Stretch Building CodeGreen Communities Act

Jennifer Henriquez • Deborah Silva • Joe Szafarowicz

Green Communities Act

• Ambitious energy legislation passed in 2008

• First state in the US to pass something like this

• Creates the Green Communities Program

Green Communities Program

• There is $10 million per year in funding to towns & cities

• Consists of 5 Criteria –All these requirements aim to reduce

energy consumption–At a commercial, residential, and

municipal level

The Five Criteria Criteria 1: As-of-Right Siting – Renewable

Energy/Alternative Energy

Criteria 2: Expedited Permitting

Criteria 3: Energy Base Plan/ 20% Energy Reduction Plan

Criteria 4: Purchase only Fuel-Efficient Vehicles

Criteria 5: Minimize Life-Cycle Costs

Adoption of “The Stretch Code”

Green Communities

Sutton

• July 19, 2011• $143,050

Millbury

• July 19, 2011• $167,025

Green Communities

Marlborough• December 16, 2010

• $217,125• To fund energy conservation measures at several

municipal buildings, a hybrid vehicle, a site evaluation for a solar PV system, and to fund an

Energy Efficiency Manager position

Green Communities

Palmer• May 25, 2010

• $169,103 • To fund energy conservation measures at Town Hall;

a boiler and chiller replacements

The Stretch Code

• An appendix to the Massachusetts Building Code

• 780 CMR Appendix 120 Stretch Energy Code• Targets largest uses of energy in buildings

– Heating, appliance usage, lighting, etc.

• Purpose – reduce energy use in buildings by roughly 20%

Energy Consumption

Image Source: www.buildabetterfuture.org/stretch-code-benifits/48

Where Does My Money Go?

Image Source: Energy Star

Test Performance

• Prescriptive codes don’t guarantee good installation, air and water tightness,

• Air gaps can reduce effective thermal insulation

Image Source: Environmental Protection Agency

Home Energy Rating System (HERS)

• Stretch code: performance – 70 or less <3,000 sq ft.– 65 or less >3,000 sq ft.

• Used by the Housing Mortgage Market to value homes

• Requires a certified HERS rater• RAM software• Energy Star Program

Residential New Construction

• Performance only ‘stretch’ option

– Uses Home Energy Rating System (HERS)

– 70 or less < 3,000 sq ft.

– 65 or less > 3,000 sq ft.

• Requires a certified HERS rater

– Review building plans

– Check insulation installation

– Blower-door and duct testing

– Thermal bypass Checklist

Residential Additions

• 2 options – Performance or Prescriptive

– HERS index on just addition (often not possible)

or whole house

– Treated as new construction

– 70 or less < 3,000 sq ft.

– 65 or less > 3,000 sq ft.

• Most Additions will use Prescriptive Path

– Energy Star Builders Option Package (BOP)

– Includes Thermal Bypass Checklist

Commercial ‘Stretch’ Appendix

• Only for New Construction over 5,000 sq ft• Performance option for all Buildings• Utility program & incentives to help• Prescriptive option includes 3 choices

– Heating and cooling equipment improvements,

– Improved Lighting efficiency (LPD)

– 3% + of electric needs from on-site renewable

Town Benefits

• Stretch Code is an optional appendix to IECC 2009 code– Once IECC is updated, stretch code will be integrated

• Promotes Energy Efficiency & Collaboration

– Gives flexibility to both builders and homeowners– 20-35% energy reduction provides savings in utility bills– Promotes awareness of sustainability

Town Benefits

• Opportunity to apply for grants– Can use grant to install energy-efficient appliances and/or

systems– Grants will be competitive in the future

• Publicity– Society is turning more green– “Green Communities” status a noticeable factor for

Charlton

Incentives for Homeowners

• Long-term energy savings– Higher upfront costs, but reduction in utility bills– Energy Star utility sponsored savings: National Grid,

NSTAR, etc.– Larger structure = More proportionate savings

• Tax incentives and credit– Up to $1,250 for homes with HERS of <= 65– $2,000 in Federal tax credit

Questions? Comments?Thank You!

Jennifer Henriquez • Deborah Silva • Joe Szafarowicz

All information and data provided by the Mass Department of Energy Resources.

For more information please email us at: jenniferh@wpi.edu

deborahcsilva@wpi.edu jszafarowicz@wpi.edu