NRC: Canada Invests $5M to Update Model National Energy Code for Buildings

August 10, 2007 // Published as a news service by IHS

The code will respond to today's energy efficiency issues and will have a long-term impact on Canada's energy legacy.

With support and leadership from the provinces and territories, Canada's energy code will establish minimum requirements to construct buildings that reflect today's rising energy and construction costs, technological innovation and energy concerns, the NRC said.

"This announcement complements our government's ecoENERGY Initiatives, a $2 billion investment in clean technology, renewable energy and energy efficiency," said Gary Lunn, Canada's Minister of Natural Resources.

"Updating the Model National Energy Code is good for Canadians. It will help all provinces reduce energy use, increase energy efficiency and reduce harmful GHG (greenhouse gas) and air pollution emissions."

NRC, home to Canada's model national construction codes, will oversee the development of the energy code.

"The development of a single national energy code will encourage Canadian companies to create new energy-efficient technologies, thus promoting sustainability across the country," said Dr. Pierre Coulombe, NRC president.

Under the direction of the Canadian Commission on Building and Fire Codes (CCBFC), which is responsible for the development of the model national construction codes of Canada at the NRC, the new energy code will be developed following the same broad consensus process used to develop other model national codes, such as the National Building Code of Canada.

The new energy code will be published by 2012 and will complement the model national construction codes that will be published in 2010.

Source: Natural Resources Canada (NRC).