Published: July 2023
Organizations: Efficiency Canada, Carleton University, Low Carbon Cities Canada (LC3)Author: The Atmospheric Fund (TAF)
Format: Guide
Estimated Reading Time: 20–30 minutes
Why We Recommend It?
This guide equips municipalities with practical insights on how to prepare for and leverage Canada’s upcoming net-zero emissions building codes, expected by 2025. With buildings contributing 18% of Canada’s GHG emissions, the report underscores why municipal action is critical and how building codes can serve as a powerful policy tool to accelerate local climate action.
We’ve included it under both the Business Case and Carbon Neutral Building focus areas—because it not only clearly articulates why we need to rapidly cut emissions from the building sector, it also serves as an excellent 101 resource on key concepts behind carbon neutral buildings.
Climate advocates, building code practitioners, and municipal staff are encouraged to share sections of this guide with decision-makers, especially municipal officials, to help shape building sector policies and accelerate Canada’s transition to a net-zero future.
Here’s a quick look at what the guide covers:
key takeaways
For Government & Utilities
- Canada’s national net-zero emissions building code is expected by 2025, and municipalities should act now to prepare.
- Building codes are among the most effective policy tools for transitioning to zero-carbon buildings.
- Both operational and embodied emissions must be addressed to achieve net-zero buildings.
- The guide provides an overview of the initiatives at different jurisdictional levels supporting the transition to low-carbon buildings across Canada.
- It also outlines immediate steps municipalities can take to cut operational and embodied emissions in new construction.
Next Steps & Related Reading...
- Still exploring the value of green buildings? Dive deeper into our Business Case section for insights from different perspectives—or check out our Case Studies for real-world examples that bring the numbers to life.
- Ready to move forward? Visit the Carbon Neutral Buildings section to dive into key concepts and practical strategies—or explore our Resource Library to find topics that matter most to you.