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Step Code 4 for Homes starting January
Step Code 4 for Homes starting January 2025 in New Westminster
As you might know, all municipalities are implementing higher levels of energy-efficient homes on a yearly basis, and if you want to build any new homes, you should be prepared for this action sooner or later.
The City of New Westminster is indeed implementing Step Code 4 for all new single-family home construction starting January 1, 2025. This is a significant step towards improving energy efficiency and reducing carbon emissions in the city. You can see their announcement on this link.
Here’s a brief overview of what this means:
- Higher Energy Efficiency Standards: Step Code 4 sets higher standards for insulation, airtightness, and mechanical systems in new homes.
- Reduced Energy Consumption: By meeting these standards, new homes will consume less energy for heating, cooling, and hot water.
- Lower Carbon Footprint: Lower energy consumption translates to lower greenhouse gas emissions.
- Potential Cost Savings: While initial construction costs may be slightly higher, long-term energy savings can offset these costs.
If you’re planning to build a new single-family home in New Westminster, it’s important to be aware of these new regulations and work with a builder who is experienced in meeting Step Code 4 requirements.
As you might know, the city of North Vancouver has started the step code 4 requirement since November 2023.
We helped many homeowners achieve the goal of building energy-efficient homes, including Step Code 4 homes. Call us today to get assistance.
How a Step Code 3 Home is More Energy Efficient
How a Step Code 3 Home is More Energy Efficient
Step Code 3 is a higher standard of energy efficiency in building construction, specifically for wood-frame residential homes. It goes beyond the minimum requirements of the base building code to provide significant energy savings.
Here’s how a Step Code 3 home achieves greater energy efficiency:
Enhanced Insulation
- Thicker insulation: More insulation is installed in walls, ceilings, and floors, reducing heat loss in winter and heat gain in summer.
- High-performance materials: Insulation with higher R-values, such as spray foam or dense-packed cellulose, is often used for better thermal resistance.
Improved Air Sealing
- Air barrier: A continuous air barrier is installed to prevent air leakage, which can significantly reduce energy loss.
- Careful sealing: Doors, windows, and other openings are sealed tightly to minimize drafts.
Efficient Heating and Cooling Systems in Step Code Home
- High-efficiency HVAC: Heating and cooling systems with higher efficiency ratings are used to reduce energy consumption.
- Heat recovery ventilators: These systems capture heat from exhaust air and transfer it to incoming fresh air, improving energy efficiency.
Energy-Efficient Appliances and Lighting
- High-efficiency appliances: Appliances with ENERGY STAR ratings are used for reduced energy consumption.
- LED lighting: LED lights are used throughout the home for their energy efficiency and long lifespan.
Solar Energy Integration (Increase value in Step Code Home)
- Solar panels: Some Step Code 3 homes may incorporate solar panels to generate their own electricity, further reducing reliance on the grid.
By implementing these measures, a Step Code 3 home can significantly reduce energy consumption, lower utility bills, and contribute to a more sustainable environment.
Would you like to know more about the specific requirements of Step Code 3 or other energy-efficient building practices? Contact us for more details in how a step code 3 home more energy efficient.
Multiplexes are coming to BC, are you ready for the change?
Lot multiplication is forced by the BC government, is this the right solution for our society? #MULTIPICATION
There has been much news about construction happening in the province, especially after new demand from the BC Government forced municipalities to add densification to their single-family homes.
June 2024 is the deadline for municipalities in BC to change their single family home zoned lots to multifamily so they can support 4 units or up to 6 units in some areas.
Vancouver Multiplex home designer
I’d like to explain a bit more so every citizen knows their rights under the new bylaws.
Everyone needs an accommodation to live in. Some people buy a condo or rent one, and others buy land, or old homes and convert them to their needs; and others buy newly built ones.
Though, today’s topic will focus mostly on single family home lots, as most municipalities call them ‘RS-1’.
Some municipalities, like the city of Vancouver, have changed their bylaw, and all single-family lots can be built in multi-units of three to four and, in some cases, up to six, and all sold separately to different homeowners.
But would that apply to all lots, or rather, every lot has to follow that?
Difference between single family lots and multiplexes:
Fourplex homes are coming soon!
Traditionally, each single-family lot was eligible to build:
1. One house in a lot
2- One house with a legal secondary suite under one ownership
3- One house with a legal secondary suite plus a laneway home under the same ownership (in some municipalities, the allowed units were only two units. That means if you had a laneway home, you shouldn’t have a legal secondary suite on the same house)
But with the new bylaw that has been demanded by the BC Government to municipalities, the following units can be built along with the three mentioned above: Considering the fact that all municipalities are reviewing their bylaws and are under revision until June 2024.
4- A duplex unit on a lot sold to two separate owners
5- A triplex on a lot sold to three separate owners
6- A triplex home plus a laneway home on the back sold to four separate owners
7- If the property is close to a major transit connection, the lot can have six-unit buildings, and the ownership as a rental is under negotiation.
For all the options above, before closing a contract with a contractor, have your designer or architect confirm your preferred lot condition as well as your preferences, and then you can establish your contract with your home builder.
The architectural drawings are the first issue to be resolved under this frequency. There are many other drawings and engineers involved during your building permit applications, and someone has to take care of them all for you.
What defines a building?
Designing a building is not just locating different rooms based on their functionalities and making a box to house people. (this might be a common practice in some countries or done by many developers who don’t care about society.)
But I want to ask my readers, are you looking for a shelter to house you, or do you want to live in a home that can satisfy your soul, provide comfort, and fulfill your happiness?
A society in which the government and developers just care about creating shelters without fulfilling human needs, learn the lesson the hard way by experiencing unhappy people.
Neglecting community building leads to family issues, crime, suicide, and abuse..
AI is an exceptional tool to be used by humans who can create a place to live, work, and thrive. to enjoy life and create memories, to grow old and have fun with other members of the community, and to contribute to society.
What do you need to supply to the city for a building permit?
The drawings to submit to the city are as follows:
1. Lot survey drawing (done by a professional survey engineer)
2. Architectural drawings, which include floor plans, elevations, cross sections, details, and code-related information. A professional designer can provide up to four units in a lot.
3- Landscape drawing or arborist report if there are trees involved on the property
4- Energy report provided by a professional energy advisor to present the building meeting new code requirements
5- Structural drawings with required details
6- Structural paperwork and schedules
7- Interior design drawings for the better understanding of the homeowner to learn about the finished products (not required by the city permit)
The electrical load calculations should start soon at the design stage if there is a requirement for an electrical panel upgrade from 200 to 400 amps. The paperwork should start soon as this process will take some time as well.
Different municipalities have different timelines for going over the provided documents, and some are more strict than others in some aspects of these documents.
If you are busy and don’t want to get involved with all the paperwork, have your designer apply for the permit on your behalf. They will have to fill out a form supplied by the city to allow that person to act on your behalf. (your agent)
In that case, the agent will let you know of any special changes required or any payment requests by the city and they will manage it in a much more hassle-free and less time-consuming manner for you.
I would like you to share your thoughts and let me know what you think. Our homes and our workplaces mean so much more to us than a shelter and a place to perform a work activity. So we have to take care of them as best as possible.
Do you believe AI can do the job?
Share your thoughts here