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