Built better
BC Energy Step Code 4
Considering energy-efficient townhomes in Maple Ridge? Kin & Kith’s sales materials identify BC Energy Step Code 4 as an included construction standard. The BC Energy Step Code sets energy-efficiency performance targets for new buildings. Step 4 is not the same as net-zero: it does not mean a home generates all the energy it uses. Actual energy use and operating costs depend on the home and how it is used.
01 / The standard
Step Code 4
The sales materials identify Step Code 4 as part of the Kin Advantage. Ask sales for the energy documentation for your specific home.
Forced air heating
The feature sheet specifies forced air heating with A/C rough-in in all homes. Fully finished A/C is optional, with eligible promotional inclusions subject to confirmation.
On-demand hot water
The feature sheet includes a Navien high-efficiency on-demand tankless hot water system.
$25,250 estimated Step Code 4 premium
The included-features sheet uses the midpoint of a $68,000–$134,000 estimated incremental cost per four-unit building, divided by four. This is an illustrative construction value, not guaranteed utility savings or a buyer rebate.
Step 1
Step 2
Step 3
Step 4 · Sales claim
Step 5
Ask the sales team for the energy details of a specific home.
The whole-home picture
Where performance comes together
The roof, walls and windows work together to limit heat loss. Ask for the home’s reported heating demand and the applicable Step 4 target.
02 / Evidence
Energy-efficient townhomes in Maple Ridge: the evidence
Whole-building energy modelling and airtightness testing, commonly a blower-door test, help verify compliance. Requirements depend on building type, climate zone, permit date and local bylaws. The Energy Step Code measures energy efficiency; the separate Zero Carbon Step Code addresses operational greenhouse-gas emissions.
Ask for your home’s energy model, compliance report and airtightness test results. A Step Code designation alone does not guarantee a utility bill or establish mortgage-program eligibility.
03 / Financing
CMHC Eco Plus
Eligible borrowers with CMHC-insured financing for a qualifying energy-efficient home may apply for a 25% refund of the mortgage-insurance premium, not the home price or mortgage balance.
CMHC’s application deadline is within 24 months of the mortgage closing date. Eligibility and required energy documentation must be confirmed with CMHC and your lender. Kin & Kith eligibility has not been verified; a Step Code 4 claim is not automatic approval.
Buyer comparison
Step Code 4 checklist
Compare the evidence for a specific Kin & Kith home and another townhome. The Kin & Kith column starts checked against the project's Step Code 4 claim, so uncheck any item you could not get in writing for a specific home. The other column starts empty and fills in as you review that development. Checked boxes record your own review, not certification.
The applicable code sets the exact thresholds and permitted compliance paths. This is a buyer evidence checklist, not a complete building-code inspection. Heat pumps, triple glazing, solar panels and particular equipment brands are not universal Step 4 requirements.
BC requirements by permit date and locationRequirement / evidence to request
Kin & Kith
Other townhome
Applicable Step 4 standard confirmed
Ask which building-code edition, building classification and climate zone apply, and request confirmation that the home meets the applicable Step 4 requirements.
Energy model and completed compliance report
Request the home-specific energy model and final, as-built compliance report prepared by the energy advisor or qualified professional. A design-stage prediction alone is not final verification.
Airtightness test meets the applicable target
Request the final blower-door test result and the applicable airtightness limit. Confirm the report identifies your home or its building and shows a compliant result.
Building-envelope / heating-demand target met
Ask for the reported thermal energy demand intensity (TEDI) or applicable permitted alternative, alongside the Step 4 target. This measures performance, not a required insulation or window brand.
Overall energy-efficiency target met
Request the reported energy-performance metric and its Step 4 target—such as MEUI, TEUI or a permitted performance alternative, depending on the code edition. Confirm heating, ventilation and hot-water systems are reflected in the final model.
Step Code 4 does not automatically mean net-zero, Zero Carbon Step Code compliance, a guaranteed energy bill or CMHC Eco Plus eligibility. Use the source links below and confirm findings with the builder and qualified energy professional.
04 / Resources
Step Code resources
HomeStep
Step Code 4 requirements
An independent overview of Step Code 4 for homeowners.
Government of British Columbia
2024 BC codes and step codes
Provincial guidance on the Energy Step Code and Zero Carbon Step Code.
bcstepcode.ca · Overview
BC Energy Step Code 4
Supplementary reading; confirm applicable requirements with the provincial code and local authority.
BC Housing · PDF
Design guide supplement
Technical guidance primarily for Part 3 mid- and high-rise residential buildings; not a townhome-specific compliance checklist.
CMHC
CMHC Eco Plus
Eligibility, documentation and application details for the mortgage-insurance premium refund program.