2025 High Density Checklist Updates - Available for Viewing

Conduct a systematic evaluation of potential extreme weather events including at least: sea level rise, flooding, hurricanes, tornados, earthquakes, tsunamis, wildfires, droughts, landslides, extreme heat, and winter storms. Provide a report with the evaluation and findings.

Builder and/or project team members are a certified B Corporation and/or have a Just label (1 point per team member—maximum of 5 points).

1.1.2

Builder performs life-cycle analysis (Operational + Embodied Carbon). Life-Cycle Specialist conducts a Cradle-to-Gate analysis for 2 points or a Cradle-to-Grave analysis for 4 points. Note that the selection of environmentally preferable materials can help support lower embodied carbon.

Attached garage, parking, and/or loading dock overhead doors are insulated with:

(i) R8 to R12 (for 1 point); or

(ii) greater than R12 (for 2 points).

Select one of the following options to reduce air leakage from electrical boxes in walls:

(i) all electrical back-boxes in exterior walls are airtight (molded plastic);

(ii) provide a service cavity to keep penetrations inside of the air barrier; or

(iii) provide an exterior air barrier.

The builder conducts an air-tightness inspection at the mid-construction stage (1 point), with optional blower door test (additional 1 point). This will allow the Energy Advisor or Engineer to identify areas of air leakage before completion. At completion, additional points for final Air Change per Hour levels: less than 3 ACH @ 50 Pa (1 point), less than 2 ACH @ 50 Pa (3 points), and less than 1 ACH @ 50 Pa (5 points).

Install heat pumps to supply majority of space heating and cooling loads:

- ground/water with minimum COP of 4.0 and SEER 15.0; OR

- air source heat pump (ASHP) meeting minimum requirements: for split-system minimum 10.0 HSPF and minimum SEER 16.0. Or for single package system minimum 8.5 HSPF and minimum SEER 15.2.

Install a centralized high efficiency domestic hot water heating system (AFUE 95% or better) or instantaneous tankless systems.

Install heat pump based DHW heating system (ground, water, or air sourced, UEF of 3 for 2 points; UEF of 4 for 3 points) to supply a minimum of 35% of the peak DHW heating load and 70% of the total DHW energy load.

Where domestic hot water heating is provided within each suite, install high-efficiency electrical domestic hot water system (standby loss in watts: 5% better than NECB 2020 for 2 points; 10% better for 3 points).

Fireplaces provided in residential units are either:

(i) all electric;

(ii) gas with sealed combustion and electronic ignition; or

(iii) EPA or CSA certified high-efficiency wood stove or pellet stove with a minimum efficiency of 80%.

Engage an independent Commissioning Agent to complete the following:

(i) review owner's HVAC and lighting system requirements, and review drawings and specifications at approximately 90% working drawings (2 points);

(ii) verify installation and operation of HVAC and lighting systems (3 points); and/or

(iii) perform follow-up onsite review of HVAC and lighting warranty items, including comfort, controls, and energy efficiency (1 point).

Units contain multiple heating/cooling zones with independent programmable thermostat control for each zone:

(i) 2 zones (2 points);

(ii) 3 zones (3 points); or

(iii) 4 zones (4 points).

Install drain water heat recovery (DWHR) units on the main drain stack to recover heat from shower drain water. DWHR units may be installed centrally or by dwelling unit, but must collect heat from a minimum of 90% of the showers in the building complex. DWHR units must be CSA certified to B55.1 and B55.2:

(i) 1 point for units less than 42% efficient; or

(ii) 2 points for units equal to or greater than 42% efficient.

 Install on-site wind or solar (PV) electrical generation that supplies a portion of the designed electrical load in private dwelling areas: 10% for 4 points, 25% for 8 points, 50% for 12 points, 75% for 16 points, and 100% for 20 points.

 Install on-site wind or solar (PV) electrical generation that supplies 50% (2 point) or 100% (4 points) of electrical needs for the common areas.

 Buildings are built ready for plug-in electric vehicles for minimum 5% of allocated parking spaces:

(i) 240V plugs in the vehicle parking area (1 point); or

(ii) certified charging stations (2 points).

 Insulated ceilings have no recessed lights, or advanced air-sealing methods such as airtight lighting that does not puncture the air barrier, are employed to ensure that recessed lights are fully air-tight.

Use Insulated Concrete Forms (ICF) or other systems that eliminate the need for traditional formwork:

(i) below grade (3 points); and/or

(ii) 75% of above grade (4 points).

 Use Optimum Value Engineering (OVE) for framing design:

(i) Elimination of headers at non-bearing interior and exterior walls.

(ii) Use of header hangers instead of jack studs.

(iii) Elimination of cripples on hung windows.

(iv) Elimination of double plates, using single plates with connectors by lining up roof framing with wall and floor framing.

OR

Use concrete floors and roof with cambering of slabs to reduce slab thickness and column sizes with a total project concrete savings of at least 8%.

Use sustainably harvested exterior wall sheathing products (CSA, SFI, or FSC) for 1 point; recycled content of minimum 50% pre- or post-consumer for 2 points.

Minimum 30-year manufacturer warranty roofing material (2 points plus 1 point for each additional 5 years). "Lifetime" warranties have terms/conditions that ultimately have a limit in real years, and will not be considered unless clarified. Inspection by certified roofing inspector or an envelope engineer for 1 point. i.e: 30-year: 2 points. 35-year: 3 points. 40-year: 4 points. 45-year: 5 points. 50-year: 6 points

Builder performs an unguarded blower door test on individual units to show reduction in unit-to-unit air transfer (compartmentalization). A representative sample of 10% is required with a minimum of one unit tested per floor. For High Density Air Changes, Normalized Leakage Area, or Normalized Leakage:

(i) AL-4B (1 point);

(ii) AL-5B (2 points); or

(iii) AL-6B (3 points).

All ductwork thoroughly sealed along all seams, joints, connections, penetrations, etc., in accordance with local prevailing code and industry best practice.

Test and verify duct leakage to be less than 8 cfm (at 25 Pa) per 100 ft2 of conditioned floor area.

Install a continuously operating ventilation fan with a programmable timer or controller for high speed operation.

Install an active Heat Recovery Ventilator/Energy Recovery Ventilator (HRV or ERV) either centrally or in each unit.

Minimum 25% (1 point), 50% (2 points), 75% (3 points), or 90% (4 points) by weight or volume of new waste materials collected from construction site is diverted from waste stream.

Reduce reliance on traditional concrete forms by using one of the following:

(i) metal or engineered durable forms; or

(ii) insulated concrete forms.

Provide a central recycling center (either separate recycling bins or commingled recycling) for the housing project including recycling for  paper, glass, and metal (1 point), and/or install a trash compactor (1 point).

HD NEW CONSTRUCTION ONLY - Existing dwellings onsite from prior to construction are recycled (greater than 50% diverted from landfill for 3 points), deconstructed (5 points) or relocated (6 points) rather than demolished.

HD RENOVATION ONLY - Credit for reuse of building materials may be claimed. Reuse of existing building walls, floors and roof structure by area (m2) – 50% for 1 point, 75% for 2 points, 90% for 3 points. Reuse will still apply to assemblies where wall and roof insulation, cladding, roofing and interior finishes are upgraded. Deconstruction for five points or relocated rather demolished for 6 points.

The building is prefabricated in a factory utilizing modular construction to minimize waste.

50% (2 points) or 100% (4 points) of electricity used during construction of the project is generated by renewable energy as demonstrated through a green power certificate. Usage from a typical 6 month construction period or a recent similar project can be used to determine the monthly average.

50% (2 points) or 100% (4 points) of electricity used during first year of occupancy is generated by renewable energy as demonstrated through a green power certificate (prepaid by builder). Builder has renewable energy certificates of 50% or 100% of the estimated energy consumption for the year, based on the engineer's report.

Builder has a professional Sediment & Erosion (S&E) Control Plan prepared by an engineer, landscape architect, certified environmental monitor, or experienced individual. Builder enacts five items (3 points); or builder enacts any of the items for 1 point each to a maximum of two points.

(i)  All dirt piles are fully covered and not able to wash into the street or off the property.

(ii)  All site water must to be filtered to be free of sediment prior to entering into the storm system. This can be done passively by making a containment pond that can filter as it’s reabsorbed into ground water, or actively pumped from a sump to the storm system as long as the sump has filter fabric to keep out all sediment.

(iii)  All downwards storm basins are covered and maintained with filter fabric or commercially available bags to filter all water prior to entering the storm system.

(iv)  All disturbed downward slopes and site/work boundaries are protected with filtration measures (i.e. silt fences or straw bales) to prevent sediment flow beyond site.

(v)  All vehicles that leave the site need to be cleaned prior to exiting to make sure that no sediment can enter the storm system. Provide designated delivery area where truck wheels are washed / treated during construction.

(vi)  Dirt or site debris is cleaned up immediately, if it is able to wash into the storm system. This component is considered a constant monitoring program and is in place to prevent contractors from waiting until the end of the day to clean up the surroundings.