A law to force environmental improvements on large buildings

Quebec has decided to tackle the energy efficiency of large buildings and has just tabled a bill aimed at saving more energy per year than the Romaine production, by establishing a more restrictive law for new buildings.  The Ministry of the Environment, Benoit Charrette, wishes to tackle the "energetic sieves" which are poorly insulated buildings that use energy unnecessarily, as well as those not reusing their thermal vapours.  In a bill tabled last November, the government intends to assess and rate old buildings and raise standards for new construction.

Large commercial, industrial and residential buildings will be targeted by this new regulation, directly affecting just under 20,000 buildings in Quebec. Owners will have a strict time frame to comply and avoid penalties of up to $600,000. Quebec estimates that this initiative would allow an energy saving of 10 terawatt hours (TWh), representing a greater potential than the Romaine, which produces more than 8 TWh and had cost more than 7 billion dollars. The government also wants to include a new environmental standard in its building code, which would apply to all new constructions.  The means aimed for improving the buildings energy efficiency are the energy consumption measurement, high performance insulation for commercial and industrial sectors, a good ventilation system, LED lighting systems, as well as compliance with LEED standards, which aim to improve the buildings sustainability by considering site layout, efficient water management, energy consumption, choice of materials, air quality and special design features.

Quebec wishes to accelerate changes in habits, improve the airtightness of buildings and reduce energy consumption and, although, there are penalties attached to this bill, the ministry mainly intends to focus on energy conservation programs already existing and the improvements and rules strengthening to accelerate changes for buildings and bring us closer to our decarbonization goals.

 Source : Banque de développement du Canda

Photo : voirvert.ca