Effective May 1, 2025, the province adopted the 2020 National Building Code and 2020 National Energy Code. This will require additional energy-efficiency information to be supplied with each building permit application.
Most buildings in this region will fall under the National Building Code (NBC) energy-efficiency umbrella. There are two ways to demonstrate that a new building, addition or significant renovation (ie: a "gut to the studs") meets these requirements:
- Energy modelling. You need only provide an energy-modelling report from a qualified energy modeler. A provincial form can be downloaded Here.
- Prescriptive path (aka: the "points" system.) Under this path, the applicant has to show how the building achieves 10 points, using points awarded from
- Extra insulation in the walls
- Energy-efficient Heat Recovery Ventilators
- Energy-efficient windows
- Energy-efficient hot-water heating systems
- Reduced building volume
- Envelope air-tightness.
For the most part, almost all existing construction techniques are sufficient to meet the 2020 Code.
The Points System explained
It's important to stress the point above: in many cases, contractors will find they have to do little to meet the 10-point threshold using existing techniques and equipment.
For example, "Energy Star" windows and doors, if used throughout a build, provide 4.6 points. Most off-the-shelf HRVs provide at least 4 points, if not more.
Adding 1" of foam to the exterior wall of a building using 2x6 construction, 16" on centre, with R22 batt insulation will provide 5.8 points - see the image below for a detailed breakdown.
The Province of New Brunswick has created documents to assist developers, builders and contractors quickly calculate energy efficiency points. You are strongly encouraged to use the Provincial Submittal document (for Zone 6, southern New Brunswick).
Also, see the Wall assembly points table for our climactic zone, Zone 6.
You may wish to download the HRV Points table - remember, we are in zone 6.
Examples:
1: Mary and Frank want to build a 30x40 single-family bungalow - they are downsizing for retirement.
- Assuming an 8' ceiling, their house volume is less than 300 cubic metres. That's worth 10 energy-efficiency points, so they meet 2020 Code with standard R17 effective walls.
2: It is becoming common for builders to use R5 (RSI 0.88) ZipSystem sheathing on homes over batt-insulated 2x6 @ 40cm (16") OC walls. This wall assembly automatically adds 5.8 points. Here are ways a house with that wall system can be brought from 5.8 to 10 points.
- Use Energy Star doors and windows (4.6+5.8=10.4.)
- Specify an HRV worth 4.2 points (partial list: Any Fantech Fit 120 product; Any Greentech Profile 8E product; Almost any of the Livebreath Metro 120 products)
- Add an Energy Star-rated gas-fired on-demand hot water heater (4.9 points)
- Claim points from any off-the-shelf HRV (min 3.5 points), and keep the conditioned floor area to less than 1721 ft2 (assuming 8' ceilings.)
3: Ken is a dentist, and wants to build a stand-alone building for his practice. It will be 1,475 square feet in size. His builder is specifying energy-star windows. Does this meet 2020 energy efficiency requirements?
- The energy-star windows provide 4.6 points
- Assuming 8' ceilings, the building volume will be about 335m3. This is worth 6 points.
- That alone is sufficient to provide 10.6 points.
4: Misty is also a dentist. Hearing that Ken is creating a stand-alone building, she also wants to build something new - and larger - to compete. She wants a 2,500-square-foot building, which is too large to claim points from reduced building volume. She will use Energy Star windows (4.6). How can Misty gain the remaining 5.6 points?
- Install 1" foam on all exterior walls (5.8 points.)
- Install an Energy Star on-demand gas water heater (4.9) and claim 0.8 points from building basement walls with an effective RSI of 3.46 (R19.64 - 1/2 foam, and R20 batts in a 2x6 stud cavity).
- Build basement walls featuring 1.5" of foam and 2x6 studs with batt insulation (1.4 points) and Install a reasonable HRV (worth 4.6 points.)
5: Ken learns Misty wants to construct a 2,500 square foot dental office. He decides he now wants a 2,500 square foot office as well. However, Ken is going use Insulated Concrete Form construction for all basement and above-ground walls. He specifies 6" Nudura blocks. What else must he do to achieve 10 points for his office?
The Nudura 6" blocks will provide sufficient RSI value in above-ground exterior walls to provide 6.8 points. The below-ground walls will give a credit of 1.4 points (8.2 total) so Ken only needs 1.8 more.
- HRVs will provide the required 4.2 points, including high-volume ones that can meet the air-flow requirements for an office of this size.
- Energy Star windows and doors (4.6 points.)
- An energy-star on-demand gas water heater (4.9).
6: A couple wish to build their dream home. It will be a one storey bungalow structure with 2,100 square feet in building area, including a 20x20 built-in garage. They will specify energy-star windows, but do not want to put extra foam on the exterior walls. How else can they achieve 10 points? The energy-star windows are worth 4.6 points. 5.4 more points are needed.
- Garages are NOT considered conditioned space, even if they are insulated. This means the floor area of the house is 1,700 ft2, which with 8' high ceilings mean the size of the home grants 1 point.
The building requires 4.4 additional points, but cannot achieve it from volume.
- Any Energy-Star rated gas-fired on-demand water heater will be worth 4.9 points.
- Every off-the-shelf HRV is going to provide near to, or better than 4 points. Many brands provide HRV models that can provide 4.4 points or better
The solution lies in adding a gas-fired on-demand hot water heater, OR a high-efficiency HRV.
Note that it is possible to gain points from a blower-door test to determine air change rates, and claim points for this. The air-tightness credit method should only be relied upon to achieve points by experienced builders who have confidence in achieving air-tightness, as a failed test will result in extra costs retrofitting a finished building.
What we require for a permit:
Now that you've seen how many ways points can be obtained, those who are relying on the prescriptive path for energy compliance should present documentation to prove the energy-efficiency claims.
This means
- Specify the HRV brand/model if relying on the HRV to achieve points. Note that the HRV must be sized for the building in question.
- Specify the water heater if relying on either a gas or oil-fired hot water heater or heat pump hot water heater to gain points.
- Provide window/door quotes to demonstrate either the u-values or minimum Energy Rating of the doors/windows to be used
Our office already requires assembly details for walls.
NECB buildings
All buildings subject to the National Energy Code for Buildings (Part 3 structures, Part 9 structures with more than 300m2 in total combined floor area) will require an NECB energy-modelling report. This is mandatory, and it must be provided with all applications for buildings where NECB applies.