Mandate

The National Model Codes Committee (NMCC) on Climate Change Mitigation will complete work undertaken in the previous code cycle and expand operational greenhouse gas emissions (GHGe) and energy efficiency requirements applicable to new and existing buildings and houses and develop requirements to minimize excessive embodied GHGe for new Part 3 and Part 9 buildings in the National Model Codes as described below and in accordance with the Canadian Board for Harmonized Construction Codes (CBHCC) approved work plan.

Note: the breakdown of mandates shown below does not necessarily reflect the recommended task groups and working groups being planned.

Lighting and electrical power systems
  • Recommend code changes to update interior and exterior lighting requirements in NECB, considering lighting power allowance requirements, lighting system control strategies, ASHRAE 90.1, and lighting requirements for small Part 9 buildings, where applicable.
  • Pending direction from the CBHCC, recommend code changes to introduce performance requirements for on-site renewable energy systems.
Heat pumps in NECB and NBC Section 9.36.
  • Recommend code changes to address inconsistencies in the treatment of heat pumps in NECB and NBC Section 9.36., considering performance of heat pumps in colder climates and contribution of heat pumps to total heating demand, where applicable.
Operational GHG emissions in new Part 3 buildings
  • Recommend code changes to further minimize excessive operational GHG emissions in new Part 3 buildings, considering expansion of the absolute intensity-based metrics to operational GHG emissions, and the impact of future climatic design loads on energy codes, where applicable.
  • Pending direction from the CBHCC, recommend code changes to minimize the building’s contribution to peak energy consumption, where applicable.
Operational GHG emissions in new Part 9 buildings
  • Recommend code changes to further minimize excessive operational GHG emissions in new Part 9 buildings, considering completion of prescriptive tiered energy efficiency packages for tiers 2, 3, and 4, additional energy conservation measures for the prescriptive trade-off path in NBC Section 9.36., expansion of the absolute intensity-based metrics to operational GHG emissions, and the impact of future climatic design loads on energy codes, where applicable.
  • Pending direction from the CBHCC, recommend code changes to minimize the building’s contribution to peak energy consumption and to introduce prescriptive requirements for on-site renewable energy systems, where applicable.
Energy performance of small Part 9 buildings (small building validation)
  • Recommend code changes to address energy efficiency and operational GHGe requirements for new non-residential and mixed-use building types that currently have the option to follow Section 9.36. or NECB requirements, where applicable.
  • Recommend code changes applicable to alteration of existing Part 9 non-residential and mixed-use buildings, where applicable.
Performance compliance for embodied GHG emissions of new Part 3 and Part 9 buildings
  • Pending direction from the CBHCC, recommend code changes to introduce performance requirements to minimize excessive embodied GHGe from new Part 3 and Part 9 buildings.
Prescriptive compliance for embodied GHG emissions of new Part 9 houses
  • Pending direction from the CBHCC, recommend code changes to introduce prescriptive requirements to minimize excessive embodied GHGe from new Part 9 houses.
Energy efficiency and operational GHG emissions for AEB in NECB
  • Recommend code changes to introduce an energy efficiency performance compliance path for alteration of existing buildings (AEB) considering a minimum energy performance level (or improvement level), and expansion of absolute intensity-based metrics to alteration of existing buildings, where applicable.
  • Recommend code changes to minimize excessive operational GHG emissions in alterations of existing buildings, considering both performance and prescriptive compliance options, where applicable.
Energy efficiency and operational GHG emissions for AEB in Subsection 10.9.36.
  • Recommend code changes to introduce an energy efficiency performance compliance path for alteration of existing buildings considering a minimum energy performance level (or improvement level), and expansion of absolute intensity-based metrics to alteration of existing buildings, where applicable.
  • Recommend code changes to minimize excessive operational GHG emissions in alterations of existing buildings, considering both performance and prescriptive compliance options, where applicable.

The NMCC is established by, and reports to, the CBHCC. The NMCC exists until the completion of its mandate or as otherwise directed by the CBHCC.

The NMCC will comply with the Operating Procedures of the Canadian Board for Harmonized Construction Codes.

Responsibilities

In accordance with the mandate described above:

  • develop proposed code changes for consideration for public review by the CBHCC;
    • in developing proposed code changes, consider:
      • harmonization with provincial/territorial variations where possible, if multiple provincial/territorial variations exist seek direction from the CBHCC;
      • code change requests forwarded by the CBHCC;
      • new and existing standards and guidelines; and
      • implications on other code requirements;
    • in developing proposed code changes, identify:
      • impacts of the proposed code changes; and
      • enforcement implications of the proposed code changes;
  • in consideration of public review comments received, recommend code changes for publication, for consideration by the CBHCC;
  • identify where research is needed to support the mandate and support coordination efforts;
  • identify opportunities for coordination with standard development and support coordination;
  • support development of material for the relevant user’s guides and commentaries, where applicable;
  • prepare a final report outlining a brief summary of the deliberations and considerations that led to the recommendation including any outstanding unresolved issues or concerns; and
  • through the Chair:
    • monitor progress against the approved CBHCC work plan and provide regular progress updates to the CBHCC; and
    • participate on the Standing Codes Coordination Committee, to ensure that there are no overlaps with, or conflicts between, the work being developed and that of other committees.