Stretch Code

Background

Needham is considering seeking designation as a “Green Community,” a status which brings both technical help and money from the State to promote local energy-saving and clean energy projects. There are five requirements to becoming a Green Community, and Town Meeting action is required for one of those requirements – adopting the Stretch Code.

The Stretch Code is an optional appendix to the base energy code which increases efficiency requirements for all new residential and many new commercial buildings, as well as for those residential additions and renovations that would normally trigger building code requirements. Stretch Code buildings achieve approximately 20% better energy efficiency in new residential and commercial buildings than is required by the base energy code.

After four months of meetings, the Selectmen-appointed Green Communities Study Committee recommended that Needham adopt the stretch code and join the Green Communities program. The Selectmen later voted 3-2 to recommend adoption of the Stretch Code to Town Meeting. The Selectmen will not vote on joining Green Communities until after Town Meeting makes a decision on the Stretch Code.

For an explanation of the advantages of becoming a Green Community and an update on how Needham can meet the other four Green Community requirements, click here to access the Green Communities Study Committee Report.

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