FEI-FEVI 2010 EEC Report filed March 31, 2011 - FortisBC

FORTISBC ENERGY INC. AND FORTISBC ENERGY (VANCOUVER ISLAND) INC.
2010 ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND CONSERVATION ANNUAL REPORT
11.2.3.3 Standards and Company Involvement: Stakeholder Level
BC Building Codes for New Construction
In 2010, the Companies were involved at a stakeholder level in the development of the new
provincial building codes. This required the development and analysis of multiple modelling
scenarios to determine the impact of higher efficiency target levels. Modelling variables included
fuel source, location, construction techniques, and materials. The stakeholder committee agreed
to take the approach of concentrating on the thermal efficiency of the building enclosure.
Industry will need to recognize the diversity of design and construction techniques that will be
required for gas or electric applications.
The overall impact on construction costs to achieve higher efficiency ratings are under review.
Once the building code is adopted, support for implementation will need to be provided. This will
primarily involve educational support with industry stakeholders on energy specific changes to
appliances, materials, and construction techniques.
Residential Boiler Regulations (Still in Proposal Stage)
Canada’s energy efficiency regulations for residential boilers have remained unchanged since
1998. A regulation review is underway. When the new regulations are enacted, they will apply to
any boiler manufactured after September 2010 and will mandate a Minimum Efficiency
Performance Standard (“MEPS”) of 82 percent with no standing pilot. Comments for review
were accepted up to June 1, 2010. The Companies’ involvement included written responses to
NRCan’s Office of Energy Efficiency (“OEE") during the consultation period.
The Companies will be monitoring the impact of these new regulations. Increases to appliance
costs and technical challenges to retrofitting existing systems could have market impact.
Technical challenges include possible increases to venting requirements and additional
drainage requirements. Existing lower efficiency inventory appliances will still be available and
will slow the integration of higher efficiency options into the marketplace. The customers for
these appliances are homeowners for retrofit applications and homebuilders or developers for
new residential construction.
Hearth Product Regulations
The Companies were involved with industry stakeholders to develop the EnerChoice top tier
labelling system to help customers identify efficiency levels. The EnerChoice labelling system
was introduced a few years ago, but the work of helping customers recognize the label and
associated benefits is ongoing.
There is currently no regulation for minimum efficiency of hearth products; however, NRCan
requires fireplaces to have a Fireplace Efficiency (“FE”) rating label. Ratings for models
currently available range from 20 percent to 70 percent FE.
Integration of some of these products into the ENERGY STAR® program would be a good start
to raising awareness of the benefits of energy efficiency.
SECTION 11: ENABLING ACTIVITIES Page 234