The National Energy Code of Canada for Buildings: 2025 (NECB) sets technical requirements that address the protection of the environment in the design and construction of new buildings and in subsequent alterations. The 2025 edition of the NECB includes the following updates:
- Expansion of the environment objective to address greenhouse gas emissions;
- Introduction of a harmonised framework that aims to reduce the operational greenhouse gas emissions of buildings, offering provinces and territories a harmonised pathway to reduce emissions over time by choosing the performance level that best suits their needs;
- Introduction of energy efficiency requirements for the alteration of existing buildings, offering building officials a harmonized framework to enforce code requirements in retrofits;
- Updated requirements to account for the impact of thermal bridging through the building envelope Introduction of an energy use intensity path for compliance with energy performance tiers, providing builders with an additional option to demonstrate compliance that recognizes the inherent efficiencies of smaller, more compact housing forms; and
- Inclusion of projected climatic data, which anticipates climate trends over the next 50 years, so buildings are better prepared for future climate conditions in Canada.
