What is the "Stretch Code"?
Posted by Eileen Komanecky on Tue, Nov 29, 2011 @ 01:50 PM
If you are in the process of building a new home in Massachusetts, you may have heard term "stretch code" being thrown around by your architect and/or builder. Don't worry, it dosen't mean that you need to take a yoga or pilates course before they let you move into your new home. (Although it may be a good idea as a way to alleviate some of the stress involved with new home construction or a major renovation).
The stretch code they are referring to is a 2009 appendix to the Massachusetts building energy code that allows cities and towns to opt for a more energy efficient option. It offers a streamlined and cost effective route to achieving approximately 20% to 35% better energy efficiency in new residential buildings, and 20% in new commercial buildings, than is required by the existing base energy code.
The HERS Index (Home Energy Rating System), which is shown above, is used as a means to measure the energy efficiency of a home. As you can see, the lower a home's score, the more energy efficient it is. A municipality that adopts the stretch code requires that new single-family and multifamily homes built in their jurisdictions achieve a HERS index rating of 60 or less. The current base energy code in Massachusetts requires a minimum HERS rating of 99.