Description
Most building emissions come from energy used for heating, cooling, and hot water—especially when fossil fuels are used on-site. Massachusetts’ opt-in Specialized Energy Code is designed to accelerate high-performance, low-carbon buildings, but communities still benefit when projects adopt these practices early and consistently. This action focuses on promoting “all-electric ready” design (so buildings can electrify easily) alongside passive or high-efficiency components that reduce energy demand in the first place (tight envelopes, better insulation, improved ventilation, and other passive strategies). The goal is to avoid costly retrofits later and to help new buildings perform better during extreme heat and cold. Success looks like more projects choosing electric-ready designs, improved building efficiency, and faster progress toward decarbonization as the grid gets cleaner.