit files to NRCan for quality assurance purposes. [Section 9.36.6.4. and A‐9.36.6.4.(2)(b)]

Non - Compliance

24

City of Vancouver policy: If post-construction blower door test result is above 5.5 ACH50: -Implement mitigation measures to improve building performance to 5.5 ACH50 or better; and -See below. If post-construction blower door test result is above [target] but below 5.5 ACH50: -Provide EnerGuide report showing 5.5 ACH50 or below; -Pay for two staff responsible for airtightness to attend one-day airtightness techniques training course, and show proof of course registration.

25

November 16th, 2017

Nicholas Heap Sustainability Project Manager

City of Richmond

BC Housing study and preliminary

analysis of common low-cost upgrades

Costing / Metrics Study

26

In Brief…

Largest energy modelling exercise for a building

code in Canada

Costs were extensively vetted by industry

Tested 15 building archetypes for both Part 9 and

Part 3, for all BC climate zones

Key focus was to measure the potential impact of

the policy on construction affordability and

practicality

Costing / Metrics Study

27

Energy Step Code – Overview

BC Housing – Costing Study

28

Costing / Metrics Study

29

“In most situations, builders can achieve the Lower Steps for less

than a 2% construction cost premium above that of a home built to

the requirements of the BC Building Code.”

ENERGY STEP CODE – ROW HOUSE EXAMPLE Location: Surrey Type: Six-unit row house Size: 1,720 sq. ft. per unit Sales Price (per unit): $550,000 to $800,000

STEPS COST PREMIUM

1 $560 per unit

2 $1,250 per unit

3 $2,950 per unit

4 $5,500 per unit

5 $9,400 per unit

2,550 ft2 Single Family House – built to Step 3

Measures to achieve 20% better than Code

Walls R18

Attic R40

Slab Insulation None

Foundation R11

Windows/Doors 1.8

Heating Elec Baseboard

HRV/ERV 70% recovery

DHW Heat Pump HW

Air Tightness 2.5

TOTAL $192/sq ft ($488,500)

% premium above Code 0.8%

Medium Detached House: Measures implemented per house

31

• The BC Housing study identified 10 low-

cost upgrade portfolios that achieve Step 3

for less than 1% of construction costs.

• Each consists of 3 to 5 upgrades beyond

minimum prescriptive code requirements.

• Airtightness

• Domestic hot water heating

• Heat recovery: air and/or water

• Insulation: under slab, foundation,

wall and/or attic

• Windows

• Space heating

0%

20%

40%

60%

3 4 5Number of upgrades implemented per

lowest-cost modelled home

N = 10

Medium Detached House: Airtightness

32

• In 70% of the lowest-cost upgrade

portfolios, airtightness levels are

better than Step Code minimum

requirements for Step 3

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

2.5 ACH 1.5 ACH 1.0 ACH 0.6 ACH

Airtightness is not just

required: it is also the

most cost-effective

efficiency measure.

Air Changes per Hour (ACH50)

STEP

3 t

arge

t

Medium Detached House: Windows, Space Heating & DWHR units

33

• More than 2/3 of the lowest-cost upgrade

portfolios used prescriptive code minimum

U-1.8 windows.

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

U-1.8 U-1.6 U-1.4

None of the lowest-cost upgrade

portfolios used space heating or

drain water heat recovery unit (DWHR)

upgrades.

Window thermal resistance (U-value)

Medium Detached House: Below-slab and attic insulation

34

• Attic insulation is at prescriptive code

minimum levels in half of the lowest-

cost portfolios.

• 80% of lowest-cost portfolios have no

under-slab insulation.

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

none R-11.1 (eff.) R-15 (eff.)

0%

20%

40%

60%

R-40(eff.) R-50(eff.) R-60(eff.) R-80(eff.)

Thermal resistance (R-value)

Thermal resistance (R-value)

Medium Detached House: Wall and foundation insulation

35

• All lowest-cost portfolios use R-16 or

R-18 effective walls

• Increased levels of foundation

insulation used in the majority of

lowest-cost portfolios.

Thermal resistance (R-value)

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

R-16 (eff.) R-18 (eff.)

0%

20%

40%

60%

R-11.3(eff.) R-16.9 (eff.) R-19.6 (eff.) R-25 (eff.)

Thermal resistance (R-value)

36

• HRVs or ERVs are used in 60% of

lowest-cost upgrade portfolios.

• High-performance Domestic Hot

Water systems are found in 70% of

lowest-cost upgrade portfolios.

0%

20%

40%

60%

none 0.6 0.7 0.75

0%

20%

40%

60%

Elec

tric

Sto

rage

Gas

Inst

anta

neo

us

-Lo

w

Gas

Inst

anta

neo

us

Hea

t P

um

p -

Ho

tW

ater

Efficiency of HRV / ERV units

Medium Detached House: DHW and Heat Recovery Ventilators

1720 ft2 Row House – built to Step 3

Measures to achieve 20% better than Code

Walls R16

Attic R40

Slab Insulation R20

Foundation R17

Windows/Doors 1.8

Heating Elec Baseboard

HRV/ERV 60% recovery

DHW Code

Air Tightness 1.5

TOTAL $165/sq ft ($280,500)

% premium above Code 1.1%

0%

20%

40%

60%

2 3 4 5

Six-unit Townhouse: Measures implemented per building

38

• Airtightness

• Domestic hot water heating

• Heat recovery: air and/or water

• Insulation: under slab, foundation,

wall and/or attic

• Windows

• Space heating Number of upgrades implemented per lowest-cost modelled home

N = 24

• The BC Housing study identified 24 low-

cost upgrade portfolios that achieve Step 3

for less than 1.5% of construction costs.

• Each consists of 2 to 5 upgrades beyond

minimum prescriptive code requirements.

0%

20%

40%

60%

2.5 ACH 1.5 ACH 1.0 ACH 0.6 ACH

Six-unit Townhouse: Airtightness

39

• In 7/8ths of the lowest-cost upgrade

portfolios, airtightness levels are

better than Step Code minimum

requirements for Step 3

Airtightness is not just

required: it is also the

most cost-effective

efficiency measure.

Air Changes per Hour (ACH50)

STEP

3

targ

et

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

U-1.8 U-1.6 U-1.4

Six-unit Townhouse: Windows, Space Heating & DWHR units

40

• More than 75% of the lowest-cost upgrade

portfolios use minimum prescriptive code

U-1.8 windows.

• All of the lowest-cost upgrade portfolios use

minimum prescriptive code space heating. Window thermal resistance (U-value)

0%

20%

40%

60%

none 30% 42% 55%

Efficiency of Drain Water Heat Recovery units

• Almost 50%

use DWHRs as

a cost-effective

upgrade.

Six-unit Townhouse: Below-slab and attic insulation

41

• Attic insulation is at prescriptive code

minimum levels in almost half of the

lowest-cost portfolios.

• Two-thirds of lowest-cost portfolios

have no under-slab insulation.

Thermal resistance (R-value)

0%

20%

40%

60%

R-40(eff.) R-50(eff.) R-60(eff.) R-80(eff.)

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

none R-11.1 (eff.) R-15 (eff.)

Thermal resistance (R-value)

Six-unit Townhouse: Wall insulation

42

• Two-thirds of lowest-cost portfolios use R-16 effective walls, but better

insulated walls can also be a low-cost solution.

Thermal resistance (R-value)

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

R-16 (eff.) R-18 (eff.) R-22 (eff.) R-24 (eff.)

0%

20%

40%

60%

Elec

tric

Sto

rage

Gas

Inst

anta

neo

us

-Lo

w

Gas

Inst

anta

neo

us

Hea

t P

um

p -

Ho

tW

ate

r

Six-unit Townhouse: DHW and Heat Recovery Ventilators

43

• HRVs or ERVs are used in 45% of lowest-cost upgrade portfolios.

• Domestic hot water is evenly split between minimum prescriptive code electric storage and high-efficiency low-carbon heat pumps.

Efficiency of HRV / ERV units

0%

20%

40%

60%

none 60% 70% 75%

Thank You!

44

Nicholas Heap

Sustainability Project Manager

City of Richmond

nheap@richmond.ca

Energy Save Richmond:

energy.richmond.ca

QUESTIONS?