1. Stretch Building Code
Green Communities Act
Jennifer Henriquez • Deborah Silva • Joe Szafarowicz

2. Green Communities Act
• Ambitious energy legislation passed
in 2008
• First state in the US to pass
something like this
• Creates the Green Communities
Program

3. 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

4. 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”

6. Green Communities
Sutton Millbury
• July 19, 2011 • July 19, 2011
• $143,050 • $167,025

7. 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

8. Green Communities
Palmer
• May 25, 2010
• $169,103
• To fund energy conservation measures at Town Hall;
a boiler and chiller replacements

9. 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%

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

12. Where Does My Money Go?
Image Source: Energy Star

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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

19. 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

20. 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

23. Questions? Comments?
Thank You!
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
Jennifer Henriquez • Deborah Silva • Joe Szafarowicz