Bill > S1771

This bill aims to promote zero net-energy buildings in the Commonwealth by amending Chapter 143 of the General Laws. It establishes a zero net energy building standard for new residential construction by January 1, 2020, and for new commercial construction by January 1, 2030. These standards will be incorporated into the state building code and will incrementally increase energy efficiency for all new construction, starting with a 30% improvement over the most recent international energy conservation code. The bill also mandates the creation of definitions for "residential zero net-energy buildings" and "commercial zero net energy buildings" by January 1, 2017, and January 1, 2018, respectively, after consultation with the department of energy resources and public input. These definitions will consider existing standards in other states and the climate of Massachusetts, and will require that zero net energy buildings generate as much renewable electricity from on-site or nearby approved off-site sources as they consume annually, aligning with the state's renewable electricity standard.