Builder and industry resources for step codes
Last updated on June 9, 2025Access presentations, reports, guides and handbooks to support you in implementing the BC Energy and Zero Carbon Step Codes.
On this page
Quick links
Zero Carbon Step Code presentation
Use this presentation to explain the Zero Carbon Step Code to your colleagues and stakeholders:
- Zero Carbon Step Code presentation (Google Drive link)
Policies, studies and reports
The following table provides a selection of reports on the BC Energy Step Code.
|
Reports |
Description |
Year |
|---|---|---|
|
Learn how B.C. became the first North American jurisdiction to create a regulated pathway to net-zero energy-ready buildings |
2019 |
|
|
BC Energy Step Code: Development for Public Sector Buildings (PDF, 3MB) |
Analyzes how energy efficiency improvements affect the energy use, emissions, and cost of public sector buildings like community centres, libraries, etc. |
2019 |
|
Implications of the BC Energy Step Code on GHG Emissions (PDF, 1.3MB) |
Explores whether the BC Energy Step Code is effective in reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the built environment Presents the results of a study intended to explore possible means of increasing the rate and magnitude of emissions reductions necessary to meet provincial GHG emissions goals |
2019 |
|
2021 BC Energy Step Code Industry Capacity Study (PDF, 12MB) |
A study examining the readiness of key construction professions to implement the BC Energy Step Code in 2022, 2027 and 2032. |
2021 |
|
The 2022 update has a similar scope and methodology as previous studies, but factors in higher market readiness and considers the potential impacts of directly regulating building emissions through codes |
2022 |
|
|
The 2018 update examines potential changes in cost and construction techniques if technical requirements were modified to accommodate more climate variability within regions. |
2018 |
|
|
The 2017 Metrics Research Report was the most comprehensive study of its kind. After modelling hundreds of thousands of potential designs, the report demonstrates how to build the most common building types like |
2017 |
Builder guides and handbooks
BC Housing Research Centre and Province of BC
Read guides created by the BC Housing Research Centre and Province of B.C. If you can’t find what you are looking for below, search the Research Centre Library.
|
Guide |
Description |
Building type |
Year |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Builder guide for:
|
9 and 3 |
2018 |
|
|
Building design strategies for Part 3 buildings to achieve each step of the Step Code. |
3 |
2019 |
|
|
BC Energy Step Code Design Guide Supplement S3 on Overheating and Air Quality
|
Design guide for Part 3 buildings to reduce the impacts of a warmer climate on wood-frame and noncombustible residential buildings. |
3 |
2019 |
|
Building Enclosure Design Guide - Wood-Frame Multi-Unit Residential Buildings |
Design guide for Part 3 buildings with best practices on heat, air and moisture transfer in B.C.’s coastal climate. |
3 |
2019 |
|
Building Envelope Guide for Houses: Part 9 Residential Construction, Second Edition
|
Design guide for Part 9 buildings including construction details and descriptions. |
9 |
2020 |
|
Part 3-focused with some Part 9-related information to reduce thermal bridging in wood-framed, steel-framed, precast-concrete and roofing systems. |
3 and 9 |
2019 |
|
|
Illustrated Guide - Achieving Airtight Buildings
|
An industry resource to design, build and test airtight buildings Applies to Part 3 buildings and more complex Part 9 buildings. |
3 and 9 |
2017 |
Zero Emission Building Exchange
Read guides created by the Zero Emission Building Exchange.
|
Guide |
Description |
Year |
|---|---|---|
|
This guide and video outline good design practices for thermal bridging to meet energy efficiency requirements. |
2021 |
|
|
This guide explains the importance of airtightness and the causes of leaks. It outlines how to design and build for optimal air tightness |
2021 |
|
|
Ventilation Strategies for High-Performance Multi-Unit Residential Buildings |
This guide provides an overview of the ventilation strategies used in net-zero energy-ready buildings. |
2021 |
Natural Resources Canada
Planning and decision guide for solar PV systems - 2020
This guide provides procedures for solar designers, builders and their design teams to quickly define solar PV requirements so they can be included in residential design.
Brand handbook
The BC Energy Step Code Brand Handbook provides design and style guidance for communicating about the standard. It was created for:
- Governments
- Organizations
- Companies
The handbook is 2 resources intended to be used together:
Implementation toolkit and video series
Toolkit
The Community Energy Association’s Building a Legacy Toolkit is applicable to industry and to communities large and small that want to learn about or adopt the BC Energy Step Code.
Video series
The Community Energy Association has also created several short videos to share information about implementing the BC Step Code.
- Watch the Building a Legacy videos on YouTube