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2026 Single Family Checklist Updates – Available for Viewing

While our 2026 Checklists aren’t live until January 1, 2026, we’re releasing our upcoming annual updates early to better complement your business cycle for planning purposes.

2026 Program Updates

Our Single Family and MURB Checklists are available for viewing now, and our remaining checklists will be rolled out over the next few months.

Built Green’s annual checklist updates are a result of input received from industry, code changes, new technologies, alongside our Technical Standards Committee and Board of Directors. These changes are not substantial: some items were updated for greater clarity, others were added due to new opportunities, while others were removed because they were no longer applicable.

Program Checklists

- Single Family New Construction (incl. Whole-House Renovations & *Restorations)

- Single Family MURB New Construction

2026 checklist PDFs are available on the member portal—or via email, upon member request. View a full list of checklist updates below.

Note on Net Zero Energy+ & Restoration Projects

For BUILT GREEN® Gold or Platinum projects that reach net zero, we recognize this achievement as BUILT GREEN® Net Zero Energy+, providing all eligibility requirements are met. This is the highest level of certification, and it isn’t just about the energy; the “+” represents all the other areas of sustainability, beyond energy performance. Likewise, net zero ready projects have the BUILT GREEN® Net Zero Energy Ready+ certification.

*Our Restorations program, included in the Single Family New Construction checklist, follows the same format as our Single Family program’s approach which is a two-in-one certification: the EnerGuide label through Natural Resources Canada and the BUILT GREEN® label through Built Green Canada; however, energy performance is calculated differently, recognizing the constraints of a restoration project.

Checklists Coming Later This Fall

- Single Family Renovations (40 – 70% of the home)

- Single Family Small Home Improvement (incl. Bathroom, Basement & Kitchen)

- High Density New Construction (multi-storey, residential tower, mixed-use + Renovations)

- Communities

- Small Commercial

- Medium Commercial

- Schools

A second communique will be sent out once these are complete, and consistent with the other checklists, will be available on the BUILT GREEN® Portal or members may contact the office.

Other Key Considerations

The intersection of natural and human-made environments continues to be in conflict. As part of our programs, we encourage operational and embodied carbon reporting; resiliency strategies; visitability, adaptability and accessibility measures; and innovation.

While Built Green offers affordable sustainable building programs for the builder, and our certification results in a more affordable home operationally, we also offer discounts to those projects built for inclusionary housing.

Important Reminder: Project Enrolments – March 31 Deadline

Projects using the 2025 checklist must be enrolled by March 31, 2026. If there are extenuating circumstances, please contact us.

Full Summary of New, Revised, & Removed Checklist Items

For Single Family, MURB, Whole-House Renovations & Restorations Program

NEW Single Family & MURB Checklist Items

1.3.5

Install an ENERGY STAR rated (or equivalent) air conditioner. Builder must ensure interior coil is matched to the exterior unit (per ENERGY STAR requirements).

REVISED Single Family & MURB Checklist Items

5.13

Structural insulated panel system (SIPS) or other panelized construction systems are used for walls (3 points) and/or roofs (2 points).

7.5

Builder integrates design solutions to support visitability and / or adaptability and / or accessibility as outlined in Canada Mortgage & Housing Corporation’s Accessibility, Universal Design and Adaptability: Design and Implementation, or other equivalent standard including Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility CertificationTM (max. 10 points):

(i) Visitability (1 point);

(ii) Adaptability (4 points);

(iii) Accessibility (5 points).

8.1.2

Builder and/or project team companies are a certified B Corporation and/or have a Just label (1 point per team company—maximum of 5 points). And / or builder company reports their Environmental, Social and Governance through ESG certification companies, for example GRESB (5 points).

Note: GRESB recognizes Built Green Canada in the Design / Construction category at full points, allowing asset managers with BUILT GREEN® projects to gain points toward their environmental, social, and governance (ESG) reporting.

REMOVED Single Family & MURB Checklist Items

To streamline our checklist, several checklist items were removed primarily based on never / rarely used items from our members’ checklists. If anyone is impacted by these deletions, please contact the office directly.

1.2.2	Replace exterior wood sheathing with insulating sheathing and structurally required metal bracing.
1.2.10	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.
1.3.14	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).
2.1.15	Steel studs made from minimum 75% recycled steel are used for interior walls (1 point) and exterior walls (1 additional point).
2.2.9	Minimum 50% of interior doors have been salvaged from another project.
2.2.27	Domestic wood from reused/recovered or re-milled sources, 500 ft² minimum for flooring or all cabinets or all millwork.
3.24	Natural material-based carpet in all living areas.
5.6	Onsite gravel crusher to reduce vehicle miles. Crusher must be sensitive to neighbouring properties.
6.1.1	Install ultra-efficient toilets with average flow rates less than, or equal to, 3L/flush (0.8 GPF) for 2 points each (up to 6 points).
6.1.3	Install manufactured non-electric composting toilet (3 points each; maximum of 6 points).
6.1.15	Install grey water system collecting waste from sinks, shower, and/or kitchen to capture and treat for use in toilets or irrigation (6 points), rough-in for future grey water system (3 points).
6.1.16	Install on-site black water treatment system or engineered wetland for reprocessing local sewage (8 points).