Energized? No, Specialized: Decoding the New Specialized Stretch Code

ON JULY 1, 2024, both an updated Stretch Code and the Municipal Opt-In Specialized Stretch Code will go into effect in Worcester. While Worcester is already a stretch code community, the City Council voted to adopt the specialized stretch code in September 2023. The Municipal Opt-In Specialized Stretch Code is an optional update to the already-existing “Stretch Code” that aims to further the electrification of new residential and commercial buildings built in Massachusetts. The intent of the specialized code is to create the next generation of energy efficient buildings. The specialized code does not dramatically overhaul the stretch code as it exists; rather, it adds a few additional requirements depending on the type and size of building being constructed. Alterations and renovations to existing buildings will continue to be governed by the existing stretch code.