The Massachusetts Residential Stretch Energy Code is an energy performance standard for energy-efficient new construction. Municipalities have the option to adopt this code to ensure new buildings are built to standards greater than the Base Code.
NEEP’s Massachusetts Residential Stretch Energy Code Case Studies project highlights seven residential projects across Massachusetts that demonstrate different approaches to meeting and exceeding the Stretch Energy Code through high-performance design, electrification, and advanced energy efficiency strategies:
- Lunenburg Duplex, Duplex in Lunenburg
- Amethyst Brook Apartments, Multifamily in Pelham
- Residences on Lincoln Square, Multifamily & Adaptive Reuse in Worcester
- The Waterhouse, Multifamily in Danvers
- Brewster Woods, Multifamily in Brewster
- Casita de Vida, ADU in Holyoke
- Park Hill Residence, Single Family Home in Northampton
Each case study includes a project overview, energy code and compliance information, design and construction strategies, performance metrics, cost insights where available, and lessons learned from project teams. Together, the case studies show how residential projects across Massachusetts are approaching Stretch Code compliance, electrification, and high-performance residential construction in practice. They provide:
- Practical examples of how builders, architects, developers, and project teams are navigating evolving energy code requirements across a range of residential building types and compliance pathways.
- Featured projects that represent a variety of building typologies and construction methods, including multifamily affordable housing developments, single-family homes, a duplex, and an accessory dwelling unit.
- Projects permitted under multiple Massachusetts energy code frameworks, including earlier versions of the Stretch Energy Code under 780 CMR Appendix AA, as well as the updated 225 CMR 22.00 and 225 CMR 23.00 codes.
- A range of compliance and certification pathways, including the Energy Rating Index pathway and Passive House certifications
- A variety of high-performance strategies, including all-electric systems, enhanced building envelopes, solar-ready infrastructure, and EV-ready design considerations. Each case study includes a project overview, energy code and compliance information, design and construction strategies, performance metrics, cost insights where available, and lessons learned from project teams.
