May 13, 2009 Lexington, Mass. - 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 roughly 30 percent more energy efficient than the current state energy.
The stretch code provides municipalities the option of using the current statewide code or adopting the more stringent Informative Appendix. Adopting the Informative Appendix will help municipalities qualify for funding under requirements spelled out in 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 to adopt progressively more efficient building energy codes, improve the rate at which buildings and dwellings comply with the code and measure the actual energy performance of buildings and dwellings. It provides guidance to states in creating and adopting building policies that will lead to large-scale energy and carbon emissions savings across the Northeast.
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 by 2020 annual energy savings of 430 billion btus 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 achieveenergy and carbon reduction goals," said Susan Coakley, executive Director of NEEP. "In theseuncertain 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, Massachusetts Climate Action Network and Environment Northeast.
About NEEP
Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships (NEEP) is a regional nonprofit organization founded in 1996 whose mission is to promote the efficient use of energy in homes, buildings and industry in the Northeast U.S. through regionally coordinated programs and policies that increase the use of energy efficient products, services and practices, and that help achieve a cleaner environment and a more reliable and affordable energy system. For more information, visit www.neep.org.