SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1656        FILED ON: 1/21/2011

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1665

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

James B. Eldridge

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act promoting zero net-energy buildings in the Commonwealth.

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PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

James B. Eldridge

 

William N. Brownsberger

 

Susan C. Fargo

 

Peter V. Kocot

1st Hampshire

Ruth B. Balser

12th Middlesex

Carolyn C. Dykema

8th Middlesex

Jonathan Hecht

29th Middlesex

Stephen Kulik

1st Franklin


SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1656        FILED ON: 1/21/2011

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1665

By Mr. Eldridge, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1665) of James B. Eldridge, William N. Brownsberger, Susan C. Fargo, Peter V. Kocot and other members of the General Court for legislation to promote zero net-energy buildings in the Commonwealth.  Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy.

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

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In the Year Two Thousand Eleven

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An Act promoting zero net-energy buildings in the Commonwealth.

 

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 is hereby amended in Section 94 by striking subsection (o) in its entirety and inserting in place thereof the following new subsection:-

(o) To establish a zero net energy building standard for new residential construction by January 1st 2020 and a zero net energy building standard for new commercial construction by January 1st 2030. The board shall implement residential and commercial zero net energy buildings regulations as part of the state building code, together with any more stringent energy efficiency provisions that the board, in consultation with the department of energy resources, concludes are warranted.  The residential and commercial zero net energy building standards shall incrementally increase the energy efficiency of all new construction beginning with a 30% increase in efficiency below the 2012 international energy conservation code.

SECTION 2. Chapter 143 is hereby amended in Section 94 by inserting the following new subsection at the end thereof:-

(s) To establish 2 definitions, in consultation with the Department of Energy Resources and after sufficient time for public input, one for “Residential zero net-energy buildings” to be established by January 1st 2013 and one for “commercial zero net-energy buildings” to be established by January 1st 2014.  The definitions shall take into account zero net energy building definitions established in other states or municipalities, the current and anticipated climate of Massachusetts, and shall be designed to ensure that all zero net-energy buildings, as defined, generate as much renewable electricity, as defined in the state renewable electricity standard, through on-site, or a reasonably proximate, approved, off-site location, as the building consumes over the course of one calendar year.