Regulations

Training sessions and any information pertaining to the proposed regulatory requirements come under the control of the RBQ. You can find out more on the RBQ Web site at:

http://www.rbq.gouv.qc.ca/lois-reglements-et-codes/projets-de-reglement/en-processus-dadoption.html (in French)

The additional costs associated with the proposed regulatory requirements will vary according to the type of dwelling, the location and the building practice with which they are compared. They should represent approximately 1 to 2% for an average size single-family dwelling and a small building with dwelling units built in the south of the province. What is saved on energy bills should greatly exceed these costs.

The regulatory requirements aimed at energy efficiency in buildings are contained in the Regulation respecting energy conservation in new buildings (c. E-1.1, r.1) arising from the Act respecting the conservation of energy in buildings (R.S.Q., c. E-1.1, amended by S.Q. 1983, c. 9).

The regulatory requirements aimed at the other aspects of buildings are contained in the municipal construction regulations and in the Québec Construction Code (CCQ) (B-1.1, r.0.01.01).    

The Régie du bâtiment du Québec administers laws and regulations in buildings and adopts a construction code that is applicable to Québec. For more information, consult the List of laws, regulations and codes administered by the Régie du bâtiment du Québec.

Finally, to check the building codes and standards that are in force in your municipality, contact your municipal building inspection department.

Energy consumption has a significant incidence on the budget of Québec households. Quebeckers deal with high energy costs, particularly those associated with heating their homes. Energy consumption also has an impact on energy supply during peak periods, on certain forms of energy and on greenhouse gas emissions. Therefore, it is worthwhile to find out ways of reducing consumption as many possibilities present themselves to achieve this goal.

The most effective one, as well as the least costly for consumers, is to make sure that their dwellings are energy efficient, this means as early on as the construction phase.

That is why Québec is regulating the energy efficiency of buildings and proposing stricter regulatory requirements.

As a result, a draft regulation aiming to amend the Construction Code to introduce new energy efficiency requirements for residential buildings was published in the Gazette officielle du Québec on February 22, 2012. These requirements would enable Quebeckers to reduce their energy bills.

The regulation targets new buildings and enlargement work performed on residential buildings, such as single-family and multi-family dwellings, that house only dwelling units and their subsidiary occupancies, have a building area not more than 600 square meters and a building height not more than three storeys.

The regulation increases the energy efficiency requirements of new houses and dwelling units by improving the insulation of the roofs, walls and foundations, by increasing minimum requirements for doors and windows and by requiring the installation of ventilation systems that use heat recovery ventilators (HRVs).

More details are available on the RBQ Web site at:

http://www.rbq.gouv.qc.ca/salle-de-presse/les-nouvelles/nouvelles-detail/item/documents-utiles-sur-le-reglement-en-efficacite-energetique.html (in French)

More information and the terms of the proposed regulatory requirements are available on the Web site of the RBQ at: http://www.rbq.gouv.qc.ca/lois-reglements-et-codes/projets-de-reglement/en-processus-dadoption.html (in French)

While it can vary according to the type of dwelling, it is estimated that the energy performance of a dwelling that respects the proposed regulatory requirements could improve by approximately 25%.

The new requirements are inspired by the current Novoclimat program for new homes which has been operating since 1999 and has certified more than 17,000 housing units.

These requirements were also the subject of techno-economic evaluations to determine the levels of feasibility and profitability for the consumer as well as validations from different members of the construction industry collected during advisory committees, meetings and presentations.

No, Novoclimat certification is independent of regulatory requirements.

The ministry intends to continue improving the energy efficiency in buildings and is currently developing a new and improved version of the Novoclimat program.

The Novoclimat program continues to operate whether the draft regulation comes into force or not. The ministry intends to continue improving the energy efficiency in buildings and is currently developing a new and improved version of the Novoclimat program.

All information pertaining to the Novoclimat program is available on the Web site of the energy efficiency division of the MRNF under the Novoclimat section:
http://www.efficaciteenergetique.mrnf.gouv.qc.ca/novoclimat