The constant desire to have more buildings that incorporate energy savings has necessitated to the adoption of Stretch code Newton MA. This is a building code that is also referred to as a stretch energy code.
These increase the requirements on efficiency on new commercial and residential buildings, additions and renovations. These are different from the existing base energy codes, in that Stretch code Newton MA aspires to attain energy efficiency that is 20 percent more than is required by the base energy codes.
Stretch code Newton MA applies to residential buildings that are 3 stories high or less. Its application is to the construction, renovations and additions. These codes do not apply to historic buildings.
They also apply to new commercial buildings that have a size of over 5.000 square feet. This is inclusive of residential buildings that are more than 3 storeys high. Buildings such as warehouses, supermarkets and laboratories can get exemptions from these regulations if they are of a size that is below 40,000 square feet.
Stretch codes have various benefits such as, the lowering of costs to builders which is then passed on to developers and subsequently to the owners. This is as a result of the amount of motivation provided to distributors and manufacturers of building products, if they know in advance what is required in the market and produce it cheap because of increased competition.
They also ensure a high rate of compliance if they are adopted in a mandatory manner because many of the players in the market are conversant with its new requirements.
The adoption of these new codes results in a reduction of green house emissions because buildings are responsible to up to 40 percent of all carbon emissions. Their adoption is also beneficial in that buildings will last longer.
The adoption of Stretch code Newton MA results in an increase of between 1 to 3 percent in construction costs, but these are quickly recovered due to the savings achieved by reductions in electricity and heating.
Their implementation and enforcement requires the developer to submit all documents that prove compliance to a building inspector, who reviews them in addition to conducting a site and plan review. This procedure is as same as that used with the codes in existence.
