We often have Lunch & Learn sessions where vendors/experts come in to teach our staff about new products and techniques to help us work more efficiently and make our projects greener. This session was presented by our engineering partners at Thornton Tomasetti. They helped us learn more about updated Stretch Code Compliance standards.
As part of the Green Communities Act of 2008, Massachusetts is required to update its building code every three years to be consistent with the most recent version of the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC). This ensures that new buildings are designed and constructed with energy efficiency in mind. In 2009, Massachusetts became the first state to adopt an above-code appendix to the “base” building energy code: the “Stretch Code”. The Stretch Code, which emphasizes energy performance, as opposed to prescriptive requirements, is designed to result in cost-effective construction that is more energy efficient than that built to the “base” energy code. The Stretch Code is typically updated every few years, with the most recent update to take effect this year.
