The task group focused primarily on public review comments related to Tier 2 energy efficiency requirements and the development of the Tier 4 prescriptive package. Discussions centred on maintaining a logical progression between energy-efficiency tiers while ensuring proposed requirements remain technically justified and cost-effective.

A key topic was fenestration performance across Tiers 1 to 5. Several industry representatives, including CHBA through its public review comments, expressed concern that Tier 2 places a significant burden on window performance, while the progression through Tiers 3 and 4 is relatively limited before a substantial increase at Tier 5. NRC staff explained that the proposed values are based on energy modelling, cost-effectiveness analysis, and previous policy decisions that limited reliance on airtightness testing and heat pumps in lower tiers. Members agreed that additional information illustrating how requirements evolve between tiers would help stakeholders better assess the overall framework.

The second major agenda item was NRC’s presentation of the proposed Tier 4 prescriptive package. Tier 4 would introduce mandatory airtightness testing, requiring 1.5 ACH (or equivalent) performance, while relying on heat pumps as a primary compliance measure. Members raised concerns about heat pump efficiency values that may not align with current federal regulations and discussed whether cold-climate heat pumps should be required in Climate Zone 4. Additional analysis was requested before the package is finalized. For more information, please contact alex.bols@chba.ca