July 4th, 2024

As mentioned in previous updates, on June 24th, Council adopted bylaw amendments on a proposal to incorporate Zero Carbon Step Code (ZCSC) Emissions Level (EL) 4 for Part 3 buildings into their Building Bylaw. The effective date for this change is July 1st, 2024. 

More information can be found in the full report by City staff. 

June 20th, 2024

As mentioned in previous newsletters, on June 10th, Council authorized staff to bring forward bylaw amendments on a proposal to incorporate Zero Carbon Step Code (ZCSC) Emissions Level (EL) 4 for Part 3 buildings into their Building Bylaw. The effective date for this change is July 1st, 2024. 

The report notes that new developments that will not be served by the City’s future District Energy Utility (DEU) will be required to demonstrate load requirements and are responsible for distribution system upgrades if there is not adequate power to meet the additional load on their site. This could result in additional costs to the project. BC Hydro is currently reviewing its extension policies and ways to reduce timelines for system upgrades. 

UDI is concerned that given the City’s electrification requirements (i.e., mandating electrical vehicle charging and EL-4 of the ZCSC) as well as Burnaby’s densification efforts, there may be areas of the City that could face distribution capacity constraints.  

More information can be found in the full report by City staff. 

March 12th, 2024
 

As noted in previous UDI newsletters, at Council on February 26th proposed amendments to the Building Bylaw to implement the Zero Carbon Step Code (ZCSC) were adopted.

These amendments adopt the ZCSC and new carbon pollution standards for Part 9 buildings, beginning with Strong Carbon Performance by January 1st, 2024 and moving to requiring Zero Carbon Performance by January 1st, 2025.

Part 3 buildings will follow a one compliance pathway of Energy Step Code Step 2, accompanied by ZCSC EL-4 (zero carbon).

Ongoing policy work will explore how buildings connected to District Energy align with the ZCSC. For example, consideration is being given to exempting new buildings connecting to the existing Burnaby Mountain District Energy System. 
 

January 16th, 2024
 

On December 11th, 2023, Council authorized City staff to bring forward amendment bylaws for Part 3 and Part 9 buildings regarding Energy Step Code (ESC) and Zero Carbon Step Code (ZCSC) requirements.

In May, Council directed staff to:

• Engage with interested parties on an implementation strategy for aligning Burnaby’s Part 3 Green Building Rezoning policy and Building Bylaw with the Energy and Zero Carbon Step Codes to require ‘Zero Carbon Performance’ for Part 3 buildings by January 1, 2024; and
• Engage with interested parties on an implementation strategy for adopting Zero Carbon Step Code and new carbon pollution standards for Part 9 buildings, beginning with ‘Strong Carbon Performance’ by January 1, 2024, and ‘Zero Carbon Performance’ by January 1, 2025.

In response to the direction from Council, staff drafted an implementation strategy. The strategy included schedules and timelines for both ZCSC and ESC, prepared communication materials, and engagement with the building community such as an online survey and correspondence with representatives from UDI.

Notable results from the results of the public survey are as follows:

Part 9 buildings

• Identified several challenges with building to the highest steps of the Energy Step Code (beyond Step 3), including the time it takes to master construction details, availability of required expertise, and ensuring performance at completion; and
• Most respondents reported no barriers to implementing Zero Carbon Ready electric space and hot water systems.For 

Part 3 buildings
 

• Respondents identified several challenges to building to higher steps of the Energy Step Code, including design impacts to building form, incremental cost increases, and availability of required expertise; and
• Most respondents reported no barriers to implementing zero carbon-ready electric space heating systems, but some challenges were still noted, including electric service and availability of appropriate equipment.

Other notable responses

• Several respondents identified that the period of notice is too short and that projects already in the design phase under the current Green Building policy, but not able to achieve 2nd Reading by the end of the year would require significant redesign.
• Several respondents identified advancing to Step 3 of the Energy Step Code by January 1, 2024, would be challenging for high rises >6 stories and that this policy change would affect buildings already under design to meet the current low carbon energy system compliance pathway.
• The potential for additional electrical connection fees and infrastructure, if the projected electric load could not be met, was noted.

The implementation strategy for Part 9 Buildings is as follows:

• Minimum requirements beginning January 1st, 2024:
  • Energy Step Code, Step 3
  • Zero Carbon Step Code, EL-3 (strong carbon performance)
• Minimum requirements beginning January 1st, 2025:
  • Energy Step Code, Step 3
  • Zero Carbon Step Code, EL-4 (zero carbon performance)

The Building Bylaw amendments would be brought forward in January 2024. Permits received during the bylaw amendment process can be held until the bylaw amendment is complete. 
 

The implementation strategy for Part 3 Buildings will be amended to a one compliance pathway:

• Energy Step Code, Step 2
• Zero Carbon Step Code, EL-4 (zero carbon)

In-stream rezoning applications progressing to Second Reading by December 31st, 2023, would not be subject to the new requirements. These projects would proceed through the development approval and building permit process according to the current requirements for building energy efficiency and carbon performance established by the existing Green Building Rezoning Policy. Therefore, any rezoning applications that have not Received Second Reading by December 31st, 2023, will be subject to the new policy on January 1st, 2024.

Regarding next steps, a second phase of policy work scheduled for 2024 will consider transitioning from a rezoning policy to containing new Energy Step Code and Zero Carbon Step Code requirements as amendments to the Building Bylaw and a schedule for advancing to higher steps of the Energy Step Code as outlined in the draft implementation strategy.

ZCSC requires the electrification of space heating and domestic hot water systems. New developments will be required to demonstrate load requirements and are responsible for distribution system upgrades if there is not adequate power to meet the additional load on their site. BC Hydro is currently reviewing its extension policies and ways to reduce timelines for system upgrades. Builders and property owners may incur additional costs as part of their overall project.

More information can be found in the full report by City staff.