Lanesborough, MA Stretch Energy Code Support

Lanesborough is a Stretch Code community. The state's adoption list shows the Stretch Code in effect there since July 1, 2015, so the current Stretch Code, not the base code, sets the energy targets for Lanesborough permits.

The main thresholds for Lanesborough permits:

• New homes: HERS 42 for mixed-fuel homes, HERS 45 for all-electric homes, or Passive House certification.
• Large additions and renovations: Work over 1,000 sq ft, or over 100% of the existing home, targets HERS 65 (mixed-fuel) or HERS 70 (all-electric).
• Smaller additions and alterations: REScheck or the prescriptive path is usually enough.
• Commercial: COMcheck works for buildings up to 20,000 sq ft.

Hitting a HERS 42 or 45 target is mostly about the envelope: continuous air sealing at the rim joists, attic hatches and penetrations, insulation installed without gaps, and balanced ventilation sized to the tested air tightness.

In Lanesborough, building permits go through the Building Commissioner's office. Applications are filed online through PermitEyes.

Equipment choices move the score as much as insulation does: a right-sized heat pump, a heat pump water heater and efficient windows can each take points off the HERS index.

Timing matters as well. The energy documents have to match the plans on file, so changes to windows, insulation or mechanical equipment during construction should go past the rater before they are made, not after.

Air sealing is where most scores are won or lost. Attic hatches, rim joists, recessed lights and plumbing penetrations are the usual leaks in Lanesborough homes, so we mark them on the plans and check them on site before insulation is covered.

Lanesborough projects are served from our Marlborough office at 272 Lincoln St C1. We review plans before you file, inspect insulation and air sealing before drywall, and run the final blower door and duct tests.