Update (Dec. 11, 2023) -- Burnaby Council unanimously approved the timelines to decarbonize buildings in 2024 in line with my previous amendments.
On Monday, Burnaby City Council supported my amendments with commit to decarbonization of buildings much sooner -- specifically, for buildings larger than 3 storeys to be electric space and water heating and electric stoves by January 1, 2024 ("Zero Carbon Performance"), and for buildings smaller than 3 storeys to be electric space and water heating ("Strong Carbon Performance" by January 1, 2024.
This is incredibly significant because buildings are half of Burnaby's emissions, because every building that is tied into fossil fuels now will need to be retrofitted in the future (at a cost to the residents who live there) and because our municipality has the power and ability to regulate and require electrification.
We know and have the solutions we need, and we can't be bold enough considering the climate crisis we are currently in.
My amendments are below (italicized = added, *underlined* = eliminated, normal font = original) :
1. THAT staff be directed to engage with interested parties on an implementation strategy for aligning Burnaby’s Part 3 Green Building Rezoning policy and Building Bylaw with the Energy and Zero Carbon Step Code to require “Zero Carbon Performance” for Part 3 buildings by January 1, 2024;
2. THAT staff be directed to engage with interested parties on an implementation strategy for adopting Zero Carbon Step Code and new carbon pollution standards for Part 9 buildings, beginning with Moderate Carbon Performance by January 1, 2024.*"Strong Carbon Performance” by January 1, 2024 and “Zero Carbon Performance” by January 1, 2025;
3. THAT a copy of this report be forwarded to the Environment Committee for information.