Program Updates: 2020 Single Family Checklist

As we near the end of 2019, we are providing a summary of the adjusted and added items to our 2020 BUILT GREEN® Checklists, which provide you with new opportunities to earn points towards your projects’ BUILT GREEN® certification.

Of note, reported GHG reductions will earn points, the BC Energy Step Code will be accepted as an alternative energy compliance path, and the Water Efficiency Rating Score (WERS) certification is now an option for Water Conservation.

I. Project Enrolment Deadlines

•      2019 Checklists may be used to enrol projects up to March 31, 2020. We realize you may have already costed out your specs for projects, and therefore offer this transition time.

•      2020 Checklists are effective January 1, 2020, and beginning April 1, 2020, all project enrolments must use 2020 checklists.

II. 2020 Single Family Checklist Updates

Program updates are informed by building code, the Technical Standards Committee, the Board of Directors, new technologies and innovations, and industry input. We value input from industry throughout the year, which offers greater clarity on existing checklist items, potential reallocation of points on select checklist items, as well as the addition of new checklist items. Your engagement helps keep our programs relevant, so please stay in touch.

Key highlights our program updates: 

•      Built Green & Code: 9.36 / Energy Step Code

We want to reiterate that Built Green and 9.36 / Energy Step Code are complementary—our programs can help with compliance, and moreover, the energy-specific code is a subset of our program, as we address energy and then go beyond to take a holistic approach to sustainable building, which offers you the competitive advantage of showing you’re a builder that goes beyond code requirements. More on this and what builders are saying here.

For those building to Step Code requirements, this is now offered as an alternate pathway for the energy portion of our checklist. While we continue to require EnerGuide (Single Family & Renovations) and NECB/ASHRAE (High Density), builders now have the option to use their step code scores as the energy compliance requirement for their BUILT GREEN® certification. 

•      Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Through our updated checklists, greenhouse gas emission reductions may be calculated based on the energy modelling report—and BUILT GREEN® projects can earn points for emission reductions. We know some municipalities are looking for this, and our builders now have a means to provide these results.

•      The Water Efficiency Rating Score (WERS)

For the Water Conservation section of our programs, builders have the option to use The Water Efficiency Rating Score (WERS). This tool is based on measurable parameters, along with a scoring scale of zero to 100, zero being the most desirable. It considers indoor and outdoor water usage and provides a third-party certified label. This certification is the first of its kind in Canada and offered exclusively through our certification programs.

•      Aging in Place

Recognizing the importance of visitability, accessibility, and aging in place, we include universal design principles—as they relate to adaptions on new homes, as well as modifications on existing homes—that will encourage and reward those builders and renovators who integrate these features as part of Built Green’s certification programs. Given the work being done in this area by the Canadian Home Builders’ Association National, as well as existing accessibility certification programs, like the Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Certification, the BUILT GREEN® requirements will recognize existing standards and will not be recreated. The benefits of creating built environments that prolong the occupant’s ability to remain in their home benefits the individual, their community, and the environment.

Full summary of new and revised checklist items: 

NEW Single Family Checklist items

1.1.1	Calculate and provide the greenhouse gas emission reductions based on the energy modelling results. 10% reduction from the [ERS] reference house for 1 point, 20% reduction for 2 points, and 30% reduction for 3 points. (See next tab: GHG Calculator.)
2.2.5	Cross-laminated timber (1 point) from third-party certified, sustainably harvested source (CSA, SFI, or FSC) (2 points).
6.2.1	The Water Efficiency Rating Score (WERS) is based on measurable parameters, along with a scoring scale of zero to 100, zero being the most desirable. The tool considers indoor and outdoor water usage and provides a third-party certified label. (10 points)
7.2.3	Builder integrates design solutions to support visitability (1 point), and / or adaptability (2 points), and / or accessibility (3 points) as outlined in Canada Mortgage & Housing Corporation’s Accessibility, Universal Design and Adaptability: Design and Implementation. Maximum 6 points.

REVISED Single Family Checklist items

1.2.16	All windows in home are ENERGY STAR labelled (or equivalent) (2 points).
3.21	All hard surface flooring must be certified as compliant with the FloorScore or GreenGuard standard (or equivalent) by an independent third-party. Flooring products covered by FloorScore or GreenGuard include vinyl, linoleum, laminate flooring, wood flooring, ceramic flooring, rubber flooring, wall base, and associated sundries (2 points).
7.1.11	The builder integrates innovative sustainable building practices above and beyond what is contained within the checklist section and provides supporting documentation. The innovation must apply to the project and will be reviewed by the Technical Standards Committee at the time of submission. Built Green encourages life-cycle costing.
7.2.1	Builder's company vehicles are electric, hybrid, bio-diesel vehicles, or offset by third-party carbon offset program (1 point per 1/3 vehicle fleet—maximum of 3 points).

The same updates applied to the single family program apply to the single family renovation program.

For a copy of our 2020 checklists and guides, please contact our office, and/or if you’re a member, these will be posted on the BUILT GREEN® Portal.

We know this is a time of transition with building code changes, and we are here if you have questions or require support.

Find updates to the 2020 High Density / High Density Reno Program here.