The Kamloops Chapter of the Canadian Home Builders Association is warning about the impact of adopting governments voluntary B.C Energy Step Code which aims to reduce energy consumption in new homes by adding several energy savings features.
Vice President Kelly Reid says, for example if you built a four thousand square foot home in Juniper West, and added all the features, it would mean an extra 70 thousand dollars.
Reid says the code proposes a number of expensive ways to ensure your home uses as little energy by 2032 from step one with minimal upgrades to step 5 the greatest number.
“We don’t have a supply of energy advisers to do the work yet, that costs a couple thousand dollars. The house stays the same as a code built house. From there on in the house gets a little bit more more energy efficient as you go each step. Of course currently those costs can become quite significant as you move towards step five.”
Reid says implementing all five steps in the code would add 42 thousand dollars for a single detached 2000 square foot house and 32 thousand dollars for a multi family.