The document discusses the evolution and regulations of energy efficiency within building codes in Canada, specifically focusing on the roles of the Building Code Conservation Advisory Council and various compliance standards. Key changes include performance ratings for residential buildings and updates to energy efficiency requirements projected for 2014 and beyond. It also outlines compliance paths and the implications of emissions limitations under the 2017 supplementary standard SB-10.

1. The Ins & Outs of Energy
Efficiency in the Building Code
Bob Bach, P.Eng.
Senior Consultant
Energy Profiles Limited
Sustainable Buildings Canada
July 18, 2013

2. Overview
 Role of the Building Code Conservation
Advisory Council
 Where the Building Code is in 2012
 Where the Building Code will be in 2014
 Where the Building Code could be in 2017
 Other Changes in Sight

3. Building Code
Conservation Advisory
Council
 Formed in 2010 with representatives from
AMO, BILD, BOMA, CEEA, EGD, LMCBO,
NAIMA, OAA, OHBA, SBC, UGL.
 Role is to provide strategic advice to the
Minister on energy and water conservation,
barriers to green technologies, promote on-
site generation of renewable energy, and
how to enhance industry capability to
implement conservation.

4. OBC 2006, Part 12 (Part 9 Residential)
12.2.1.2. Energy Efficiency Design After December 31, 2011
(3) The energy efficiency of a building or part of a building of residential
occupancy that is within the scope of Part 9 and is intended for occupancy on a
continuing basis during the winter months shall meet the performance level that
is equal to a rating of 80 or more when evaluated in accordance with NRCan
“EnerGuide for New Houses: Administrative and Technical Procedures”.
12.2.1.2. Energy Efficiency Design After December 31, 2011
(revised July 1, 2011)
(3) The energy efficiency of a building or part of a building of residential
occupancy that is within the scope of Part 9 and is intended for occupancy on a
continuing basis during the winter months shall,
a) Meet the performance level that is equal to a rating of 80 or more when
evaluated in accordance with NRCan, “EnerGuide for New Houses:
Administrative and Technical Procedures”, or
b) Conform to Supplementary Standard SB-12

5. Supplementary Standard SB-12 – 3/15/2013
1.1.1.2. Compliance Options
(2) The energy efficiency of a building or part of a building of
residential occupancy that is within the scope of Part 9 of Division B
in the Building Code and is intended for occupancy on a continuing
basis during the winter months shall comply with
(a) Subsection 2.1.1. (Prescriptive Compliance Packages) of Chapter 2,
(b) Subsection 2.1.2. (Performance Compliance) of Chapter 2, or
(c) Subsection 2.1.3. (Other Acceptable Compliance Methods) of Chapter 2.
Explanation:
(b) Performance Option: Establish a Reference case using one of the
Prescriptive Compliance Packages; the Energy Performance of the
Proposed Building must meet or exceed that of a permitted Compliance
Package.
(c) Must meet NRCan, “Energy Star for New Homes: Technical
Specifications – Ontario”.

6. Supplementary Standard SB-12 – 1/1/2017
 Incremental gain in efficiency to be 15% for Part 9
residential buildings.
 Possible adoption of the new NRCan EnerGuide
Rating System

7. OBC 2006, Part 12 (Buildings)
12.2.1.2. Energy Efficiency Design After December 31, 2011
(2) Except as provided in Sentences (3) and (5), the energy
efficiency of all buildings shall be designed to exceed by not less
than 25% the energy efficiency levels attained by conforming to
the Model National Energy Code for Buildings.
12.2.1.2. Energy Efficiency Design After December 31, 2011
(revised July 1, 2011)
(2) Except as provided in Sentences (3) and (5), the energy
efficiency of all buildings shall conform to Supplementary
Standard SB-10.

8. Overview of Energy Code Options,
Effective Jan. 1, 2012
Energy Code
MNECB Plus 25%
(As published)
ASHRAE 90.1‐2010 Plus 5%
(As published)
ASHRAE 90.1‐2010 (Hybrid)
(As modified by SB‐10)
Compliance Path(s)
Available
Performance Performance Prescriptive or Performance
Component/System
Building Envelope MNECB 1997 Part 3 ASHRAE 90.1‐2010 Sect 5
Supplementary Std SB‐10,
Division 3, Chapter 2
Lighting MNECB 1997 Part 4 ASHRAE 90.1‐2010 Sect 9 ASHRAE 90.1‐2010 Sect 9
Heating, Ventilating &
Air Conditioninhg
MNECB 1997 Part 5 ASHRAE 90.1‐2010 Sect 6 ASHRAE 90.1‐2010 Sect 6
Service Water Heating MNECB 1997 Part 6 ASHRAE 90.1‐2010 Sect 7 ASHRAE 90.1‐2010 Sect 7
Electrical Power MNECB 1997 Part 7 ASHRAE 90.1‐2010 Sect 8 ASHRAE 90.1‐2010 Sect 8
Performance Path MNECB 1997 Part 8 ASHRAE 90.1‐2010 Sect 11 ASHRAE 90.1‐2010 Sect 11

9. ASHRAE 90.1-2010 Compliance PathM A N D A T O R Y P R O V I S I O N S
B U IL D IN G EN V EL O P E 5 .4 S e c tio n 1 - P U R P O S E
H V A C S Y S T EM S 6 .4 S e c tio n 2 - S C O P E
S E R V IC E W A T ER H E A T IN G 7 .4 S e c tio n 3 - D E FIN IT IO N S , A B B R EV IA T IO N S & A C R O N YM S
P O W ER 8 .4 S e c tio n 4 - A D M IN IS T R A T IO N & E N FO R C EM EN T
L IG H T IN G 9 .4
O T H E R EQ U IP M EN T 1 0 . 4
P R O P O S E D D E S IG N
P R E S C R I P T I V E E N E R G Y C O S T B U D G E T M E T H O D
P A T H P E R F O R M A N C E P A T H
S E C T IO N 5 , 6 , 7 , 9 S EC T IO N 1 1
S E C T I O N 5 - E N V E L O P E B U D G E T P R O P O S E D
P R ES C R IP T IV E B U IL D IN G B U I L D I N G D E S IG N
D E S I G N
O P T IO N
S E C T I O N 6 - H V A C S Y S T E M S
P A T H
S E C T I O N 7 - S E R V I C E W A T E R H E A T I N G
P R ES C R IP T IV E C O M P L IA N C E
7 .5
E N E R G Y D E S IG N
S E C T I O N 9 - L I G H T I N G
B U IL D IN G S P A C E-B Y -
A R EA M E T H O D S P A C E M E T H O D
9 .5 9 .6
A L L N O N O I S D E C
C O M P L Y ? ?  E C B ?
Y E S C O M P L IA N C E Y E S
C O M P L E TE D
E N E R G Y
C O S T
C O S T
B U D G E T
P R O P O S E D
M O D IFY
D E S I G N
B U IL D IN G EN V EL O P E EN V EL O P E
T R A D E- O FF O P T IO N
S IM P L IF IED
A P P R O A C H
6 .3
P R ES C R IP T IV E
6 .5

10. Overview of Energy Code Options,
Effective 1/1/2014
Energy Code
MNECB Plus 25%
(As published)
ASHRAE 90.1‐2010 Plus 5%
(As published)
ASHRAE 90.1‐2010 (Hybrid)
(As modified by SB‐10)
NECB 2011
(As published)
Compliance Path(s)
Available
Performance Performance Prescriptive or Performance
Prescriptive or
Performance
Component/System
Building Envelope MNECB 1997 Part 3 ASHRAE 90.1‐2010 Sect 5
Supplementary Std SB‐10,
Division 3, Chapter 2
NECB Div. B Part 3
Lighting MNECB 1997 Part 4 ASHRAE 90.1‐2010 Sect 9 ASHRAE 90.1‐2010 Sect 9 NECB Div. B Part 4
Heating, Ventilating &
Air Conditioninhg
MNECB 1997 Part 5 ASHRAE 90.1‐2010 Sect 6 ASHRAE 90.1‐2010 Sect 6 NECB Div. B Part 5
Service Water Heating MNECB 1997 Part 6 ASHRAE 90.1‐2010 Sect 7 ASHRAE 90.1‐2010 Sect 7 NECB Div. B Part 6
Electrical Power MNECB 1997 Part 7 ASHRAE 90.1‐2010 Sect 8 ASHRAE 90.1‐2010 Sect 8 NECB Div. B Part 7
Performance Path MNECB 1997 Part 8 ASHRAE 90.1‐2010 Sect 11 ASHRAE 90.1‐2010 Sect 11 NECB Div. B Part 8

11. Overview of SB-10, Effective 1/1/2017
Energy Code
MNECB Plus 35%
(As published)
ASHRAE 90.1‐2010
Plus 17%
(As published)
ASHRAE 90.1‐2010
Plus 13%
(As modified by SB‐10)
NECB 2011 Plus 13%
(As published)
ASHRAE 90.1‐201?
Plus 13%
(As modified by SB‐10)
Compliance Path(s)
Available
Performance Performance Performance Performance Performance
Component/System
Building Envelope MNECB 1997 Part 3 ASHRAE 90.1‐2010 Sect 5
Supplementary Std SB‐10,
Division 3, Chapter 2
NECB Div. B Part 3
Supplementary Std SB‐10,
Division 3, Chapter 2
Lighting MNECB 1997 Part 4 ASHRAE 90.1‐2010 Sect 9 ASHRAE 90.1‐2010 Sect 9 NECB Div. B Part 4 ASHRAE 90.1‐2010 Sect 9
Heating, Ventilating & Air
Conditioninhg
MNECB 1997 Part 5 ASHRAE 90.1‐2010 Sect 6 ASHRAE 90.1‐2010 Sect 6 NECB Div. B Part 5 ASHRAE 90.1‐2010 Sect 6
Service Water Heating MNECB 1997 Part 6 ASHRAE 90.1‐2010 Sect 7 ASHRAE 90.1‐2010 Sect 7 NECB Div. B Part 6 ASHRAE 90.1‐2010 Sect 7
Electrical Power MNECB 1997 Part 7 ASHRAE 90.1‐2010 Sect 8 ASHRAE 90.1‐2010 Sect 8 NECB Div. B Part 7 ASHRAE 90.1‐2010 Sect 8
Performance Path MNECB 1997 Part 8 ASHRAE 90.1‐2010 Sect 11 ASHRAE 90.1‐2010 Sect 11 NECB Div. B Part 8 ASHRAE 90.1‐2010 Sect 11

12. Other Requirements as of January 1, 2014
 Two new Objectives are included in OBC 2012:
– OE1.1: Limit the probability of an unacceptable risk of
degradation of the environment due to GHG emissions.
 Article 12.2.2.1. was added to address CO2e emission. The article
refers to SB-10* for the detailed requirements.
– OR2.1: Limit the probability of an unacceptable risk to
excessive demand on the infrastructure
 Article 12.2.3.1. was added to address peak electrical demand.
The article refers to SB-10* for the detailed requirements
* Refers to SB-10 scheduled to become effective January 1, 2014

13. Emission (CO2e) Limitation in SB-10,
Division 2, Chapter 1
 Article 1.1.2.2. of SB-10 addresses limitations to annual CO2e
emissions, based on ASHRAE 90.1 as amended by SB-10
Note: Emissions factors provided in SB-10
Energy Code & Compliance Method CO2e Emissions Limitation Compliance Method
ASHRAE 90.1‐2010 + SB‐10 (Prescriptive) Deemed to be in compliance
ASHRAE 90.1‐2010 + SB‐10 (Performance) CO2e (Reference) > CO2e (Proposed)
ASHRAE 90.1‐2010 less 5% (Performance) Emissions 5% less than ASHRAE 90.1‐2010 Prescriptive
MNECB less 25% (Performance) Emissions 25% less than MNECB Prescriptive

14. Peak Electric Demand Restrictions in
SB-10, Division 2, Chapter 1
 Article 1.1.2.3. addresses the peak electric demand
restriction
Energy Code & Compliance Method Peak Electrical Demand Compliance Method
ASHRAE 90.1‐2010 + SB‐10 (Prescriptive) Deemed to be in compliance
ASHRAE 90.1‐2010 + SB‐10 (Performance) Peak Demand (Reference) > Peak Demand (Proposed)
ASHRAE 90.1‐2010 less 5% (Performance)
MNECB less 25% (Performance)
Prescriptive requirements of ASHRAE 90.1‐2010 for
efficiency of cooling plant, fan power and interior
lighting power density must be met

15. Next Edition of SB-10
 Possible adoption of ASHRAE 90.1-2013 or 2016, could
still require a hybrid.
 Update of the NECB is underway and is scheduled for
release as a 2015 edition.

16. bbach@energyprofiles.com