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“But we’ve also heard numbers half of that already,” he said, adding some have said it would cost $15,000 to make improvements and build a home to meet the net-zero requirements.

The changes could mean homeowners would have to meet stricter building codes during renovations, such as installing heavier grades of insulation, sealing off windows and doors or installing more energy-efficient appliances.



Business associations and some homebuilding companies have cautioned against phasing in the changes too quickly, which would force people to install expensive new technologies before they are part of the mainstream. The changes would make federal building guidelines much more focused on energy efficiency, marking a significant shift from past models that focused more exclusively on safety and cost.



“You’re talking about $30,000, $40,000, $50,000 on top of the price of an existing home to meet the targets that they’re setting out. Our concern is always what this will mean for affordability,” said Kevin Lee, the CEO of the Canadian Home Builders’ Association, noting that while he supports the general intention behind the policies, there is some uncertainty, particularly around tighter codes for existing structures. He also stressed that the policies are in their early stages.

“The next incremental steps are going to be more expensive, and may in fact not be cost-effective,” Lee said.

The proposal comes as the Liberal government moves ahead with a suite of policies aimed at reducing GHG emissions, including a federally mandated carbon tax, federal methane regulations, policies to incentivize zero-emissions vehicles and plans for a clean fuel standard.