Energy efficiency to become more important in Ontario Building Code

Engineers and architects in Ontario can expect to see changes to the building code, with requirements for them to design buildings with higher levels of energy conservation and efficiency.

On Friday, February 13, Premier Dalton McGuinty said that the new Green Energy Act the government will introduce into the legislature later this month will include provisions to “elevate the importance of energy efficiency in the building code.”

The government is also planning to create an expert advisory council to consider and advise the government on any future changes to the code relating to building energy use.

Making the announcement during an address to the London Chamber of Commerce, McGuinty noted that Ontario has already made progress, including reducing its peak electricity demand by five per cent between 2004 and 2007.

He also cited the example of California as a jurisdiction that has done much to reduce its energy consumption as a result of improving building codes and raising the performance standards of equipment.

“Conserving energy helps the environment, saves money and creates jobs,” McGuinty said. He continued by saying that it creates “jobs for the people who conduct audits or carry out retrofits, for those who install solar or geothermal equipment as well as people specializing in energy efficient construction.”

The forthcoming Green Energy Act will also have measures to expand the use of renewable sources of energy such as “wind, solar, hydro, biomass and biogas.”