Zero Energy Performance Index (zEPI) Pilot ACP

The Zero Energy Performance Index (zEPI) Pilot Alternative Compliance Path (ACP) was developed specifically for the Canadian market. It provides a new approach to how energy performance is evaluated, adding flexibility, aligning with local energy codes, and better ensuring LEED buildings contribute meaningfully to Canada’s climate goals.

Applicable to LEED v4 and v4.1 projects, the ACP enables projects to use any version of NECB or ASHRAE 90.1 cited by the local authority, avoiding the need to perform additional energy modelling under a different standard or version. More importantly, the pilot ACP uses energy consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions savings rather than energy cost and GHG emissions savings, thus avoiding distortions that can be caused by differences in fuel costs. The ACP leverages the zEPI calculation methodology.

Taken together, energy consumption and GHG metrics help incentivize efficient, low-carbon designs and align LEED with Canadian market conditions and requirements.

Watch how to calculate your project’s LEED points using the zEPI pilot ACP

Read the zEPI Pilot ACP (PDF)

Register for the zEPI Pilot ACP

CAGBC would like to thank its Technical Advisory Group and Steering Committee volunteers for their assistance in developing this ACP.

More Technical Resources

Zero Carbon Building Certification Agreement

December 2023 The Zero Carbon Building Certification Agreement is a binding agreement for…
December 12, 2023

Guide de référence LEED v4 pour la conception et la construction de bâtiments

French LEED v4 BD+C Reference Guide, available for purchase and download through the…
August 28, 2023

ZCB Certification Guide

This document provides project teams detail on the Zero Carbon Building Standards certification…
April 13, 2023

Treatment of Incomplete Space in BD+C

Many building projects have some incomplete space when they submit for certification. There…
February 9, 2023