Energy/GHG & Resilience for Low-Rise Residential Development

Tier 1

GHG 1.1 Building Energy Performance

Design the building(s) to achieve at least ENERGY STAR® for New Homes, version 17 or R-2000® requirements. ¹

Tier 2

GHG 1.2 Building Energy Performance (Core)

Design, construct and label the building(s) to achieve at least ENERGY STAR® for New Homes, version 17 or R-2000® requirements.^2,3

City-owned buildings (Agencies, Corporations and Divisions) Residential uses:
Design, construct and label the building to achieve at least ENERGY STAR® for New Homes, version 17 or R-2000® requirements. The CHBA Net Zero Home Labelling Program, Passive House or an alternative zero emissions standard certification is encouraged.

GHG 1.3 Energy Efficient Appliances (Core)

Where supplied, for each unit, provide ENERGY STAR® labeled refrigerators, ceiling fans, clothes washers and dishwashers.⁴

Tier 3

GHG 1.4 High Performance, Low-Carbon Pathway (Core)

Design and construct the building to be Net Zero ready in accordance with the CHBA Net Zero Home Labelling Program.⁵

Tier 4

GHG 1.5 High Performance, Low-Carbon Pathway (Core)

Design and construct the building in accordance with the CHBA Net Zero Home Labelling Program or Passive House Standards.⁵

Specifications and Resources

1. Complete the Energy Efficiency Design Summary for Part 9 residential housing, including a copy of the Builder Option Package form for ENERGY STAR® v. 17 or R-2000®.
2. An ENERGY STAR® for New Homes (Version 17 or later) label or proof of compliance with NRCan 2012 R-2000® Standard (or later) label is required as proof of compliance for Tier 2 projects.
3. Service Organizations are licensed by NRCan to deliver ENERGY STAR® qualified home labels or R2000® certification. For a list of authorized service organizations see Natural Resources Canada ENERGY STAR® for New Homes Standard evaluations are conducted by Certified Energy Advisors following either a performance or a prescriptive approach. For the performance approach, use the HOT2000 software v.10.51. For the purposes of ESNH, a Multi-Unit Residential Buildings (MURB) is defined as a low-rise of purely residential occupancy that consists of a set of separate stacked residential units with each unit having a private entrance either outside the building or from a common hall, lobby, vestibule or stairway, a minimum of two vertically stacked units and a minimum of two storeys above finished grade. For the prescriptive approach, evaluations are conducted using the BOP (Builder Option Package). Certified energy Advisors are independent contractors who perform the testing and final inspection and report. They submit their report to the NRCan Authorized Service Organization. For more information: ENERGY STAR in Canada or to review ENERGY STAR® for New Homes v.17.0. The ENERGY STAR® trademark is administered and promoted in Canada by Natural Resources Canada and is used with permission. For more information: R-2000® Homes standard and label. R-2000® is an official trademark of Natural Resources and is used with permission.
4. More information about energy efficient products and appliances.
5. Conformance with the Technical Requirements shall be verified by a Canadian Home Builders’ Association Qualified Net Zero Service Organization (SO) and Energy Advisor (EA), as described in the CHBA Net Zero Home Labelling Program Administrative Requirements per the SO and EA Agreements. The plan evaluation, airtightness testing, and inspection of every Net Zero/Ready Home shall be carried out by a CHBA Qualified Net Zero EA to confirm that this requirement has been met. Tier 4, Net Zero homes include the provision of on-site renewable energy. Passive House Certification is also accepted.

Tier 1

GHG 2.1 On-site Renewable Energy

City-owned residential buildings (Divisions, Agencies and Corporations of the City of Toronto)

For new buildings with a gross floor area of greater than 100m² install renewable energy devices to supply at least 5 per cent of the building’s annual energy consumption from one or a combination of energy sources.^2,3,4,5

Tier 2

GHG 2.2 Solar Readiness (Core)

Ensure that buildings are designed to accommodate connections to solar technologies.^1,4,5

GHG 2.3 On-Site Renewable Energy (Optional)

Design on-site renewable energy systems to supply one of the following:

a) Minimum of 5 per cent of the building’s annual energy consumption from one or a combination of acceptable renewable energy sources;^1,2,3,4,5    OR

b) Minimum of 20 per cent of the building’s annual energy consumption from geoexchange.^2,3

Specifications and Resources

1. Assume a solar photovoltaic (PV) or solar thermal systems size that supplies at least 1 per cent of the building’s annual energy consumption. GHG 2.2 requirements are addressed if solar PV and/or solar thermal are pursued for the project.
2. Acceptable renewable energy includes energy generated by:

• Solar photovoltaics – use of composite panels to convert solar energy into electricity, to be used within the building or exported to the grid.
• Solar thermal – use of solar thermal collectors to directly convert solar energy into heating air or water for use in the building.
• Geoexchange – Use of electric heat pumps coupled with horizontal or vertical ground loop piping systems to provide heating and cooling energy; or use of direct ground contact systems.

3. Savings must be demonstrated by third-party energy modeling tools such as RETScreen, GLD and whole-building modeling software utilized for demonstrating buildings energy performance, as approved by the Environment & Energy Division (EED).

5. For guidance and technical specifications on how to install either solar domestic hot water systems (SDHW) and/or solar photovoltaic systems (solar PV), follow the Natural Resources Canada Solar Ready Guidelines.
6. For the purposes of compliance with AQ 2.2 (Tier 1) and GHG 2.2 (Tier 2), attached and installed solar systems to the roof structure for a minimum of 75 per cent of the available roof space will be accepted to meet both requirements.