The Path to Stretch Code Compliance post 1 of 2: The Big Picture

MA Stretch Code requires a home to have an Energy Rating Index of 55 HERS or lower.

Below is a list of energy related specifications that will get you there.

Actually, that’s in the next post. First, here is the preamble; concepts and strategies to build an energy efficient home. From just barely passing Stretch Code to Zero-Energy … do these things and win.

A few tenants of energy efficient home design from Stretch Code to Zero Energy

• Energy performance starts in the design stage. KISS (keep it simple stupid)

  • The simpler the form, the more cost effective high performance results are. Want dormers, knee-walls, vaults, cathedrals, and a multitude of intersecting roof lines? Fine, but you’ll use more resources- both financial and environmental- to achieve the same result as simpler geometries.
    

• HVAC design starts in design stage too.

  • With better insulation and airtightness that code requires, we can often design a simpler, less expensive, more modern heating/cooling system. The more you think of heating and cooling loads in the design stage, the less complex, expensive, and risky your HVAC system will be. What do you mean risky? Failing duct tightness testing at the end of the project is no fun. Proper sizing is a part of this.
    

• Air quality matters. Pay for ventilation

  • If you take a few minutes to define what a good home is, healthy indoor air-quality will come up pretty quickly, especially in the covid era. Pay a few thousand dollars for filtered, balanced ventilation: ERV- Energy Recovery Ventilator (or HRV if you have to) . Not only that, but have the airflows in each room designed, and then verify that targets are being met. Why do you need a good ventilation system? Because our crap off-gasses, because we sleep better when CO is not high, because outside air isn’t always healthy (allergies anyone?), because you love your kids. It kind of boils down to: nothing is more important than breathing good air…so why skimp here?
    

• Tighter the home the more comfortable, healthy, efficient, and durable it is. End of story.

  • Of course good ventilation and proper enclosure design is critical to this statement. But it’s not an argument anymore. A tight home (air tight) does NOT require any fancy materials (read: spray foam) . It’s about intention and the building team doing their job. Nope, it doesn’t even require ‘craftsmanship’. Just have a plan (design!) , think, and do your job. Bam!

• Get an energy consultant, even if you don’t have to

  • Okay admittedly this is self serving as this is what we do. But building a home is a pretty important and consequential. It’s critical to have full faith in your builder and project team. But a third party to inspect and provide verification, confirms that you are getting a great home (what you paid for) . If you are a builder… then the energy consultant keeps risk down by ensuring your subs are on-task and call backs will be reduced. Our HERS Rating service includes a decent level of consulting. Add a few more hours, and you’ll get a detailed plan review and ventilation commissioning… money very well spent.

Coming up… TOP 10 home specifications to meet the 2018 IECC MA Stretch Code !!