New building codes include better energy efficiency

News Release
Ont. Gov.

TORONTO, Dec. 29 /CNW/ - One of the initiatives by the McGuinty government to promote Ontario’s culture of conservation will be realized on December 31, 2006 when the 2006 Building Code, with higher energy efficiency requirements, comes into effect.
“We will have a greener and more prosperous Ontario,” said John Gerretsen, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. “Our new Building Code will help new-home buyers cut long-term energy costs and give Ontarians with disabilities greater access to buildings. What’s more, our new code will boost Ontario’s building industry by encouraging innovation in building design and products.”
Starting next year, the new Building Code will boost the energy efficiency of a new home by 21.5 per cent, compared to a home built to the existing code requirements, through new standards for wall and ceiling insulation, high-efficiency furnaces and energy efficient windows. The new code sets even higher standards for homes with electrical heating.
The new code will phase in even greater energy efficiency requirements in January 2009 and again in January 2012.
In addition, the new Building Code will require new buildings throughout the province to be more accessible to people of all ages and abilities. It includes new standards for public corridors wide enough for modern wheelchairs and tactile signs to help people with visual impairments navigate through buildings.
The new code is written in an “objective-based” format that will promote innovation in building design and building products. As well, the new format is consistent with the code format other jurisdictions across Canada plan to adopt and will thereby help boost Ontario’s export of building products to other provinces.
The new code calls for higher standards for energy efficiency to come into force in January 2009, when near full-height basement insulation will be required, and in January 2012, when even higher levels of energy efficiency will come into force.