Better Buildings - Resources for Designers, Builders & Residents
Energy Step Code in Richmond
Effective Date | Dec 15, 2020 to Jun 30, 2022 | After Jul 1, 2022 |
Part 9 Residential | ||
Townhomes & Apartments | Step 3 (a) OR Step 2 (a) + LCES* |
Step 5 (a) OR Step 4 (b) OR Step 3 (b) + LCES** |
Single Family, Duplex & Other Residential |
Step 3 (a) OR |
Step 5 (a) OR |
Part 3 Development | ||
Office & Retail Buildings | Step 2 | Step 3 |
Residential Wood-frame Low/Mid-Rise | Step 3 | Step 4 |
Residential Concrete Towers | Step 3 OR Step 2 + LCES |
Step 3 OR Step 2 + LCES (c) |
Hotels & Motels | Step 3 OR Step 2 + LCES |
Step 3 OR Step 2 + LCES (c) |
LCES: Low-Carbon Energy System (a) Building envelope performance requirements can be achieved using all compliance pathways defined in BCBC. (b) Building performance requirements must be achieved using adjusted TEDI and MEUI compliance pathways. (c) LCES targets for 2022-2025 Part 3 residential and commercial will be developed in 2021. * Annual limit of ≤ 1200 kg CO2e per building or ≤ 6 kg CO2e/ m2 of conditioned floor area. ** Annual limit of ≤ 500 kg CO2e per housing unit, or ≤ 2.5 kg CO2e/ m2 of conditioned floor area and ≤ 1000 kg CO2e per housing unit. |
See the full timeline for Energy Code Step in Richmond.
Bulletins
Regulation | Reference Bulletins (Provided in PDF format) |
Energy Step Code | Requirements at Rezoning and Development Permit Stages (DevApps-13) Part 9 Buildings Overview (Building-37) Part 9 Single Family Dwellings and Duplexes (Building-38) Part 9 Townhouses and Apartments (Building-39) Part 9 Residential Drawings (Air-barrier Details) (Building-43) Part 3 Buildings (Building-40) |
Energy Step Code, NECB ASHRAE 90.1 |
Energy Efficiency Requirements for Part 3 Buildings (Building-48) |
High-Performance Incentives | Incentives for New High-Performance Single-Family and Duplex Dwellings (Building-46) |
Webinars
Virtual Builders' Breakfasts
Builders' Breakfasts are the City's main venue for connecting with designers, builders, and energy advisors in Richmond. In March 2020, we switched to an online format, extending our reach to other jurisdictions in the Province and beyond.
Upcoming Sessions
We will have our next Builder Breakfast in late 2022 or early 2023. Please contact energysave@richmond.ca for more details.
Previous Sessions
2022 Step Code Requirements and Incentives |
Update on Richmond's Energy Step Code Requirements July 2022 Building Bylaw |
2022–2025 Energy Step Code Requirements for Part 9 Buildings | Workshop #2 |
Introduction to the Passive House Standard |
City of Richmond's High-Performance Incentives |
Building to the Passive House Standard |
Performance Testing and Labeling of Windows, Doors and Skylights in Canada |
Best Practices in Air Barrier Design, Installation and Testing |
Exterior Air Barrier and Insulation Strategies |
High-Performance, Low-Carbon Mechanical Systems |
Integrated Design Process: An Introduction |
What Does It Take to Build a High-Performance House? |
Building Matters
Building Matters brings you the latest in research on the environmental footprint of buildings, with a focus on implications for policy development and implementation.
Upcoming Sessions
Coming soon.
Previous Sessions
Are Cities Underestimating Their GHG Emissions? |
Efficiency First: Europe's Approach to Decarbonizing the Built Environment |
Net-Zero Energy Buildings: Will Canada's New Codes Give Us What We Need? |
Embodied Emissions of Building to the BC Energy Step Code |
If you have any questions about or suggested topics/speakers for either series, please send us an email.
External Resources
BC Housing
BC Energy Step Code Design Guide
Best Practice Guide: Air Sealing & Insulation Retrofits for Single Family Homes
Building Enclosure Design Guide: Wood-Frame Multi-Unit Residential Buildings
Full list of BC Housing design and Construction Guidelines
EGBC & AIBC
Professional Practice Guideline: Whole Building Energy Modelling Services