City councilors want new buildings to use renewable energy instead of fossil fuels for heating and hot water.
Nearly every single home in Victoria, from single-family homes to offices, New buildings and residential towers — need to be “zero carbon” producers by 2025. This means it cannot be heated with fossil fuels such as natural gas, propane or heavy oil.
Due to concerns about climate change and pollution, the Victorian Parliament has decided to accelerate greenhouse gas reductions in new buildings five years ahead of state requirements. I went down.
Victoria was one of the first municipalities in the state to transition to new construction moving from fossil fuels to renewable energy. For most projects, this means using electricity to power facilities such as heating, hot water, cooking, and drying clothes.
This decision precedes the state's new building codes and pollution guidelines to be announced later this year.
Saanich and the Council of Central Saanich are considering similar moves. All three municipalities have engaged processes with developers and builders. The Metropolitan Area District supports early adoption of the plan.
"Buildings account for nearly half of the greenhouse gas pollution generated in cities," Mayor Lisa Helps said in a statement Monday.
“Since each new building can last 50 years or more, there is currently a need to meet long-term climate goals and prepare future taxpayers to reduce costs related to climate change. It's important to raise the bar."
Laura Berndt, Energy and Climate Change Manager for the City of Victoria, said the requirement that new buildings be fossil-free will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80%. It said it was part of a plan to cut 100% and move to 100% renewable energy.
She said the measure was one of her four priority actions to reduce emissions, alongside mobility, waste reduction and local government operations. rice field.
Victoria's Parliament declared a climate emergency in 2019. The
State Carbon Pollution Standard is a new regulation that will be added to the State Step Code in December.
It provides local governments with the ability to limit greenhouse gas emissions from new construction.
City officials reported that a series of discussions with the building and development industry resulted in increased availability of suitable equipment and expertise, increased costs, design challenges, and lack of adequate power. Some concerns about the electrification of new buildings have arisen, such as access.
Several US cities, including New York City, have adopted non-fossil fuel regulations for new buildings.
In addition to the cost and supply of electricity, there are concerns about restaurants in new buildings not being able to cook on natural gas and people being prevented from making their own choices about the type of energy they use. has also been filed. Want to buy.
Several states, including Texas, are banning policies that limit the use of natural gas.
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