What is a Stretch Code? 40% of all of the energy consumed in the U.S. is consumed in buildings, and many states have implemented energy efficiency building codes to try and reduce the carbon footprint of the built environment. Massachusetts has been at the cutting edge of these building codes since 2008 when they passed
High Performance Building Here at the Center for EcoTechnology (CET) we have a dedicated High Performance Building team that guides residents and builders through the process of energy efficient building for renovations, additions, and new building projects. Our team looks at blueprints and plans and guides builders and contractors along to help them reach their
The Hitchcock Center for the Environment is an educational center that aims to develop a deeper bond between humans and the natural world. The Hitchcock Center is a certified living building located on the Hampshire College campus in Amherst, overlooking the Holyoke Range. The Center for EcoTechnology was able to help The Hitchcock Center measure
Above is an image of The Lumberyard – an affordable housing complex located in the heart of Northampton, Massachusetts. At first glance, it may look like any new apartment complex, but this building is a highly energy efficient multifamily building. The efficiency of the Lumberyard was measured using the Home Energy Rating System (HERS), a
By Morgan O’Connor, Marketing and High Performance Building EcoFellow Recently, some of our staff toured a local Living Building on Hampshire College’s campus. The Living Building Challenge is seen as one of the most rigorous design standards in green building. Before certification, a project must prove itself to align with the seven “petals” that make
