Progress Update
The 2020 National Building Code of Canada (NBC) introduced a tiered approach for new home construction. The Province of Saskatchewan committed to enacting Tier 2 of the NBC starting on January 1, 2024. Tier 2 requires new homes to achieve an approximate 35% EUI improvement over the 2017 code and aligns with the LEC Plan targets for 2021-2025. The LEC Plan calls for a 20% improvement by 2030, 40% by 2035, and Net Zero Ready (>80%) by 2036. Assuming the Province adopts Tier 3 by 2025, requiring a 20% improvement, the Province’s plan will exceed the LEC Targets in the short-term. However, Tier 4 adoption is required to meet the LEC’s Target of Net Zero Ready by 2036. That action called for a municipal step code to meet the targets, but the National Building Code has similar energy improvement requirements.