Utility Data
Stream 4
A ZEBx utility data collection initiative to determine the real emissions and energy profiles of BC homes.
Submit your home’s utility data and earn up to $600
Between January 23 to March 31, 2025, you can earn up to $600 for simply sharing two years of your home's utility data to help inform innovative building practices.
Sharing your data highlights how homes like yours are setting a new standard for what’s possible. Available while funds last, read more to find out if your home qualifies.
About
Although we have an abundance of energy consumption and emissions estimates for new high-performance homes (thanks to energy modelling), we do not have good information on actual energy consumption and emissions from these homes. Are the estimates accurate? What’s the real-life energy and emissions profile of a high-performance home? Do the regulations need to be adjusted to achieve the desired outcome of local and provincial governments?
ZEBx (a part of the Zero Emissions Innovation Centre), with co-funding from BC Hydro and the City of Vancouver, has launched this data-collection initiative to answer these important questions. In addition to the utility data that we’re collecting for new high-performance homes, we also want to determine the real emissions reductions that can be achieved by gas-fired heat pumps (dual-fuel heat pumps, gas absorption heat pumps and gas engine heat pumps).
Photo Credit: Lanefab Design / Build
Eligibility Criteria
- The home must be located in BC.
- The building must be a Part 9 residential building.
- Homes should be newly constructed, from 2018 to present.
- The as-built energy model must indicate that the home meets Step 4 and Step 5 of the BC Energy Step Code, the Passive House standard or CHBA’s Net Zero and Net Zero Ready certification.
- (or) Homes with a dual fuel heating system (e.g., gas furnace and electric heat pump) or gas absorption heat pump and at least two years of utility data (one year pre-installation and one year post-installation) are also eligible, regardless of the home’s level of energy efficiency.
Photo Credit: Kingdom Builders
Compensation
Part 9 residential buildings located in BC that:
- qualify as high-performance homes are eligible to receive $400 for providing one year of utility data.
- have a gas absorption heat pump, or dual fuel system, are eligible to receive $600 for providing two years of utility data.
Photo Credit: JDL Homes
Application Process
- The first step of the application process is to provide information on the home and proof that the home meets the energy performance requirement indicated in the eligibility criteria.
- For a home that was built to meet Step 4 or 5 of the BC Energy Step Code, we require a completed as-built Energy Step Code compliance form that includes the as-built airtightness of the building.
- For a home that was built to meet the Passive House standard, we require either the Passive House International certification or the as-built PHPP energy model which includes the as-built airtightness of the building. If the home was built to meet CHBA’s Net Zero or Net Zero Ready standard, we require CHBA certification.
- Once we have received and reviewed the documents confirming that the performance target was achieved (on paper), we will request a year of gas and electricity bills (PDFs). If your home has a gas-fired heat pump, there is no requirement for a performance target. In this case, we will require two years of utility data (one year pre-installation and one year post-installation). The energy usage (and corresponding emissions) will be weather-normalized and posted anonymously on the nearzero.ca website, along with key characteristics of the home. The address and occupants/owner(s) of the home will remain confidential.
If further assistance is needed with completing the application or the questionnaires, please contact:
nearzero@zeic.ca with the subject line NearZero4
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