Dictionary of Terms

• Approval: "Approval” means approval in writing from the authority having jurisdiction Local Services Act 
• Accessory dwelling unit: “Accessory dwelling unit” (often referred to as an ADU) is a self-contained living unit with its own kitchen, sleeping area, and washroom facilities, and which is located on the same property as a dwelling unit. An ADU is sometimes referred to as a garden suite, laneway home, carriage house or garage suite
• Affordable housing: “Affordable housing” is defined as when 30 per cent or less of your household's gross income goes towards paying for your housing costs 
• “Attic” (or roof space) means the space between the roof and the ceiling of the top storey of a building or between a dwarf wall and a sloping roof

• Basement: “Basement” means a storey or storeys of a building located below the first storey 
• Building: “Building” means any structure used or intended for supporting or sheltering any use or occupancy
• Building area: “Building area” means the greatest horizontal area of a building above grade within the outside surface of exterior walls or within the outside surface of exterior walls and the centre line of firewalls 
• Building height: “Building height” (in storeys) means the number of storeys contained between the roof and the floor of the first storey 
• Building regulation: "Building regulations" means regulation of construction of buildings by a building code adopted pursuant to the Local Services Act or to the Building Regulations Division of the Local Government Act 

C

• Civic address: “Civic address” an address administered by a civic address authority 
• Crown land: "Crown land" (also referred to provincial public land) means land, whether or not it is covered by water, or an interest in land, vested in the governmen

D

• Drainage requirements: “Drainage requirements” can be adopted by local government to require that the runoff from a paved and/or roofed area be dealt with in accordance with the requirements of the bylaw. The bylaw can also limit area of the site that is impervious to water penetration into the soil 
• Dwelling unit: “Dwelling unit” means a suite operated as a housekeeping unit, used or intended to be used by one or more persons and usually containing cooking, eating, living, sleeping and sanitary facilities 

E

• Electoral Areas: “Electoral Areas” (or unincorporated areas) of regional districts; the areas within regional districts that are not included in any municipality 

F

G

• Geodetic elevation: "Geodetic elevation" means an elevation derived from a source approved by the Surveyor General 
• Grade: “Grade” means the lowest of the average levels of finished ground adjoining each exterior wall of a building, except that localized depressions need not be considered in the determination of average levels of finished ground 

H

• Housing unit: "Housing unit" means a self-contained dwelling unit 

I

• Improvement Districts: “Improvement Districts” are public corporate bodies which operate independently of regional districts or any other administrative jurisdiction. Improvement districts may provide such diverse services as fire protection, water service or dykes, sewers, utilities, street lighting, construction and operation of a hospital 
• Infill housing: “Infill housing” fits within an existing neighbourhood without significantly altering its character or appearance 

L

• Land Title and Survey Authority of British Columbia (LTSA): “Land Title and Survey Authority of British Columbia (LTSA)” is a publicly accountable, statutory corporation formed in 2005 responsible for operating the land title and survey systems of BC. LTSA delivers secure land titles through timely and efficient registration of land title interests and survey records 
• Limiting distance : “Limiting distance” means the distance from an exposing building face to a property line, the centre line of a street, lane or public thoroughfare, or to an imaginary line between 2 buildings or fire compartments on the same property, measured at right angles to the exposing building face 
• Local government bylaws: The Local Government Act allows local governments to adopt a wide range of planning and land use bylaws within their boundaries incl. Official Community Plans, Public Hearings, Development Approval Procedures, Advisory Planning Commission, Board of Variance, Zoning & Other Development Regulation, Phased Development Agreements, Parking, Drainage, Signs, Screening & Landscaping, Floodplains, Farming, Development permit area, Development approval information, Development Costs Recovery, Subdivision and dedications 
• Lot: “Lot” means any portion, piece, division, or parcel of land. A quantity of land held by an owner 

M

• Municipal wastewater: "Municipal wastewater" means domestic wastewater or municipal liquid waste 
• Municipality :"Municipality" is a corporation of the residents of its area

O

• "Owner" means a person registered in the records as owner of land or of a charge on land, whether entitled to it in the person's own right or in a representative capacity or otherwise, and includes a registered owner 

P

• Parcel:"Parcel" means any lot, block or other area in which land is held or into which it is subdivided, but does not include land covered by water
• Parcel Identifier (PID): “Parcel Identifier (PID)” is a nine-digit number assigned by the Land Title and Survey Authority that uniquely identifies a parcel in the land title register of in British Columbia. The Land Title Act refers to the PID as the permanent parcel identifier 
• Parcel Identification Number (PIN): “Parcel Identification Number (PIN)“ is the unique numbering system generated number used by Crown lands and registry (incl. First Nation registry) to identify a parcel
• Parking requirements: “Parking requirements” can be adopted by local government to require that specified amounts of off-street parking, loading and handicapped parking is provided. Local government can allow the spaces to be provided on another site or can, if the owner wishes, accept cash in lieu of off-street parking which must be paid into a fund that will be used to pay for local government parking facilities or transportation infrastructure that encourages non-automotive transportation 
• Plumbing system: “Plumbing system” means a drainage system, a venting system and a water system or parts thereof 
• Potable water: "Potable water" (or water potability) refers to water which is approved for drinking purposes by the medical health officer in accordance with the Health Act 

R

• Regional District: “Regional District” a geographic area of the province incorporated under the Local Government Act for the purpose of exercising powers conferred under the Act or other enactments, and consisting of municipalities and electoral areas 

S

• Site area: "Site area" means an area of site required in a subsisting zoning bylaw adopted pursuant to the Local Government Act 
• Statutory right of way: "Statutory right of way" means an easement without a designated dominant tenement registrable under section 218 of the Act 
• Storey: “Storey” means that portion of a building that is situated between the top of any floor and the top of the floor next above it, and if there is no floor above it, that portion between the top of such floor and the ceiling above it 
• Stormwater: "Stormwater" means runoff from rainfall, snow, or snowmelt 
• Survey plan: A “survey plan” (land survey) is a visual representation of the legal boundaries and dimensions of a surveyed parcel of land. It identifies the type and location of monuments or survey posts set in the ground to define the boundaries of the parcel  

U

Z

• Zoning bylaw: "Zoning bylaw” means a bylaw under sec. 479, part 14 Planning and Land Use Management of the Local Government Act  

---

Energy Step Code terms

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

A

• Air changes per hour (ACH): “ACH” (Air changes per hour) means air changes per hour at a given pressure difference, typically measured at a 50 Pa pressure difference
• AFUE (Annual fuel utilization efficiency): “AFUE” (Annual fuel utilization efficiency) is a measure of the fuel efficiency of a heating system. It takes into account normal operating losses such as start-up, standby, and cycling. The higher the AFUE rating, the more efficient the heating system is
• AHJ (Authority having jurisdiction):“AHJ” (Authority having jurisdiction) is an organization, office, or individual responsible for enforcing the requirements of a code or standard, or for approving equipment, materials, an installation, or a procedure

B

• BCBC (BC Building Code): “BCBC” (BC Building Code) is a provincial regulation that governs how new construction, building alterations, repairs and demolitions are completed. This code establishes minimum requirements for safety, health, accessibility, fire and structural protection of buildings and energy and water efficiency. It applies throughout the province except for some federal lands and the City of Vancouver. This version of the Checklist refers to BCBC2018 Revision 5

C

• Calculator: “Calculator” refers to the tab within the Checklist Excel sheet where data is entered and calculations for compliance are completed

D

• DES (District energy system): “DES” (District energy system) refers to efficient and cost-effective ways of distributing thermal energy to high density residential, commercial and institutional buildings in a neighbourhood using clean, renewable energy sources

E

• EA (Energy Advisor): An “EA” (Energy Advisor) is trained to provide builders, renovators and homeowners guidance and direction on ways one can improve and measure energy efficiency
• EF (Emissions factor): “EF” (Emissions factor) is a value that tries to connect the amount of a pollutant let out into the air with the activity causing that release
• % EFF / ER (Efficiency or energy ratio): “% EFF / ER” (Efficiency or energy ratio) is a measurement of efficiency which compares the useful work output of an engine running on a low carbon fuel (e.g., renewable diesel) to the engine output of the base fuel (e.g., fossil derived diesel) it is displacing
• ERS (EnerGuide Rating System): “ERS” (EnerGuide Rating System) demonstrates the energy performance of a home, rather than an indicator of energy efficiency. This refers to revision 15 or newer

F

• Fenestration: “Fenestration” refers to envelope assemblies that transfer visible light such as windows (including framing)

G

• Greenhouse gas: "Greenhouse gas (GHG)” means any or all of carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, sulphur hexafluoride and any other substance prescribed by regulation

H

• HDD (Heating Degree Days): “HDD” (Heating Degree Days) are equal to the number of degrees Celsius a given day's mean temperature is below 18 °C. For example, if the daily mean temperature is 12 °C, the HDD value for that day is equal to 6 °C. If the daily mean temperature is above 18 °C, the HDD value for that day is set to zero
• HSPF (Heating Seasonal Performance Factor):  “HSPF” (Heating Seasonal Performance Factor): is a ratio of how much energy the heat pump delivers to the building over the full heating season (in Btu), to the total energy (in Watthours) it uses over the same period

M

• MEUI (Mechanical Energy Use Intensity): “MEUI” (Mechanical Energy Use Intensity), measured at in kWh/(m²·year), is a measure of the annual energy consumption for the building’s mechanical systems, including space heating and cooling, ventilation, and domestic hot water
• Mid Con (Mid-Construction): “Mid Con” (Mid-Construction) means occurring after construction is under way

N

• NLA (Normalized Leakage Area):“NLA” (Normalized Leakage Area), in cm²/m², typically at a reference pressure of 10 Pa, is defined as EqLA (or EfLA, depending on the test standard), divided by enclosure area
• “NLR” (Normalized Leakage Rate): “NLR” (Normalized Leakage Rate), L/s/m², typically at a reference pressure of 50 Pa for Part 9 buildings, is the airflow QΔP at a given pressure divided by the area of the pressure boundary A (e.g. the building enclosure area)
• NRCan (Natural Resources Canada): “NRCan” (Natural Resources Canada) develops policies and programs that enhance the contribution of the natural resources sector to the economy, improve the quality of life for all Canadians and conducts innovative science in facilities across Canada to generate ideas and transfer technologies. (-resources.canada.ca)

S

• SEER (Seasonal energy efficiency ratio): “SEER” (Seasonal energy efficiency ratio) measures the cooling efficiency of the heat pump over the entire cooling season. It is determined by dividing the total cooling provided over the cooling season (in Btu) by the total energy used by the heat pump during that time (in Watt-hours). The SEER is based on a climate with an average summer temperature of 28°C
• SHGC (Solar heat gain coefficient): “SHGC” (Solar heat gain coefficient) measures the fraction of solar energy transmitted and tells you how well the product blocks heat caused by sunlight. SHGC is measured on a scale of 0 to 1, with values typically ranging from 0.25 to 0.80. The lower the SHGC, the less solar heat the window transmits

T 

• TEDI (Thermal Energy Demand Intensity):“TEDI” (Thermal Energy Demand Intensity), in kWh/(m²·year), is a metric that represents the annual heating load per floor area of a building. This is the amount of heat needed to offset the heat loss through the building envelope and condition the ventilation air

U

• USI (U-value in metric (SI) units): “USI” (U-value in metric (SI) units), measured in W/m²K, measures the insulation of windows