Building Green

Updated January 10, 2022

The District of Sooke is eager to help developers, builders and homeowners provide high-quality construction with energy efficiency as a top priority.

Home energy retrofit rebates

CleanBC Better Homes is BC’s online hub for homeowners and contractors to access information, rebates and support to reduce energy use and greenhouse gas emissions in new and existing homes.
Try the Rebate Search Tool to check out the variety of available rebates, including:
  • Home heating (switching from a fossil fuel heat source, oil, propane, or natural gas, to an electric heat pump; for a total of up to $3,700 in rebates)
  • Water heating
  • Building envelope (insulation, windows and doors)
  • Bonus offers for two or more upgrades

  Search rebates at: BetterHomesBC.ca

*CleanBC Better Homes is funded by the Province of British Columbia and the Government of Canada under the Low Carbon Economy Leadership Fund. CleanBC Better Homes rebates are administered by BC Hydro, FortisBC and BC Housing.

Free home energy coach support

There is a free Energy Coach Service available through email or phone if you have questions about specific rebate programs, home energy upgrade options, EnerGuide home evaluations, or if you just don’t know where to start. Contact the free Energy Coach Service at  or 1-844-881-9790.

Assessing your home

Consider hiring a professional energy advisor to undertake a detailed energy assessment for your home. The energy assessment will rate the efficiency of your home and provide recommendations for retrofits based on their effectiveness for improving your home energy efficiency, reducing your home greenhouse gas footprint and enhancing your home comfort. Use the Energy Advisor Search Tool to locate a local energy advisor or service organization that provides services in your community.
BC Energy Step Code

Through the BC Energy Step Code, the Province has set performance requirements to increase the energy efficiency of newly constructed buildings. BC’s goal is that all new buildings be net-zero energy-ready by 2032.

As of January 1, 2022, building owners and designers, you are required to comply with the requirements of the applicable Step of the BC Energy Step Code as indicated in the District of Sooke Building Bylaw No. 780, below is a summary:

2022-2027  Step Three (3) = A wood-framed residential building six (6) stories or less, or regulated by Part 9 of the Building Code.
 Step Two (2) = All other buildings regulated by Part 3 of the Building Code.
2027-2032  Step Four (4) = A wood-framed residential building six (6) stories or less, or regulated by Part 9 of the Building Code.
 Step Three (3) = All other buildings regulated by Part 3 of the Building Code.
2032 onward  Step Five (5) = A wood-framed residential building six (6) stories or less, or regulated by Part 9 of the Building Code.
 Step Four (4) = All other buildings regulated by Part 3 of the Building Code.

The Step Code is a provincial standard that provides an incremental and consistent approach to achieving energy-efficient construction. Through performance modelling and on-site testing, buildings constructed to the Step Code standard will exceed the energy performance requirements of the base BC Building Code.

The Step Code provides local government and industry with a clear framework to make progress towards the provincial goal that all new construction in BC is built “net-zero energy ready” by 2032. The Province defines a net-zero energy ready building as one that has been designed and built to a level of performance, such that it could (with additional measures) generate enough onsite energy to meet its own energy needs. It’s expected that net-zero energy-ready buildings will be required by the BC Building Code by 2032.

For builders – the energy model results for the building design shall be provided by your Energy Advisor using the Pre-Construction Compliance Report, to be submitted with your building permit application.

Learn more:

 

Additional resources

Below are links to external agencies that provide incentives for green building, development and/or home improvements.