Our Net Zero Future is Being Defined by New Regulations and Incentives
Our Net Zero future is being defined by new regulations and incentives. From the top down by state legislation, regulations, and code changes, and from the bottom up by local bylaws, zoning revisions, and design guidelines.
These policy initiatives have the power to shape the next 10-30 years of the building industry and determine whether or not we can hit our climate emission targets and reshape our built environment.
State Policy and a Net Zero Building Code
As part of the Next Generation Roadmap Bill signed by Gov. Baker last March, the state is required to develop a “net zero stretch code” for municipalities to opt-into. The Department of Energy Resources is the state agency charged with developing this code. DOER has now released their Straw Proposal for the Stretch Code Update and New Specialized Stretch Code.
DOER's new Stretch Code Development webpage
Proposal Presentation and Details
Our recommendations can be found here:
MA Net Zero Buildings Coalition - Net Zero Stretch Code Framework
Myths vs. Facts factsheet about net-zero and fossil fuel-free buildings.
How to Comment
Written comments will be accepted until 5 PM on August 12th 2022. Please submit written comments on the regulations electronically to stretchcode@mass.gov with the words BUILDING CODE COMMENTS in the subject line. Alternatively, comments can be submitted via mail to Ian Finlayson, Department of Energy Resources, 100 Cambridge Street, Suite 1020, Boston, MA 02114.
Allocation of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Funds
The Massachusetts state government is reviewing proposals for allocation over $5 billion of funding under the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). These funds present a tremendous opportunity for the Commonwealth to mitigate some of the effects of the pandemic while advancing critical needs across many sectors.
Please reach out to your State legislators to ask them to utilize 5% ($250 Million) of ARPA funds to renovate existing buildings to zero carbon. Please see this letter for our full recommendations and send your comments directly to your State Senator (find their email here) with the subject Allocation of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Funds Testimony.
In March 2021, Congress passed the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), which provided $5.286 Billion to Massachusetts to be allocated by the State Legislature. Let's ask the State Legislature to allocate $250 Million of ARPA funds to create a Zero Carbon Renovation Fund to help renovate existing buildings in Massachusetts to zero carbon. This Zero Carbon Renovation Fund would result in deep carbon savings by transforming existing buildings to be super energy efficient, all electric, powered by clean renewable energy, and renovated with low-embodied carbon materials. A Zero Carbon Renovation Fund would help ensure that the Commonwealth has healthier and more affordable places for people to live and work.
It’s especially important that we reach out now. In December, the legislators allocated the first round of ARPA funds, a total of $2.55 Billion. To the dismay of those of us concerned about climate, health, and affordability, they allocated only $6.5 Million for zero carbon retrofits (.1% of total ARPA funds!). This will only decarbonize 250 of the 1 million homes that need to be renovated by 2030! By comparison, Maine allocated 5% of their total ARPA funds to accelerate weatherization, electrification and ventilation improvements.
Yet we can still do something. The State House has more than $2 billion of ARPA funds left. Please ask your legislators to allocate $250 Million for the Zero Carbon Renovation Fund
Affordable Housing and Low Income Tax Credits
The Department of Housing and Community Development is undergoing a new draft of their Qualified Allocation Plan for awarding Affordable Housing financing for the 2022-2024 period. Currently, in the existing plan, Passive House projects receive 5 extra points in the category of Certified Exemplary Energy Performance. In order to hit the state’s climate goals, it is critical that affordable housing projects funded with MA Low Income Housing Tax Credits are working to achieve a goal of net zero emissions and should not to retrofitted again in 10 or 15 years to meet the goal.
Written comments
Submit by e-mail to rebecca.frawley@mass.gov or catherine.racer@mass.gov.
Amendment to 2020-2021 QAP at www.mass.gov/service-details/qualified-allocation-plan (or google MA QAP DHCD)
Environmentally Friendly Design (20 points) of 182 points
Many things listed as potential points should be pre-requisites such as:
5 years of energy and water performance reporting (not just for PH projects)
Implementation of smoke-free housing policies
Use of applicable efficiency program such as LEAN Low Income Multifamily or MassSave
Enterprise Green Community Mandatory checklist- and letter from consultant that would be able to achieve certification
There should be two different tracts for scoring: one for new construction buildings, one for rehabs of existing buildings/adaptive reuse
New construction buildings should not get extra certification points unless at least achieve LEED Gold. New construction that commits to Passive House certification should get at least 5 points more than LEED Gold commitment because usually achieve 40% or better Energy Use Intensity than LEED
Rehab/Adaptive reuse should only get points if have aggressive energy scope. Consider 30% reduction in Energy Use Intensity, 40% reduction in Energy Use Intensity and EnerPHit levels of scoring
There should be rewards in scoring if propose electrification of heating with efficient heat pumps. This is relatively harder for retrofits so retrofits should get more points if electrify
There should be a scoring reward for new construction that dramatically decreases embodied carbon of building materials, such as mass timber structural design or 40% replacement of cement in concrete with low embodied carbon ECMs