CA19 - Carbon Regulations
Prepare yourself for the future of carbon budgets.
THE TOPIC - CARBON REGULATIONS
The building landscape is on the cusp of a significant shift. Governments worldwide are slowly waking up to the reality of climate change, and as a result, building codes and zoning bylaws are being revamped to consider carbon footprints. The ability to accurately measure carbon and determine who to include on your design team will be paramount in meeting these new requirements.
A few recent regulation changes in Canada include the Zero Carbon Step Code (in BC) and a proposed update to the Toronto Green Standard v4 to include performance measures for Embodied Carbon Emissions. Here is a quick breakdown of the new code requirements and what they mean:
The ZCSC is a new regulation that is part of the BC Building code to limit GHG emissions in new construction and it came into effect on May 1, 2023. Similar to the Energy Step Code, it is available for municipalities to adopt and choose which level of performance they require. The levels include:
Level 1 - GHG Measuring Only
Level 2 - Moderate Carbon
Level 3 - Strong Carbon
Level 4 - Zero Carbon
You can see how municipalities like Saanich have adopted these requirements.
Toronto Green Standard
One of the most interesting and innovative aspects of this update is the importance of embodied carbon which are largely unregulated in the building industry. Results from a series of embodied carbon studies on real projects in Ontario found a range of embodied carbon intensities from 125kg to 891kg. The proposal includes a tiered approach to carbon intensities depending on building type.
The future is changing, and it’s changing quickly.
It is exciting to see municipalities taking these things seriously and making changes to their regulations as a result.
THE GRAPHIC
WHY IT MATTERS
Carbon Regulations matter for three primary reasons:
Accelerating change
Establishing a carbon baseline
Forcing change
Let’s dig a little deeper:
1 - Accelerating change
Carbon regulations are not just about controlling emissions. They play a crucial role in pushing the industry towards sustainable practices and carbon-efficient methods faster than it would under normal circumstances.
2 - Establishing a carbon baseline
The introduction of carbon regulations in building codes and zoning bylaws allows us to have a standard against which carbon emissions can be measured. This baseline is crucial to track progress and devise strategies to reduce emissions further.
3 - Forcing change
Carbon regulations ensure that everyone has to play their part in combating climate change. Even the most reluctant entities will have to comply with the new rules, thereby aiding in the collective effort to reduce carbon emissions.
1 ARTICLE TO READ
Check out The Toronto Green Standard Update. This report summarizes a revision to the Toronto Green Standard Version 4 (TGS v4) 2022 embodied emissions performance measures and details about the Toronto Green Standard Communication Strategy. It’s a must-read for architects and designers wanting to stay ahead of changing building codes and regulations.
1 PERSON TO FOLLOW
Anthony Pak is a standout in the field of carbon regulations. He is the founder of Priopta, a firm with deep expertise in Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) for buildings, and the founder of the Carbon Leadership Forum (CLF) British Columbia, Pak's insights are invaluable for anyone looking to stay updated on changes in the industry.
1 RESOURCE TO ACT ON
Regulating Carbon Emissions is a comprehensive guide to understanding the evolving regulations surrounding carbon emissions. It's a great resource for municipalities that are looking to adopt similar approaches to embodied and operational carbon.