Transcript Slide 1

Stretch
Code for
Ayer
Spring, 2011
Today’s Topics
• Why Ayer should be a “Green Community”
• What is the stretch code?
• Discussion and Q&A
Ayer Conservation Land
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Why Ayer Should be a
Green Community
• Reduce energy costs in municipal
buildings - pays for itself
• Eligible for Green Community Grant funds
for further efficiencies and cost reduction
• Less dependence on imported fuels
• Foster clean energy technologies
• Promote energy-efficient
construction
Sutton, MA a Successful
Green Community
• Sutton Solar Panels on School
– Qualified for $170,000 in state and federal
grants because of being a Green Community
and because of prep work needed to become
a Green Community (energy baseline
assessment for example)
– Projected energy savings
>$25,000 annually
Grants to Nearby
Green Communities
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Acton: $150,794
Athol: $171,523
Becket: $141,326
Belchertown: $160,917
Chelmsford: $187,224
Gardner: $206,100
Harvard: $141,200
Marlborough: $217,125
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Lancaster: $141,114
Lincoln: $140,294
Lowell: $546,506
Medford: $271,651
Sudbury: $136,238
Tyngsborough:
$161,649
• Winchester: $151,475
• Worcester: $852,083
Sample Municipal Projects
• Water
– tankless hot water heaters
– solar hot water system
• Lighting
– energy efficient lighting
– LED streetlights
• Transportation
– incremental costs of a hybrid
vehicle
• Energy Generation
– Solar photovoltaic (PV)
systems
– community wind forums
– solar homes program
• Efficient Systems
– efficient wastewater treatment
process
– energy management system
– energy efficient boilers and
vending machines
• Construction
– residential stretch code
implementation program
provides financial incentives
for residents undertaking
home building projects
• Expertise
– energy expert consulting
services
Five “Green Community”
Requirements
 Adopt "as-of-right" zoning
for renewable or alternative
energy generation, research
and development or
manufacturing.
 Adopt an expedited
permitting process for such
projects.
 Energy-use baseline and a
plan to reduce baseline
usage by 20% over five
years.
 Plan to purchase only fuelefficient cars
Ayer has done four of five
steps already!
• Last Step for Ayer –
Require all new residential
construction, and new
commercial or industrial
projects to conform to a
"stretch code"
REQUIRES
TOWN
MEETING
APPROVAL
What Makes a
Stretch Code?
• Current Codes are prescriptive – they require
specific energy efficiency measures
• Stretch code is performance based
– Evaluates combined effects of multiple energy
efficiency (windows, insulation, lighting,
heating/cooling, etc.)
– HERS (Home Energy Rating System)
• Stretch Code amounts to
consumer protection for the home owner
What is a HERS Rating?
• Home Energy Rating System
(HERS) Index
• Each home is tested,
certified and labeled by an
independent HERS Rater
 Raters monitored by
Residential Energy Services
Network (RESNET)
 Energy performance
monitored from planning stage
through final test of efficiency
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Why Test Performance?
– Guarantee good
installation
– Check effectiveness of
air and water tightness,
– Identify even those small
air gaps that can reduce
insulation R-values by
50% or more
– Allows for flexibility in
efficiency measures
Image source:
http://www.pixelthermographics.co.uk/images/FrontJoinedIR.jpg
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How Test Performance
• Blower-door test
for air leakage
• Duct test for
heating & AC
• Infra-red camera
tests thermal
barrier install
(optional)
Image source: Environmental Protection Agency
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What does the Stretch
Code Apply to?
• Residential
– New Construction
– Additions
– Home Renovations
• Commercial
– New Construction
– Additions
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Common Concerns
• Costs
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builders
homeowners
Businesses
Town
• Why now?
Green is Profitable for
Builders
• Major Builders Choosing to Put HERS Rating on
New Homes
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Pulte Homes
Centex Homes
Del Webb Communities
KB Home
Meritage Homes
• Marketing advantages to HERS Ratings –
people want to buy energy efficient homes
Savings to Home Owner
$1,600
Annual
Incremental
Increase to
Mortgage for
Stretch Code
$1,400
$1,200
$1,000
Annual Energy
Savings with
Stretch Code
$800
$600
$400
$200
$0
Small House
1700 sq.ft
Medium House Large House
2672 sq. ft
4462 sq. ft
Summary
• Ayer has completed 4
of 5 steps to become
a Green Community
• Green Communities
qualify for grants for
more energy
conservation
• Vote YES at Town
Meeting
Ayer Conservation Land
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Appendix
• Details on example new home
costs/energy savings
• Energy star