ICC Building Safety Association of Vermont 

2015 Energy Codes Update

2015 updated versions of the VT Residential Building Energy Standards (RBES) and the VT Commercial Building Energy Standards (CBES) are now adopted and became effective March 1, 2015.

An RBES "Stretch" Code (see below) is also adopted and became effective December 1, 2015.

Background

On June 17, 2013, the Vermont legislature adopted Act 89, which clarifies the applicability of Vermont’s residential and commercial building energy codes to mixed-use buildings and includes various amendments to promote compliance with those codes, such as using existing State and local permit processes to encourage compliance.

Vermont’s First Stretch Code

Act 89 also amends the RBES statute to authorize the Vermont Department of Public Service (DPS) to adopt a “stretch” code for residential buildings to achieve greater energy savings than the baseline RBES.  Additionally, the DPS has developed a “stretch” guideline for commercial buildings to achieve greater energy savings than the baseline CBES. The Natural Resources Board(NRB) now allows (essentially requires)  the stretch standards to serve as a compliance path for meeting the Energy Conservation criterion 9(F) of Act 250. Municipalities will have the option to adopt either or both stretch codes as part of their land use bylaws.

More Information

 For complete information about both the Residential and Commercial energy codes, including the most recent documents in pdf form, visit the Department of Public Service web pages here-RBES and here-CBES.

And for further details and training materials on the 2015 update, visit:  

Building Energy Standards Update