Public Service Department Commissioner Chris Recchia announced that the newly revised Vermont Residential and Commercial Building Energy Codes are in effect as of March 1, 2015. The Vermont Residential Building Energy Code, officially called the “Residential Building Energy Standards” (RBES), was initially adopted by the Vermont legislature in May 1997. The Vermont Commercial Building Energy Standards (CBES), was initially adopted in 2006. The legislation provides for regular review and updates to the provisions in the Code by the Public Service Department (PSD). The 2015 Residential and Commercial Building Energy Codes are based on Vermont amendments to the 2015 International Energy Conservation Code and are a minimum standard of energy efficiency that applies to all alterations and renovations for existing buildings, as well as new construction.
Commissioner Recchia states, “As new buildings are constructed and existing buildings are renovated in Vermont, the new energy codes will help ensure we are continuing to move towards more efficient and sustainable buildings. The 2015 Energy Codes will increase energy savings in new and existing buildings, which means less energy consumption, fewer emissions, and lower energy bills for Vermonters.”
For the first time the PSD has also adopted a “stretch” code for residential buildings to achieve greater energy savings than the baseline RBES, as authorized in Act 89 of 2013. The stretch code goes into effect December 1, 2015. After that date, Residential buildings will gain a presumption of compliance with the energy conservation criterion of Act 250 by complying with the stretch code. The stretch code requires a higher level of thermal energy efficiency, a blower door test to verify the air leakage rates, and electric vehicle support for multifamily developments of 10 or more dwelling units.
Energy Code handbooks/codebooks and certificates are available at no cost. Free trainings are also currently being conducted around the state. For additional information, training dates, or a hard copy of the energy code materials contact the Public Service Department, Planning and Energy Resources Division, at 802-828-2811 or for an electronic version of the code, visit the energy code update webpage at: http://publicservice.vermont.gov/topics/energy_efficiency/code_update. For free technical assistance contact the Energy Code Assistance Center toll free at 855-887-0673.
Soruce: Public Service Department (PSD) 3.4.2015