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Tiered Energy Performance Compliance is described in Part 9.36.7. of the National Building Code. When a designer is using a "performance path", especially for higher tiers, this section of the code provides energy efficiency and heat loss reduction targets.

We know that the Performance Tiers are now part of code, and that the higher tiers will require measurement and testing to ensure that they're complying with the values shown in the table below...

But what are you measuring against?

Right now, Tier 1 of the 2020 building code is the prescriptive path - in other words, you're following the code to the letter for all major elements of a build. For every step up in Tiers, a building is required to perform to increasing levels of energy efficiency.

The tiers shown in the table above describe the expectations for three measurements:

1. Percent heat loss reduction
2. Percent improvement of energy performance, compared to a Tier 1 building, and...
3. Percent house energy target. This is another way of saying, "how much less energy the proposed house will use compared to a Tier 1 building".

To comply with the Tiered code, a designer or builder will need to demonstrate by measurement that the finished product either meets or is a percentage better than Tier 1.