2025 Single Family Checklist Updates - Available for Viewing

Have no interior attic access.

New point to separate "and/or" clauses.

Provide electrical battery storage, sufficient to power the home for 2 days.

New resiliency point.

Conduct a systematic evaluation of potential extreme weather events including at least: sea level rise, flooding, hurricanes, tornados, earthquakes, tsunamis, wildfires, droughts, landslides, extreme heat, and winter storms. Provide a report with the evaluation and findings. 

Builder and/or project team members are a certified B Corporation and/or have a Just label (1 point per team member—maximum of 5 points).

The home contains a secondary suite for multigenerational living or a tenant to provide additional living options and reduce raw material use that would otherwise be required to build a second home. The secondary suite must comply with all jurisdiction requirements and recommendations for a secondary suite, including at a minimum:

- Ventilation for the secondary suite in compliance with CSA Standard F326.

- Separate HVAC controls (i.e. thermostat) for the secondary suite.

- Hot water heating sufficient to support a home with a secondary suite.

- Proper egress windows.

- Separate cooking facilities.

- Second washroom facilities.

New item for multi-generational housing.

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. Note that the selection of environmentally preferable materials can help support lower embodied carbon.

Specific brands of software has been removed. Builders may use any suitable brand that aligns with the requirements.

Install additional insulation on exterior of above grade walls, above insulation amounts already required by building code:

(i) +R5 (for 1 point);

(ii) +R10 (for 2 points); or

(iii) +R15 (3 points).

Updated for clearer wording.

Install site-applied spray foam (or cut-to-size rigid foam, sealed with appropriate foam/caulking). Select any one or multiple of the following options to insulate:

(i) entire rim joist area (1 point);

(ii) exposed floors (2 points);

(iii) house walls (4 points);

(iv) entire roof (3 points).

Updated to remove "and/or" clauses.

Install additional exterior insulations system on exterior of foundation system, above code-required interior insulation level:

(i) +R7.5 (1 point);

(ii) +R10 (2 points); or

(iii) +R15 (3 points).

Updated to remove "and/or" clauses.

Install insulation above building code required under entire basement slab:

(i) +R5 (1 point);

(ii) +R8 (2 points); or

(iii) +R12 (3 points).

Updated to remove "and/or" clauses.

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.

Format updated to list each item. Added (ii). Points updated to 1.

Install weather-stripped and insulated manufactured interior attic hatch:

(i) R20 (1 point); or

(ii) R27 (2 points).

Updated to remove "and/or" clauses.

Attached garage is fully insulated, has no provision for future heating (unless the garage is used for electrical battery storage to power the home and/or vehicles), and overhead door is insulated to minimum R8 (for 1 point) or R12 (for 2 points).

Updated verbiage with “unless the garage is used for electrical battery storage to power the home and/or vehicles”.

For this house, the builder conducts an air-tightness inspection at the mid-construction stage (1 point), with optional blower door test (additional 1 point). This will allow the Energy Advisor to identify areas of air leakage before completion. At completion, additional points for final Air Change per Hour levels: less than 3 ACH @ 50 Pa (1 point), less than 2 ACH @ 50 Pa (3 points), and less than 1 ACH @ 50 Pa (5 points).

Updated verbiage with “ACH @ 50 Pa”.

Install a zoned heating system. Either a) from a single HVAC source utilizing two or more programmable, thermostatically controlled zones; or b) zoning separate systems through separate programmable thermostats. Points are awarded based on the number of zones:

(i) 2 zones (2 points);

(ii) 3 zones (3 points); or

(iii) 4 zones (4 points).

Revised sentence form into a list for clarity.

Install heat pumps to supply majority of space heating and cooling loads:

- ground/water with minimum COP of 4.00 and SEER 15.00; OR

- air source heat pump (ASHP) meeting minimum requirements: for split-system minimum 10.00 HSPF and minimum SEER 16.00. Or for single package system minimum 8.50 HSPF and minimum SEER 15.20.

HSPF values updated. 

Install high efficiency boiler domestic hot water system (AFUE 95% or better for 2 points).

Updated thresholds and updated points.

Install heat pump based DHW heating system (ground, water, or air sourced, UEF of 3 for 2 points; UEF of 4 for 3 points) to supply a minimum of 35% of the peak DHW heating load and 70% of the total DHW energy load.

Updated requirements for UEF, which has replaced EF.

ENERGY STAR lighting or LED lighting used for 100% of the entire home.

Updated for 100% of the home. Points updated to 2 points.

Insulated ceilings have no recessed lights, or advanced air-sealing methods such as airtight lighting that does not puncture the air barrier, are employed to ensure that recessed lights are fully air-tight.

Updated verbiage to clarify what "advanced" means.

Use sustainably harvested exterior wall sheathing products (CSA, SFI, or FSC) for 1 point; recycled content of minimum 50% pre- or post-consumer for 2 points.

Point thresholds have been updated.

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:

(i) AL-3B (1 point);

(ii) AL-4B (2 points);

(iii) AL-5B (3 points); or

(iv) AL-6B (4 points).

Reformatted as a list for clarity.

Install a continuously operating ventilation fan with a programmable timer or controller for high speed operation.

Updated language for ventilation fans to be operating continuously. Humidity control is captured separately in item 4.6.

Reduce reliance on traditional concrete forms by using one of the following: 

(i) metal or engineered durable forms; or

(ii) insulated concrete forms.

Updated to remove "and/or" clauses and updated points.

Structural insulated panel system used for at least:

(i) 75% of roof/ceiling (4 points);

(ii) 75% of walls (6 points);

(iii) exposed floors (2 points); and/or (iv) foundation (2 points).

Updated to a list to limit "and/or" clauses.