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The Model National Energy Code of Canada for
Houses 1997 (MNECH) contains cost-effective minimum requirements for energy efficiency in new
housing. The MNECH applies to single family houses of three storeys or less, and to additions of more
than 10 m2. See the table of contents.
The MNECH provides minimum RSI levels for building envelope components per type of energy (oil,
natural gas, electricity, wood, propane) for different regions of Canada. These levels were
determined using regional construction and heating energy costs in a life-cycle cost analysis. As
well, the MNECH gives minimum energy ratings (ER) for windows, references energy-efficient equipment
standards, and describes when the installation of a heat recovery ventilator is required.
To allow flexibility in achieving a minimum level of energy efficiency, the code offers three
compliance approaches:
a Prescriptive Path; a Trade-off Path; and a Performance Path.
The MNECH was prepared under the auspices of the Canadian
Commission on Building and Fire Codes and was first published in 1997 by the National Research
Council Canada (NRC). The NRC, Natural Resources Canada, the Canadian Electricity Association, and
the provincial and territorial government ministries of energy funded the research in support of the
development of the model code requirements and the supporting software.
Under Canada's Constitution Act, building regulation is the responsibility of provincial and
territorial governments. The MNECH is in the form of a model code to permit adoption by the
appropriate authority. To date, no province or territory has adopted the MNECH, but a few have used
some of its requirements in their building codes.
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