BILD Alberta: Championing Energy Efficiency and Sustainable Building Practices
BILD Alberta, short for the Building Industry and Land Development Association, is a non-profit organization that represents the interests of the home building and land development industry in the province of Alberta. BILD Alberta is committed to promoting sustainable and energy-efficient building practices in the province, and has been a key advocate for the adoption of the 2020 National Building and Energy Codes, the Tiered Energy Codes, and the development of a pathway to Net Zero homes.
The 2020 National Building and Energy Codes
The National Building Code of Canada (NBC) is a model code developed by the National Research Council of Canada that outlines the minimum standards for the design and construction of new buildings. The 2020 edition of the NBC includes provisions for energy efficiency and sustainability that aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption in new buildings. The 2020 National Energy Code for Buildings (NECB) is also included in the NBC, and sets minimum requirements for the energy performance of buildings.
BILD Alberta played a crucial role in the development of the 2020 NBC and NECB, advocating for measures that would improve energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in new buildings. The new codes require buildings to be more airtight, better insulated, and equipped with more efficient heating, cooling, and ventilation systems. They also mandate the use of energy-efficient lighting and the inclusion of renewable energy sources such as solar panels.
Tiered Energy Codes
The province of Alberta has implemented a tiered energy code system that provides builders with a range of energy efficiency options to choose from. The tiered energy codes offer a flexible approach to energy efficiency, allowing builders to choose the level of energy efficiency that works best for their project and their clients.
The tiered energy code system includes three levels: Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3. Tier 1 is the minimum level of energy efficiency required by the 2020 NECB, while some homes can be built to a Net Zero standard at Tier 4. Builders can choose to comply with any of the three tiers, depending on the energy efficiency goals of their project.
Tier 1: Minimum Code Requirements
Tier 1 is the minimum level of energy efficiency required by the 2020 NECB. Buildings constructed to Tier 1 standards must meet the minimum requirements for insulation, air sealing, heating, cooling, and ventilation outlined in the NECB.
| Tier | Increase to Construction Costs | Cost Impact Per Home | Barriers Prior to Implementation | Timing |
| 1 | 0% – 0.34% | $0-$1,072 | None | Mid-2023 |
Tier 2: Enhanced Energy Efficiency
Tier 2 represents an enhanced level of energy efficiency beyond the minimum requirements of Tier 1 and will become the minimum standard by mid-2025. Buildings constructed to Tier 2 standards must meet more stringent requirements for insulation, air sealing, heating, cooling, and ventilation. Builders may choose Tier 2 for projects with a higher energy efficiency target than Tier 1.
| Tier | Increase to Construction Costs | Cost Impact Per Home | Barriers Prior to Implementation | Timing |
| 2 | 0.35% – 1.05% | $1,100-$3,300 | – Energy Advisors/airtightness testing capacity – Multi-family airtightness testing requirements – Managing peak cooling loads – Education of builders, building officials and homeowners |
Mid-2025 |
Tier 3: Increased Costs
Tier 3 represents an increased cost challenge, with the envelope improvement requirements, more insulation and energy-efficient windows will be required, increasing costs born by home buyers. Buildings constructed to Tier 3 standards must meet the most stringent requirements for insulation, air sealing, heating, cooling, and ventilation. Builders may choose Tier 3 for projects but additional airtightness testing requirements would be required. For more remote communities, the costs could be substantial.
| Tier | Increase to Construction Costs | Cost Impact Per Home | Barriers Prior to Implementation | Timing |
| 3 | 1.05% – 1.40% | $3,300 – $4,400 | – Clarify the prescriptive pathway – Energy Advisor/airtightness testing capacity – Building envelop training with trades |
TBD |
Tier 4: Net Zero Energy Ready – Electrified Homes
Tier 4 represents a Net Zero Energy Ready standard. At Tier 4, electrified home heating will be a requirement for homes. It is unclear if Alberta’s electricity infrastructure can support a broad shift to electrified home heating at this time. Builders may choose Tier 4 for projects with the goal of achieving Net Zero energy consumption, which means the building produces as much energy as it consumes over the course of a year.
| Tier | Increase to Construction Costs | Cost Impact Per Home | Barriers Prior to Implementation | Timing |
| 4 | 7% | $20,000 – $22,000 | – Housing affordability. – Air source heat pump technology. – Electric infrastructure to support electrified home heating. – Envelope improvements. – Clarify the prescriptive pathway. |
TBD |
Tier 5: Go Green
Tier 5 represents an increased cost challenge, and dramatic change to building. Tier 5 currently goes beyond what even current Code requires. Solar panels and off site renewable energy sources are required; heat pumps, electrical heaters and so much more, make the Tier 5 a challenge. Lastly, given Alberta’s electrical grid is and remains largely fuelled by fossil fuels (natural gas) we’d be at a distinct disadvantage to provinces with abundant hydro-electricity generation.
| Tier | Increase to Construction Costs | Cost Impact Per Home | Barriers Prior to Implementation | Timing |
| 5 | 25% | $70,000 – $77,000 | – Revisions to Tier 5 requirements to reflect actual Net Zero construction. – Impact on housing affordability. – Diminishing returns on insulation. – Designing for solar panels. – Embodied carbons analysis. – Electric infrastructure to support electrified home heating. – Clarify the prescriptive pathway. |
TBD |
A Pathway to Net Zero Homes
BILD Alberta is committed to promoting the adoption of Net Zero building practices in the province. Net Zero homes are designed to produce as much energy as they consume, and can be achieved through a combination of energy efficiency measures, renewable energy sources, and energy storage systems.
The tiered energy code system is a pathway to achieving Net Zero homes in Alberta. By gradually increasing the energy efficiency requirements for new buildings, the province is creating a market for Net Zero homes and encouraging the development of new technologies and practices to achieve this goal.
But challenges remain. Between our colder climate and fossil-fuel driven electrical generation, any pathway to a full Tier 4 or Tier 5 will likely be years away. Progress can and will be made, but affordability, competitiveness and overall home construction remains a long-term challenge.
BILD Alberta is also working with industry partners and government officials.
