[MassHistPres] Stretch Energy Code

[jade]

i recently wrote a letter to the editor of greenlivingjournal gently chastising them for allowing a vinyl window replacement outfit to advertise their 'green' polyvinyl chloride windows...the editor was prompt and pleasant in his response and asked if he could publish my letter...

he also suggested that he allows his readers and advertisers to determine what is green...that's like suggesting allowing a 5 year old to determine what food is healthy--ice cream is dairy, right?

we're in a constant struggle to set the record straight regarding mega window replacement companies...when it comes to which option is truly 'greenest' (poor green, it used to be such a nice word...) restoration is the first choice....

allowing vinyl replacement window vendors to a green fair makes no sense but i have seen them at most restoration/preservation/green events...i think it might have something o do with that other 'green'...yup, cash is what i'm thinking....

...jade
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Dennis De Witt 
  To: MHC MHC listserve 
  Sent: Wednesday, February 03, 2010 2:32 PM
  Subject: [MassHistPres] Stretch Energy Code


  A very enthusiastic green group is pushing for Brookline to adopt the Stretch Energy Code.  It is brand new.  We are told that Newton and Cambridge adopted it at the end of 2009.  It’s said to be "somewhat similar to an Energy Star rating for houses, with third-party testing so that residents are sure to get the energy efficiency they’re promised when they insulate, improve heating systems, or make other improvements." [windows?] It’s also said to be "an important step toward the town’s qualifying for new funding that is coming available under the Green Communities Act" -- whatever that might be.

  The obvious concern is windows.  Most of our green folks seem to understand that window replacements do not make sense economically -- but sometimes that understanding seems a bit fuzzy.  And they allowed two replacement window vendors -- one with vinyl windows! --  into a recent "green fair" in the H.S. 

  Is anyone else facing this?  

  What can Cambridge and Newton tell us about it?

  One person told me that the accompanying rules were not yet in place so that it could be something of a pig in  a poke.  I don't know if that's true or not.

  Dennis De Witt
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