2024 Checklist Updates & Other Important Notes

2024 Program Updates 

This year, our checklist updates are a result of input received from industry, code changes, new technologies, alongside our Technical Standards Committee and the Board of Directors. Beyond our Renovation Program rehaul, our other program updates are not substantial: some items were removed because they were no longer applicable, while others were updated due to changes, innovations, and a desire to help move the industry forward with greenhouse gas emissions and carbon capture.

Program Checklists:

- Single Family New Construction (incl. *Net Zero Energy+ & **Restorations)
- Single Family MURB New Construction
- Single Family Renovations
- Single Family Small Home Improvement (incl. Bathroom, Basement & Kitchen)
- High Density New Construction (multi-storey, residential tower, mixed-use + Renovations)
- Communities – Pilot
- Small Commercial – Pilot

Note, full list of checklist updates are below.

*For BUILT GREEN® Net Zero Energy+, BUILT GREEN® Gold or Platinum projects that reach net zero energy (home produces as much energy as it uses) Built Green recognizes this achievement, providing additional eligibility requirements have been met:

1)  Builder has passed Built Green Net Zero Energy for New Construction training.
2)  Builder is working with an Energy Advisor who has also successfully taken this training.

Built Green’s Net Zero Energy+ is the highest level of certification. It isn’t just about the energy; rather, the + represents all the other areas achieved beyond the energy performance. More here.

**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. Learn more. 

Our Checklists and Guides will be available for viewing starting this coming Wednesday on the BUILT GREEN® Portal. Or members may contact the office.

Renovation Program Relaunch 

Our Renovation Program has undergone a rehaul. Our commitment is to meet industry where they’re at and then encourage incremental progress to any kind of renovation—and provide proof of sustainability gains. We're offering professional renovators and restorers more options; these offerings are divided into the programs below:

Single Family Renovations

- Whole House (75% or more)
- Renovations (40 - 70%)
- Small Home Improvements

High Density Renovations

- Mixed-Use
- Repurposed
- Heritage

Training: Built Green Whole-House Energy Retrofit – NEW 

Supporting our Renovation Program relaunch, we have partnered with Blue House Energy to create this new online training course, which builds on industry’s knowledge, providing the bigger picture of an “envelope-first” approach. It encompasses the basement to attic, assessing energy usage and building envelope, air leakage and drafts, insulation levels, heating / cooling problems, and how to identify and address dampness and mold or mildew, which could lead to structural and / or health problems. Learn more. 

Another Important Update

Greenhouse Gases & Carbon

Throughout our programs, there are checklist items that contribute to the reduction of GHGs, both operationally and embodied carbon. We enable builders to calculate their projects' GHGs in the Energy & Envelope section of our program. Currently, GHG reporting is an option in our programs—not a requirement; however, select municipalities are looking to set GHG reduction requirements, while the Canadian Commission on Building and Fire Codes is discussing this for 2025 National Building Code. We’re also encouraging life-cycle analysis or environmental product declarations for materials used in the build.

Important Reminders

1) Project Enrolments: March 31 Deadline

Projects using the 2023 checklist must be enrolled by March 31, 2024. If there are extenuating circumstances, please contact us.

2) Your Membership Renewal 

Membership renewals continue being issued during this time, so please keep an eye out and ensure you renew for 2024; you may pay by cheque or online.
 
3) Built Green & National Building Code 2020

BUILT GREEN® programs align with, support, and extend beyond energy code (9.36) and incoming Energy Tier Code. These programs support builders in achieving code—and provide a competitive advantage beyond energy. The differentiator originally associated with energy alone is gone (beyond cases of exceptionally high performance).

By 2024, National Energy Tier Code adoption is planned for most jurisdictions across the country, and builders need to be ready. Tier Code has five energy improvement tiers affecting overall space and DHW energy performance as well as envelope performance. Compliance is achieved through a performance or a prescriptive route, but minimum energy efficiency is required: a base level that all builders must achieve. 

Built Green provides performance-based pathways to enable improvements—in energy and across seven other critical aspects of sustainability, addressing carbon, air quality, water, waste, wellness, durability, and more. We can guide you through Building Code Requirements. Learn more.

Energy Code: One Piece of Our Programs + Your Pathway to a Competitive Advantage
 
Our third-party certification programs take a holistic approach to green building, with eight pillars of sustainability. Building code fits into just one of these sections, and it refers to the minimum requirement that everyone must do. We can help you reach targets and address sustainability beyond energy—beyond status quo.

Full Summary of New and Revised Checklist Items

NEW Single Family Checklist items (also applicable to MURB) 

1.1.2	Builder performs life-cycle analysis (Operational + Embodied Carbon). Life-Cycle Specialist conducts a Cradle-to-Gate analysis for 2 points; a Cradle-to-Grave analysis for 4 points, or a Cradle-to-Cradle analysis for 6 points. A recognized Material Carbon Emissions Estimator (MCE2) such as Natural Resources Canada's Material Carbon Emissions Estimator (MCE2).
1.1.3	Builder provides Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) for materials used in the house (1 point for 2 EPDs to maximum of 4 points); uses a recognized Material Carbon Emissions' Estimator (such as Natural Resources Canada to predict greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) (5 points).
3.27	Builder performs an unguarded blower door test on individual units to show reduction in unit-to-unit air transfer (compartmentalization). For Single Family (and MURBs) Air Changes, Normalized Leakage Area, or Normalized Leakage: 1 point for AL-3B, 2 points for AL-4B, three points for AL-5b, and four points for AL-6B.
4.9	For kitchen range hood with rating of 400 CFM or more (188L/s), provide make-up air system that is interlocked to hood fan (2 points).
4.10	Builder installs a Conditioning Energy Recovery Ventilator (CERV) or Compact Air Treatment Unit--a newer generation of ventilator substitutes a conventional ERV core with a heat pump, providing heating and cooling and ventilation (2 points).
5.11	Builder provides cut list or materials list for construction of the house (1 point); the house material is delivered as a prefab package (3 points); house comes to site pre-built-in factory (5 points).
5.12	Builder donates excess materials to a restorer, weight or volume (5% for 1 point, 10% for 2 points).
7.7	Provide an indoor water feature (i.e. waterfall, aquarium, water wall, indoor pond, etc.).
7.8	Provide an indoor living wall feature, with low-maintenance plants.

REVISED Single Family Checklist items 

1.3.3	Install ENERGY STAR rated furnace with a minimum 97% AFUE (3 points).
1.3.5	Install a standard programmable thermostat with Wi-Fi that can be controlled by a smart phone or app for 2 points, and programmable thermostat with Wi-Fi and learning capability for 3 points.
1.3.8.1	Install condensing hot water tank (3 points).
4.5	Install an active Heat Recovery Ventilator or Energy Recovery Ventilator (HRV or ERV) and verify balanced installation for 2 points; 3 points for more than 65% (Sensible Recovery Efficiency); 4 points for more than 80%.
4.7	Ventilation system is installed according to CSA Standard F326 or ASHRAE 62.2 2022.
5.7	Metal or engineered durable form systems used for concrete foundation walls (1 point) and for footings (1 point). Or, ICF walls 1 point, or ICFs used for concrete foundation walls (1 point) and for footings (1 point).
5.10	Existing dwellings onsite are recycled (more than 50% diverted from landfill, for 3 points), deconstructed (5 points) or relocated (6 points) instead of demolished.
8.3.5	Builder's site superintendent or Sales & Marketing individual has successfully taken and maintained BUILT GREEN® Training: BUILT GREEN® Program Fundamentals (1 point), or for 2 points: Construction Technology for Built Green, Built Green Net Zero Energy for New Construction, Built Green Whole-House Energy Retrofit, or other related training focused on sustainable building practices. BUILT GREEN® training must be updated every two years.

NEW High Density Checklist items

1.1.2	Builder performs life-cycle analysis (Operational + Embodied Carbon). Life-Cycle Specialist conducts a Cradle-to-Gate analysis for 2 points; a Cradle-to-Grave analysis for 4 points, or a Cradle-to-Cradle analysis for 6 points. A recognized Material Carbon Emissions Estimator.
1.1.3	Builder provides Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) for materials used in the house (1 point for 2 EPDs to maximum of 4 points); uses a recognized Material Carbon Emissions' Estimator (such as Natural Resources Canada to predict greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) (5 points).
3.2.24	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: 1 point for AL-4B, 2 points for AL-5B, and three points for AL-6B.
3.2.25	The builder conducts compartmentalization air tightness testing (blower door testing 5% of units) at mid-construction. This will allow the identification of air leakage areas to be fixed between units and common spaces, to ensure minimum odour, contaminant and sound transfer between units (2 points).
4.11	For kitchen range hood with rating of 400 CFM or more (188L/s), provide make-up air system that is interlocked to hood fan.
4.12	Builder installs a Conditioning Energy Recovery Ventilator (CERV) or Compact Air Treatment Unit--a newer generation of ventilator substitutes a conventional ERV core with a heat pump, providing heating and cooling and ventilation.
5.12	Builder provides cut list or materials list for construction of the house (1 point); the house material is delivered as a prefab package (3 points); house comes to site pre-built-in factory (5 points).
5.13	Builder donates excess materials to a restorer, weight or volume (5% for 1 point, 10% for 2 points).

REVISED High Density Checklist items

4.1	Ventilation system is designed and installed according to CSA Standard F326 or ASHRAE 62.2.
5.7	Metal or engineered durable form systems used for concrete foundation walls (1 point) and for footings (1 point). Or, ICF walls 1 point, or ICFs used for concrete foundation walls (1 point) and for footings (1 point).
5.11	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 building walls, floors and roof structure by area (m2) – 50% for 1 point, 75% for 2 points, 90% for 3 points. To claim credit, at least 2 points must also be achieved in checklist item 5.4 for the overall construction waste (50% diversion from landfill). 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.
8.3.3	Builder's site superintendent or Sales & Marketing individual has successfully taken and maintained BUILT GREEN® Training: Program Fundamentals (1 pt), or for 2 additional points: Construction Technology for BUILT GREEN®, BUILT GREEN® Net Zero Energy for New Construction, and other related training focused on sustainable building practices. BUILT GREEN® training must be updated every two years.