Driving ZNE to scale through policy, codes and programs: Focusing on states and regions

Policy innovation in British Columbia: Energy step code, zero carbon buildings and the Passive House explosion

Tom-Pierre Frappé-Sénéclauze@tompierrefs

Getting to Zero National ForumDenver, ColoradoOctober 14, 2016

Leading Canada’s transition to a clean energy futureThe Pembina Institute advocates for strong, effective policies to support Canada’s clean energy transition.

@tompierrefs

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2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

Cum

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Squ

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age

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Cumulative Square Footage

Dual Certified - Projected PHIUS - Projected PHI - Projected PHIUS - New PHI - New PHIUS - Cumulative PHI - Cumulative

Growth of Passive House in North America

Data: PHI, PHIUS and Passive House Canada

Vancouver:14 projects600 units25% of all sqft

Outline1. How did it come to be? Supporting policies in

Vancouver

2. Where to next? Vancouver’s Zero Emissions Building Plan

3. Scaling up: British Columbia Energy Step Code and NZEr target

@tompierrefs

Passive House enabling policies in Vancouver

� Green rezoning for increased densityo Affects 60% of new development (2.6 million sf/yr)o Requires LEED Gold and 22% below ASHRAE 90.1

OR Passive House

� Thick wall exclusion and setback allowance

� Training of permitting staff and inspectors; staff support

@tompierrefs

Vancouver Zero Emissions Buildings Plan

70% reduction

90% reduction

Source: City of Vancouver

Vancouver Zero Emissions Buildings Plan

2016: 50% GHG reduction2020: passive house performance*2025: zero carbon(for rezoning)

2016: 64% GHG reduction 2020: near passive house performance2025: zero carbon(for rezoning)

2014: 50% reduction in GHG intensity2020: 70% reduction in GHG intensity2025: zero carbon, thermal load <30 kWh/m2/yr

(9.5 KBTU/sf)* i.e. Thermal load intensity < 15 kWh/m2 (4.7 KBTU/sf)

Vancouver Zero Emissions Buildings PlanLessons learned� Focus metrics on desired end-goal (GHG

reductions)� Can achieve significant reductions in 2016 by

switching from LEED to enclosure-focused standard

� Relax performance target for buildings that can connect to low-carbon DE systems

B.C. Energy Step CodeProblem• Local climate leadership led to patchwork of green building

policiesSolution• Provincially-designed opt-in energy performance

requirements Principles• Implementation through partnerships• “Envelope first” approach• Measure performance• Framework valid for next 10+ years

@tompierrefs

B.C. Energy Step Code

WorkingGroup

Collaborative design

Key success factors✔ ‘White paper’ drafted outside of official

government process

✔ Stakeholder working group for design + ongoing implementation

✔ Predictability: map transformation path from process requirements to desired end goal (~ Passive House)

✔ Performance-based

✘ Integration with national energy codes...?@tompierrefs

But how does that relate to base code evolution?...

Thought Leader Forum, June 20152 days, 50 organizations, 82 participants: Can we get all new Part 3 ‘net-zero ready’ by 2030?

@tompierrefs

Summary and policy proposal

pembina.org/reports/pathways-to-net-zero-summary.pdf

Call to Action on Climate and Energy in the Building Sector

A subset of the 100+ signatories: local governments, organizations, businesses, etc.

B.C.’s new Climate Plan

Code to require Net Zero Ready by 2032

Incentive program for high performance buildings

… but nothing on existing buildings.

@tompierrefs

B.C. Energy Step Code

2032?

2027?

2022?

~ ZEPI 28

Thanks!

Tom-Pierre Frappé-Sénéclauzetompierrefs@pembina.org Tw: @tompierrefs

pembina.orgtwitter.com/pembina facebook.com/pembina.institute

@tompierrefs

Thanks!

Tom-Pierre Frappé-Sénéclauzetompierrefs@pembina.org tw: @tompierrefs

pembina.orgtwitter.com/pembina facebook.com/pembina.institute