Program Updates: 2018 Checklists
There are no significant updates to the 2018 BUILT GREEN® checklists; however, we have outlined both new checklist items as well as those checklist items that have modified (some very minor verbiage updates aren’t listed below). Program updates are informed by building code, the Technical Standards Committee, the Board of Directors, new technologies and innovations, and industry input.
As always, we very much value input from industry through the year, and often this input results in greater clarity on existing checklist items, updates to the point allocation of checklist items, as well as the addition of new checklist items. All of this to say, please stay in touch and provide your valued feedback: new approaches to sustainable building may be awarded with innovation points.
Important Notes on Project Enrolment Deadlines:
- 2017 checklists may be used to enrol projects up to March 31, 2018. We realize you may have already costed out your specs for a project(s) and therefore offer this transition time.
- 2018 checklists are effective January 1, 2018 and beginning April 1, 2018, all project enrolments must use 2018 checklists.
- The 2018 program guides will be available in January.
2018 SINGLE FAMILY CHECKLIST ITEM UPDATES
A summary of updates is listed below, and we encourage you to review these. There are new checklist items as well as checklist items now offering additional points.
Important Reminder Notes:
- The checklist’s Section 1, Energy and Envelope, will not total without the EnerGuide rating. However, you may upload the checklist to the portal to enroll a project, and update once the energy results come in.We can help you with this.
- Your EnerGuide rating earns your project a set number of points, which will determine how high your BUILT GREEN® certification level can go (combined with points from the other six Sections of the checklist). If you earn additional points when filling out Section 1 of the checklist, those will not affect your seal level, but they will go towards the project’s overall score.
Checklist Item 1.1.11 (description update)
Updated for 2018: All electrical back-boxes in exterior walls and ceilings are airtight (molded plastic) for 1 point, and/or ceiling boxes are airtight and builder incorporates an exterior air barrier system for the walls (1 point).
Checklist Item 1.1.18—NEW
New for 2018: All decks or balconies are thermally broken from the building envelope by:
(i) Minimum R10 (1 point); OR
(ii) Are fully separated (2 points).
Checklist Item 1.2.3 (description update)
Updated for 2018: Install heat pumps to supply majority of space heating and cooling loads:
- ground/water with minimum COP of 4 and SEER 15; OR
- air source heat pump (ASHP) meeting minimum requirements: for split-system minimum 8.5 HSPF and minimum SEER 15. Or for single package system minimum 8.2 HSPF and minimum SEER 15.
Checklist Item 1.2.7.5—NEW
New for 2018: Install high-efficiency electrical domestic hot water system (standby loss in watts: 5% better than NECB 2011 for 2 points; 10% better for 3 points).
Checklist Item 1.3.3 (point allocation update)
Updated for 2018: Refrigerator is an ENERGY STAR labelled product (2 points).
Checklist Item 1.3.6 (description and point allocation update)
Updated for 2018: Clothes dryer is ENERGY STAR labelled (1 point) and has an energy performance "auto sense" dry setting, which utilizes a humidity sensor for energy efficiency (1 additional point).
Checklist Item 1.4.1 (description and point allocation update)
Updated for 2018: Home is built “solar ready”, following the guidelines from Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) or the Canadian Solar Industries Association (CanSIA): solar ready for domestic hot water (1 point) and/or solar ready for photovoltaic (1 point).
Checklist Item 1.5.6 (description and point allocation update)
Updated for 2018: Install and operate a home automation system that is capable of monitoring and adjusting (max. 4 points):
(i) heating, cooling, and humidity (2 points);
(ii) lighting greater than 4 locations/rooms (1 point);
(iii) if system can be controlled through a Wi-Fi, a smart phone, or app (1 point);
(iv) all lighting and/or blinds to adjust to hourly sun schedule (1 point)
(v) Domestic Hot Water (1 point);
(vi) and a “vacation or away” mode that can turn off all non-essential electrical loads (1 point).
Checklist Item 2.2.11 (description and point allocation update)
Updated for 2018: Solid countertops are made from durable materials such as granite, concrete, glass, metal, or local natural stone, for all kitchen counters (2 points), or all other countertop areas (1 point), or both (3 points total). Countertops have 30% or higher recycled content (1 additional point).
Checklist Item 3.10 (description update—alternative added)
Updated for 2018: Low-formaldehyde sub-floor sheathing (third-party certified to less than 0.18 ppm) or sub-floor made from substance material that is formaldehyde-free, such as concrete.
Checklist Item 5.6 (description and point allocation update)
Updated for 2018: Metal or engineered durable form systems used for concrete foundation walls (1 point) and for footings (1 point).
Checklist Item 6.6 (description and point allocation update)
Updated for 2018: Provide ENERGY STAR clothes washers: front loading (3 points), top loading or laundry centre (combo washer/dryer) (2 points), or combo ventless (4 points). Alternatively, the integrated water factor (IWF) can be calculated, and if it’s below the maximum IWF, 3 points will be awarded.
- Front loading >2.5 cu ft capacity, maximum IWF of 3.7;
- Top loading >2.5 cu ft capacity, maximum IWF of 4.3;
- Washers <2.5 cu ft capacity, maximum IWF of 4.2.
Checklist Item 6.7 (description update)
Updated for 2018: Install water-saving dishwasher that uses equal to or less than 13.25 L of water per cycle (3.5 US gallons/cycle).
Checklist Item 6.12 (description update—additional option)
Updated for 2018: Install efficient irrigation technology including (for 1 point each, to maximum 3 points):
(i) has head-to-head coverage;
(ii) uses high efficiency spray heads with distribution uniformity of 0.7 or greater;
(iii) uses square spray patterns to increase efficiency and reduce overspray onto non-permeable surfaces;
(iv) uses drip irrigation for minimum 50% of planting bed area, including all larger shrub bed areas;
(v) includes a flow sensor, central shut-off valve, and sub meter;
(vi) has a pressure regulating device;
(vii) includes a moisture sensor/rain delay controller;
(viii) pre-set irrigation systems to account for weather.
We know this is a time of transition with building code changes and the v.15 EnerGuide rating system, and we’re doing our best to accommodate these with a priority to support and work with builders. Should you have questions or require support, please do let us know.