The 2012 edition of Ontario’s Building Code indicated that energy efficiency levels would be increased by 15% in January 2017. The Ministry was interested in gathering information to inform the development of future energy efficiency requirements, and in understanding the similarities and differences between the low-rise residential energy efficiency requirements of the Ontario Building Code and National Building Code.

This study consisted of two main parts. The first was a qualitative analysis that examined the overall differences between the housing energy efficiency requirements of the Ontario and National Codes. This was an initial step and led to the quantitative comparison and analysis. A select number of prescriptive compliance packages and cities were used for the analysis of a pre-existing house archetype house. The goal of the study was an analytic comparison, summarized in a report, which can inform the development of future Building Code provisions.