NRCan — Natural Resources Canada
Keeping the Heat In
Canada's authoritative guide to home insulation, air sealing, and energy efficiency — published by Natural Resources Canada's Office of Energy Efficiency. Essential reading for homeowners, renovators, and building science professionals across British Columbia.
50%
of heat lost through the building envelope in older Canadian homes
6
core chapters covering every aspect of home energy efficiency
Free
publicly available from Natural Resources Canada — no registration required
Guide Chapters
What the guide covers
Understanding Your Home as a System
How the building envelope, mechanical systems, and occupant behaviour interact to determine overall energy performance and comfort.
Insulation
Types of insulation, R-value requirements by climate zone, and best practices for walls, attics, basements, and crawl spaces.
Air Sealing
Identifying and sealing air leakage pathways — rim joists, electrical penetrations, window perimeters, and attic bypasses.
Moisture and Ventilation
Managing moisture-driven risks in tight homes, vapour control strategies, and mechanical ventilation requirements.
Windows and Doors
Performance ratings, glazing options, installation best practices, and how to evaluate replacement vs. retrofit.
Heating and Cooling Systems
Right-sizing mechanical systems after envelope upgrades, heat pump options, and integrating renewable energy.
Related NRCan Resources
More from Natural Resources Canada
Keeping the Heat In — Full Publication (NRCan)
The complete NRCan guide to home insulation and energy efficiency for Canadian homeowners.
EnerGuide for Houses
Canada's official home energy rating and labelling program — benchmark your home's performance.
Canada Greener Homes Grant
Federal rebates for insulation, windows, heat pumps, and energy audits.
LEEP Net-Zero Energy Wall Guides (NRCan)
Technical wall assembly guides for achieving net-zero energy performance in BC homes.
Home Energy Efficiency — NRCan Hub
The full NRCan home energy efficiency resource library, including tools, calculators, and guides.
Need help applying these principles to your home?
Air Seal Plan provides blower door testing, energy modeling, and building enclosure consulting to help BC homeowners and builders put these NRCan guidelines into practice.