CPD Points: 1.5 (Category A4)
Presentation provided by: Passive House Canada
Presentation Title: Step Code is Only the Start: Building Officials and Evolving Regulations
Presentation Description: Building codes and related regulations are being asked to deliver more and better outcomes as we adapt to and mitigate climate change. Upcoming codes will need to do more with respect to regulating fuel source, looking at embodied carbon and ensuring buildings are resilient in the face of extreme weather events. The pandemic and extensive fire smoke have placed a new focus on indoor air quality and the recent federal budget funded the development of a new buildings’ strategy, plus the adoption and implementation of better, outcome-based codes. With hundreds of people dying in BC’s buildings because of last year’s heat dome and more frequent power outages, these topics are a priority and necessitate changes to current practice.
Chris Ballard, CEO, Passive House Canada and Rob Bernhardt, a building performance and policy expert, will share their thoughts on these topics and the impacts on the work of building officials. This session will outline regulatory options and engage building officials in a discussion of how they can best be implemented. Learn about the outcome’s buildings will be expected to deliver and discuss how those outcomes can be assured and verified.
Presenters: Chris Ballard, CEO, Passive House Canada and Rob Bernhardt, Building Performance and Policy Expert
Presenters’ Bios: Chris Ballard has a history of supporting environmental and land use causes, most recently as the Ontario’s Minister of Environment and Climate Change implementing the government’s plan for a clean environment and a sustainable economy. He also served as the Minister of Housing and the Minister responsible for Ontario’s Poverty Reduction Strategy and a Member of the Treasury Board. Chris’ political experience also includes being a municipal councilor in Aurora, Ontario. Chris is a past Executive Director of the 60,000 member Consumers’ Association of Canada (Ontario) and a founding board member of the Consumers Council of Canada. His leadership in journalism, communications and public affairs includes terms as President and Board member of the Public Affairs Association of Canada.
Rob works to advance building energy efficiency and reduce emissions from the operation and construction of buildings. He assisted with the development of the UN Framework Guidelines for Energy Efficiency in Buildings, the BC Energy Step Code, Canada’s building strategy and provincial and municipal programs and the establishment of the Vancouver Zero Emissions Buildings Exchange, was the founding CEO of Passive House Canada and published articles on building policy and regulations.
Rob built the first Passive House on Vancouver Island and Canada’s first Passive House condominium projects. He has a deep understanding of people and climate friendly buildings, including the economic and social advantages they bring.
