High-Performance Development Standards

Did you know that buildings are one of the largest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) in Waterloo Region?

The High-Performance Development Standards (HPDS) are a set of standards planned for new development applications in the Cities of Cambridge, Kitchener, and Waterloo, and the Townships of North Dumfries, Wellesley, Wilmot, and Woolwich. The HPDS embeds the energy transition and climate resilience into the planning approvals process.

This approach, crafted in partnership with WR Community Energy and the HPDS Municipal Working Group, underscores our commitment to enhancing the energy efficiency of future buildings, aligning with the Region’s ambitious goal of reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 80% by 2050.

WR Community Energy
WR Community Energy (WRCE) is a collaborative initiative between the Region of Waterloo, its urban municipalities and locally-owned utilities created to lead the implementation of Waterloo Region’s Community Energy Investment Strategy (CEIS) and to steward the energy transition in our community.

One of the priorities for the CEIS is to develop the High-Performance Development Standards (HPDS).

More information can be found at WR Community Energy.

Making this change together

We want to ensure that the HPDS aligns with the varying interests of the communities, is relevant to the region, and supports a transformative shift. WR Community Energy is taking the necessary steps to ensure that this is a community-informed, streamlined process. During the development of the HPDS, WR Community Energy will engage the community and interested stakeholders to gather input and make necessary adjustments to support a well-informed approach.

The Discussion Draft of the HPDS is now available for review (under the "Discussion Draft" tab). A second draft will be completed by Spring 2025 and the final HPDS (ready for implementation) will be completed by Spring 2026. During the draft periods, all interest groups (community, staff, and industry) will be consulted to ensure the best path forward for Waterloo Region.