District of Squamish will reduce the maximum allowable size of residential building by one-third if a high-carbon energy source, such as natural gas, is used.
However, buildings that use low-carbon sources, such as baseboard heaters, heat pumps and electric hot water tanks, will be allowed to be built to full size.
The district has also launched a survey to gauge public opinion on this issue.
The district says this would be an incentive for builders to design and construct homes that produce less greenhouse gases.
District says this initiative will lower emissions for homes built in residential (RS) zones, multiple unit residential (RM) zones and in some mixed-use apartments (C-4 and C-1).
This will also support the Community Climate Action Plan goal to construct better buildings, district notes, adding that it will provides options to builders for using low-carbon energy sources.
glenn stainton says
This is generally a bad idea and indication that Council wants to be seen as a mini Vancouver. A much better plan would be to encourage wider implementation of passive hause principals in all new construction and let people have the freedom to choose their heat source rather then being mandated by big brother.
All electric is great till the first power outage that occurs in our rural community
Dw says
Passive is great! I think the reason they are doing it is because even with a high quality build like a passive house the gas use makes it worse than a leaky electric heated home from a greenhouse gas perspective. It is also much easier to implement this on new builds than to retrofit later or to retro fit existing homes.
Nick Gobin says
Awesome policy and a great idea. Mini-split heat pumps are such a nice HVAC option.
And the concerns about backup heat source in a power outage are overblown in squamish’s generally mild winters. A modern house is well insulated enough to comfortably ride through multi-hour outages even in the worst winter conditions we see here and so many homes also have a wood stove.
Glenn stainton says
Yes until the wood stoves are banned next