Massachusetts Adopts Stretch Code for Building Energy Efficiency
by Isaac Elnecave, Building Energy Codes Project Manager
On May 12, 2009 the Massachusetts Board of Building Regulations and Standards adopted the first ever Informative Appendix to the state building energy code. The Informative Appendix consists of a residential and commercial “stretch code” that is averages 30 percent more energy efficient than the current state energy.
The stretch code provides municipalities who commit to a “Green Community” designation the mandate to adopt the more stringent Informative Appendix. Adopting the Informative Appendix will help municipalities qualify for funding under requirements of the Green Communities Act.
The Informative Appendix is an element of the Model Progressive Energy Codes Policy recently released by Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnership (NEEP). The policy offers recommendations on methods to adopt progressively more efficient building energy codes, improvement for the rate at which buildings and dwellings comply with the code and ways to measure the actual energy savings in the performance of buildings and dwellings. It provides guidance in creating and adopting building policies that lead to large-scale energy and carbon emissions savings across the Northeast states. To access the full text of the policy paper, download it at www.neep.org/codes_policy.pdf.
The savings potential associated with the adoption of a stretch code is significant. For example, if the City of Boston implements the Informative Appendix it would realize annual energy savings of 430 billion Btu’s by 2020, which is equivalent to the annual energy use of 3,600 households. Likewise, carbon dioxide emissions would drop by 23,000 metric tons per year; equivalent to taking 12,000 cars off the road.
“Implementing progressive building energy codes that allow communities to reach maximum savings is a practical and cost effective step Northeast states should take to achieve energy and carbon reduction goals,” said Susan Coakley, executive Director of NEEP. “In these uncertain economic times, it is imperative that states do everything at their disposal to help their citizens and businesses reduce costs and minimize the environmental impacts of energy use. Adopting progressively more efficient building energy codes that include an Informative Appendix is a prime way to do this.”
The adoption of the Informative Appendix in Massachusetts received support from the building community including the Boston Society of Architects, as well as homebuilders such as Sage Builders and Transformations Inc. The coordinated effort of many stakeholders was key to the successful advancement of the stretch code including: NEEP; the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs; the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources; National Grid; the Cape Light Compact; the Conservation Law Foundation; the Massachusetts Climate Action Network; and Environment Northeast.
Now that the Massachusetts Informative Appendix has been adopted, the next steps consist of developing training and certification programs to help building officials, architects, builders, engineers, commissioning agents and other interested professionals understand it and put it to use. Municipal officials from around the state will then be prepared to start reviewing the new code; NEEP will continue to provide information and assistance to help with local adoptions and implementation of the new code.
For more information, please contact Isaac Elnecave.
