Better Buildings - Resources for Designers, Builders & Residents

Energy Step Code in Richmond

Effective Date	Jul 1, 2022 to Sep 30, 2023	After Oct 1, 2023
Part 9 Residential
Townhomes & Apartments	Step 5 ^(a) OR Step 4 ^(b) OR Step 3 ^(b) + LCES	Step 5 ^(a) + EL-2 OR Step 4 ^(b) + EL-3 OR Step 3 (b) + EL-4
Single Family and Duplexes	Step 5 (a) OR Step 4 (b) OR Step 3 (b) + LCES	Step 5 (a) + EL-2 OR Step 4 (b) + EL-3 OR Step 3 (b) + EL-4
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 compliance pathways. ^(c) LCES targets for 2022-2025 Part 3 residential and commercial will be developed in 2021. EL-2: Annual limit of ≤ 1050 kg CO₂e per housing unit, or ≤ 6 kg CO₂e/m² of conditioned floor area and ≤ 2400 kg CO₂e per housing unit. EL-3: Annual limit of ≤ 440 kg CO₂e per housing unit, or ≤ 2.5 kg CO₂e/m² of conditioned floor area and ≤ 800 kg CO₂e per housing unit. EL-4: Annual limit of ≤ 265 kg CO₂e per housing unit, or ≤ 1.5 kg CO₂e/m² of conditioned floor area and ≤ 500 kg CO₂e per housing unit. NOTE: Natural gas fueled systems are not allowed to be backup heating system after Oct 1, 2023.

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

City of Richmond Builders' Breakfast Summer 2023 – Recommended Requirements on Energy Step Code
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