Middleborough, MA Stretch Energy Code Support

Middleborough adopted the Stretch Code, and the state lists it as effective July 1, 2017.

What that means in practice:

• New homes: a HERS rating of 42 or lower with gas, oil or propane equipment, 45 or lower if all-electric, or Passive House certification instead
• Large additions and renovations: work over 1,000 sq ft, or more than 100% of the existing home, needs a HERS 65 or 70 target
• Smaller additions and alterations: REScheck or the prescriptive path is usually enough
• Commercial: COMcheck for buildings up to 20,000 sq ft

Permits in Middleborough

In Middleborough, building permits go through the Building Department. The department uses an online, paperless permitting program, and the town notes it does not work in Apple browsers.

Middleborough Gas & Electric Department (MG&E), the town-owned utility, supplies electricity, so heat pump rebates and service upgrades are worked out with MG&E.

Duct leakage counts too. Ducts outside the conditioned space have to be sealed and tested, and keeping them inside the thermal envelope makes the target much easier to reach.

Mechanical ventilation is part of every HERS path, and the measured air flow is checked at the final visit along with the blower door number, so the fan and controls should be shown on the plans.

Changes during construction matter. Swapping windows, insulation or the heating system after the HERS model is done can move the score, so those changes should go past the rater first.

Air sealing is where most scores are won or lost. Rim joists, attic hatches, recessed lights and plumbing penetrations are the usual leaks, so we flag them on the plans and check them before insulation is covered.

Our Framingham office at 68 South St covers Middleborough. Sending us the plans before the permit application lets the HERS, REScheck or COMcheck paperwork go in with the submission instead of holding up plan review.