The head of a group representing Greater Victoria builders publicly attacked the proposed building code changes that promise to reduce emissions responsible for climate change, but could also raise the net cost of housing.

B次元官网网址淔ast tracking energy efficiency is both irresponsible and costly,B次元官网网址� said Case Edge, executive director of the Victoria Residential Builders Association (VRBA).

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It consists out of five steps designed to improve the energy efficiency of new buildings with the stated goal of making all new buildings by 2032 net-zero energy ready. Net zero energy ready buildings are buildings that could (with additional measures) generate enough energy onsite to meet their own energy needs.

The provincial government introduced the code in 2017, and Saanich staff have identified it as an attractive tool in reducing the communityB次元官网网址檚 greenhouse gas emissions, as buildings account for a sizable share of community greenhouse gas (GHGs) emissions B次元官网网址� in the case of Saanich 30 per cent.

But Edge warned the code will undermine housing affordability, without addressing climate change.

At issue are competing claims from the provincial government and VRBA. Edge wrote in an earlier letter the additional cost of a genuine passive home meeting the highest standard of the Step Code (Step 5) would range between $55,410 and $110,820 B次元官网网址� far above the governmentB次元官网网址檚 estimate of $17,450.

He repeated this claim during his presentation. B次元官网网址淵ou know and everybody in this room knows that you cannot build a Tier 5, passive home for an additional $17,000 above code,B次元官网网址� he said.

Edge said his own survey of B次元官网网址渞eal buildersB次元官网网址� shows additional costs will range between at least $55,000 to $110,000. In this market, you can bet the higher number.B次元官网网址�

Edge also predicted that the new code would not significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions. B次元官网网址淚t doesnB次元官网网址檛 effectively address climate change,B次元官网网址� he said.

The proposed code also violates the agreement to harmonize the provincial building code with national building code

B次元官网网址淣ational diligence is therefore ignored, undermining consumer protection,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淪tep Code is enabling 161 municipalities to invoke their own level of energy efficiency outside the national building code, where diligence is done, and the expertise is. It is not [with] councils or their staff.B次元官网网址�

The code also threatens to expose municipalities to additional legal liabilities, he said.

Subject to final council approval later this year following input, all new Part 9 buildings would have to achieve Step 1 of the code by November 1, 2018. Part 9 buildings include single family homes, duplexes, town-homes, and small apartment buildings.

Edge also called on Saanich to change its inspection fees.

Saanich, like other municipalities, calculates fees on the value of construction, which includes contractorsB次元官网网址� profit, workersB次元官网网址� compensation liability insurance, and other factors not related to the cost of inspection services, a practice that has yielded big surpluses over the years, he said.

Chief administrative officer Paul Thorkelsson said Saanich is aware of this concern, but suggested Edge overstated his case.

B次元官网网址淲hat council has to understand is that this is not a surplus generated by building permits,B次元官网网址� he said. Service fees support awide range of services that go beyond inspection, he said.

Thorkelsson made these comments as council approved a report into the building permit process due back June 2017.

Concerns about this process broke into view a year ago, when the urged others to skip Saanich for Langford because municipal staff had been slow in issuing permits over the course of at least five-and-a-half years.