By Representative Golden of Lowell and Senator Panagiotakos, joint petition (accompanied by bill, 3313) of Thomas A. Golden, Jr., and others for legislation to revise and update the energy conservation codes of the Commonwealth. Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy.

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PETITION OF:

Thomas A. Golden, Jr.

Steven C. Panagiotakos

Kevin J. Murphy

David M. Nangle

Patrick M. Natale

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In the Year Two Thousand and Seven.

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An Act relative to updating the Massachusetts energy conservation codes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:

SECTION 1.

                Chapter 143, of the Massachusetts General Laws is hereby amended by adding in section 94, after clause (l), the following new clause:-

(m) To adopt, at least once every three (3) years, the latest edition of the model energy conservation code, the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC),  published by the International Code Council.  No amendments to the Massachusetts energy conservation code shall be adopted that increase energy consumption in buildings. BBRS jointly with DOER shall adopt regulations to certify and train qualified energy code inspectors and require that all new construction and major renovations pass inspections by certified energy code inspectors demonstrating full compliance with the Massachusetts energy conservation code.

SECTION 2. Chapter 143 of the Massachusetts General Laws is hereby amended by adding in section 94, after clause (m) as added above, the following new clause:

(n) The BBRS shall, jointly with the DOER,  through a public process, establish benchmarks for energy performance that indicate how a building can exceed the minimum standards set by the state energy code by at least thirty percent. Such benchmarks shall be updated through a public process not less than every three years. All buildings built in whole or in part with public funds shall exceed in energy conservation the most recent state energy codes by at least thirty percent. The Department of Revenue shall provide a tax credit not to exceed 10% of the allowable cost of the building, as determined by the BBRS jointly with the DOER through formal rulemaking, for any privately developed buildings that exceed in energy conservation the most recent state energy codes by at least thirty percent.