Passive House data coming soon! And new entries on the way.
Utility Data Results
Stream 4.1
Check out the latest information we’ve collected on the real-world performance of high-performance homes in B.C.
The table below shows the latest utility data collected from homes in B.C. that meet one of the following performance criteria: Passive House, Step Code 4 or 5, or CHBA Net Zero.
Applications to the program are still open; new data entries will be added to the table on first Thursday of each month.
Please Note:
- Modelled Data Sources: Modelled energy consumption is from the BC Energy Step Code Compliance Report for each house. If the report was unavailable, data was sourced from the EnerGuide Homeowner Information Sheet, Hot2000 modelling, or the Passive House Planning Package.
- Actual Data Sources: Actual (real-life) values for energy consumption, GHGI, and energy cost are based on utility bills. Greenhouse Gas Intensity (GHGI) is calculated using electricity and gas consumption, with 2024 emissions factors.
- Cooling: All homes have cooling unless indicated otherwise. Although the energy efficiency rating of the house is based on the Energy Step Code Compliance Form or the Passive House Planning Package, the house may not be operating at the modelled energy-efficiency level.
Discrepancies between modelled vs. actual energy use:
- Occupants: The model assumes 2.5 people; reality can be 1-7 or more.
- Climate: The model is based on historical averages; our current weather patterns can differ significantly. For example, the heat dome of 2021 and other outlier events.
- Energy use: The model provides energy use data for heating, cooling, and ventilating the home and generating hot water; utility data includes all energy use in and around the home. In addition to those modelled, loads reflected in utility bills will also include plug loads and, as applicable: EV charging, hot tubs, saunas, decorative fireplaces, BBQs, etc.
- Occupant behaviour and equipment set points can have a sizeable impact on energy use that goes beyond what is modelled. For example:
- extended duration and higher temperature of showers
- indoor temperature set points; very high (winter) or very low (summer)
- open windows when the heating/cooling system is in operation
- equipment set points
- sizeable plug or vampire loads
- inefficient lighting
- To calculate the values for individual dwellings in Passive House buildings with more than one dwelling, we have multiplied the final energy demand (indicated in the PHPP model) by the ratio of treated floor area (TFA) of the dwelling to the total treated floor area of the building. The gross floor area (GFA) is calculated by multiplying the TFA by 1.3.
Passive House data coming soon! And new entries on the way.
If you want to share feedback, comments or suggested edits to this table, feel free to email nearzero@zeic.ca
Table 4.1
| House | Year Completed | Climate Zone | GFA sqm | Avg # occupants | Utility data collection period | Target Performance Level | Modelled Energy Consumption As-Built (GJ/yr) | Actual Energy Consumption (GJ/yr) | Total Actual Energy GJ/sq.m/yr | Actual GHGi (kgCO2e/m2/yr) | Energy Cost | Energy Cost Total/sq.m/yr | Solar Panels (kW) | Heating | Cooling | Ventilation HRV/ERV | DHW Equipment Elec/HP/Gas | Notes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electricity | Fossil Fuel | Electricity | Fossil Fuel | Electricity | Fossil Fuel | |||||||||||||||||
| ENERGY STEP CODE 4 | 7 | 2023 | 4 | 309 | 7 | Jan 2024-25 | ESC 4 | 42 | 20 | 43.0 | 69.1 | 0.36 | 11.58 | $1,472.68 | $1,222.40 | $8.72 | N/A | AAHP, F | Yes | No | Gas | AAHP cut off temp 5C |
| 9 | 2023 | 4 | 293 | 4 | Apr 2024-25 | ESC 4 | 44.9 | 10.6 | 41.7 | 100.5 | 0.49 | 15.82 | $1,800.99 | $1,600.57 | $11.61 | N/A | AAHP, IFRH | Yes | No | Gas | Condensing gas boiler for DHW and space heating (radiant floor in basement) | |
| 14 | 2021 | 4 | 192 | 2 | Jan 2024-25 | ESC 4 | 37 | 15 | 61.6 | 16.5 | 0.41 | 6.12 | $(3,993.40) | $0.98 | $(20.79) | 24 | AWHP, IFRH | Yes | Yes | Gas | In-floor radiant heating, propane boiler for DHW and back-up heating, hot tub, outdoor electric sauna, gas fireplace | |
| 2 | 2021 | 6 | 242 | 4 | Nov 2023-24 | ESC 4 | 44 | 23 | 50.1 | 101.1 | 0.62 | 20.31 | $1,613.18 | $1,588.69 | $13.23 | N/A | F, AAHP, IFRH | Yes | Yes | Gas | Main floor gas furnace + AAHP; basement in-floor radiant (hydronic gas); gas fireplace | |
| Average | 259.0 | 42.0 | 17.2 | 49.1 | 71.8 | 0.47 | 13.5 | $223.36 | $1,103.16 | |||||||||||||
| Average without solar | $1,628.95 | $1,470.55 | $11.19 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Average with solar | $(3,993.40) | $0.98 | $(20.79) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Average GHGI without gas | — | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Average GHGI with gas | 13.5 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| ENERGY STEP CODE 5 | 13 | 2023 | 4 | 313 | 4 | Jun 2024-25 | ESC 5 | 62.0 | — | 46.7 | — | 0.15 | 0.38 | $1,697.20 | — | $5.42 | N/A | AAHP, EB | Yes | Yes | Elec | AAHP (ducted), EB in the suite |
| 17 | 2023 | 4 | 328 | 5 | Jun 2024-25 | ESC 5 | 62.0 | — | 111.6 | — | 0.34 | 1.04 | $4,090.97 | — | $12.47 | N/A | AAHP, EB, ILDH | Yes | Yes | Elec | AAHP for main residence, electric baseboards for suite (no cooling), in-line duct heater for HRV, hot tub | |
| 12 | 2023 | 5 | 239 | 5 | Jan 2024-25 | ESC 5 | 55.0 | — | 79.1 | — | 0.33 | 1.01 | $2,514.13 | — | $10.52 | N/A | AAHP, EB | Yes | Yes | Elec | Minotair Pentacare V12. Back up electric base boards. Sauna | |
| 8 | 2021 | 5 | 298 | 4 | Jun 2023-24 | ESC 5 | 54.0 | — | 85.2 | — | 0.29 | 0.87 | $3,106.38 | — | $10.42 | N/A | AAHP, EB | Yes | Yes | HP/Elec | Main: AAHP + heat pump DHW; Suite: electric baseboard + DHW | |
| 6 | 2020 | 6 | 240 | 4 | Dec 2022-23 | ESC 5 | 40.0 | — | 44.5 | — | 0.19 | 0.57 | $(1,595.83) | — | $(6.64) | 12 | EB | No | Yes | Elec | Electric baseboards and electric fan heaters | |
| 4 | 2023 | 6 | 98 | 2 | April 2023-24 | ESC 5 | 46.5 | –* | 50.6 | 24.3 | 0.76 | 14.45 | $1,987.74 | $830.47 | $28.76 | N/A | AAHP, EB | Yes | Yes | Elec | Decorative propane fireplace | |
| 5 | 2022 | 7B | 268 | 2 | May 2023-24 | ESC 5 | 46.1 | — | 51.6 | — | 0.19 | 0.59 | $1,740.00 | — | $6.49 | N/A | AAHP w/ EH | Yes | Yes | HP | AAHP (ducted) and 8kw electric heater in HP air handler | |
| 19 | 2024 | 5 | 146 | 2 | April 2024-25 | 48.0 | — | 45.4 | — | 0.31 | 0.95 | $1,506.81 | — | $10.31 | N/A | AAHP/EB | Yes | HP/Elec | EB installed as auxiliary switchover and backup heat, set to 15 deg C | |||
| 11 | 2020 | 4 | 418 | 5 | April 2023-24 | 43.0 | — | 61.5 | — | 0.15 | 0.24 | $441.34 | — | $1.06 | 12 | AWHP/EB | Yes | HP | No cooling, but portable units in guests rooms; radiant floor in basement only, EB on upper floors. EV charging ~7.2GJ/yr | |||
| Average | 244.1 | 50.1 | — | 57.4 | 24.3 | 0.27 | 2.00 | $1,558.19 | $830.47 | |||||||||||||
| Average without solar | $2,377.60 | $830.47 | $12.06 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Average with solar | $(353.78) | — | $(1.52) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Average GHGI without gas | 0.6 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Average GHGI with gas | 14.5 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| PASSIVE HOUSE Low Energy | 1 | 2018 | 4 | 84 | 1 | Nov 2023-24 | ESC 4 | 80.7 | — | 49.7 | — | 0.59 | 1.63 | $ 80.08 | — | $ 0.96 | N/A | AAHP | Yes | Yes | Elec | EV charging = 17.95GJ; was designed with EB but retrofit in the AAHP |
| Average | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Average without solar | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Average with solar | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Acronyms
AAHP = air to air heat pump
w/ EH = back up electric heater in the HP air handler
AWHP = air to water heat pump
EB = electric baseboards
F= furnace, gas
ILDH = in line duct heater in HRV/ERV
IFRH = in-floor radiant heating
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