[MassHistPres] windows and stretch code

Thu Jul 3 10:25:03 EDT 2014

It isn't just lobbyists who have influenced this mind set of "new is better" with regards to windows & other  building components. Most contractors and a few too many architects are getting their product educations in continuing education seminars sanctioned by accrediting organizations but created and offered by product manufacturers. Homeowners are getting too much of their information from commercials first and then from commissioned salesmen and then contractors and occasionally architects. The only place I've run into the lobbyist issue for sure has been with the MassSave auditors who offer big loan discounts for homeowners to replace their single-glazed wood windows with double glazed replacements for "better efficiency". This is an issue that really needs to be addressed since these auditors are the primary "experts" so many people are turning to right now to upgrade their home energy efficiency.

I had no problem getting local permits though for replacing failed double-glazed cheap vinyl windows in my mid 18th Century colonial (National Disctrict contributing property) with good quality new single-glazed wooden TDLs with exterior storms under the new energy codes, at least in my town, and I did fear that it would be an issue here. 

Diane Oliver-Jensen, rla, LEED A.P.
West Brookfield, MA

-----Original Message-----
From: heartwood restoration <jade at heartwoodrestoration.com>
To: Alison Hardy <ahardy at window-woman-ne.com>; 'Dennis De Witt' <djd184 at verizon.net>; 'MHC MHC listserve' <MassHistPres at cs.umb.edu>
Sent: Thu, Jul 3, 2014 8:02 am
Subject: Re: [MassHistPres] windows and stretch code

i hope the only thing that  does change is the recognition of houses built prior to 1950 as pre-existing non-comforming when it comes to replacing or significantly modifying historic components of a home...there is nothing 'green' or 'environmentally friendly' about replacing components that have stood the test of time with inferior products shipped half way across the country and which will likely need replacement by the time the next generation graduates high school...

respectfully caring for and undertaking energy efficiency upgrades in an old home should not be so difficult and frustrating for homeowners...my cynical self suggests lobbyists have a lot to do with the NEW IMPROVED EASY DISPOSABLE PLASTIC way of stewarding a house these days.......

thanks again for the feedback....
...jade

jade mortimer
heartwood window restoration
26 forget road
hawley, ma  01339
413-339-4298
you can see right through our work.....

----- Original Message ----- 

From:   Alison Hardy 

To: 'Dennis De Witt' ; 'MHC MHC   listserve' 

Sent: Wednesday, July 02, 2014 3:55   PM

Subject: Re: [MassHistPres] windows and   stretch code

Code   applies if the renovation/addition requires a building permit.   

For   historic home owners, understanding the ramifications of the stretch energy   code is critical because most building inspectors only understand the   prescriptive path and most builders will take the less “risky” path of just   buying the specified products and putting them in. 

The   performance path is considered riskier as the rating can only be done at the   end for the whole renovation/addition. If the insulation was done badly, or   the foundation leaks, or if a door was not installed properly then it’s   possible the renovation in it’s entirety will not get an adequate HERS score.   

Thankfully   houses that are on the National or state register are exempt (and let us hope   that rule does not change!). Many builders and building inspectors are also   not aware of that exemption so it’s important that the homeowner knows.   

I   have been asked to salvage too many beautiful antique windows by homeowners   tell me their builder told them they HAD to put in new windows when they   remodeled or added on. 

Alison   Hardy

                      58 Pulaski Street

               Peabody, MA 01960

                          978-532-2070

As seen on This   Old House. Please visit our web site at 

www.window-woman-ne.com to see all   episodes.

From: Dennis De Witt   [mailto:djd184 at verizon.net] 
Sent: Wednesday, July 02, 2014 11:24   AM
To: MHC MHC listserve
Subject: Re: [MassHistPres]   windows and stretch code

Does the code apply if she is not changing the window?    Can the code force her to replace an existing window?  I’d have   thought it would only apply to new work.

Dennis De Witt

On Jul 1, 2014, at 5:56 PM, Jim Wald <jwald at hampshire.edu>   wrote:

As Ms. Hardy   says, there are two paths.

Option 2, the "prescriptive path, or partial   house option., is the more traditional, with, e.g., set Energy Star specs for   new windows and doors, etc. etc.

But Option 1, the "performance path,"   based on the whole house, is based on the aggregate energy savings (using   HERS, pegged to square footage). This is more flexible, and therefore, as Ms.   Hardy says, better suited to historic structures. E.g. if you have older   windows that are not super-energy-efficient, you can make up for that through   efficiencies elsewhere, as long as the total comes out   right.

See:

http://www.mass.gov/eea/docs/doer/green-communities/grant-program/stretch-code-summary-jun20-2011.pdf

Here   is general information on the stretch code and changes going into effect July   1:

http://www.mass.gov/eopss/consumer-prot-and-bus-lic/license-type/csl/stretch-energy-code-information.html

Jim   Wald
Amherst Select Board
liaison to Historical Commission
past   chair, Historical Commission

On 01/07/2014   14:07, Alison Hardy wrote:

There     are two ways a renovation or an addition can meet the requirements of the     Stretch energy code:

1.       Buy     rated products and install them according to     directions.

2.       Have     an energy audit and produce a HERS score for the entire     addition.

Obviously     if the homeowner wants to restore they are not going with option one but can     go with option two. Some inspectors are OK with it, others only seem to know     about option 1 so there may be some educating. There are many energy     auditors who can produce a HERS rating score.

Alison     Hardy

Window     Woman of New England

From: heartwood     restoration [mailto:jade at heartwoodrestoration.com] 
Sent: Monday, June 30, 2014 7:33     AM
To: Mass     ListServe
Subject: [MassHistPres] windows and stretch     code

greetings     all......

i     have had a call from a homeowner in belmont concerning windows and the     stretch code...as i am not familiar with all the particulars, i turn to the     informed folks on this list serve...

the     homeowner is converting a once unfinished (uninsulated, unheated) room in     her house to a heated living space...the home is not on the registry and is     not in an historic district...she would like to restore the     existing window sash and install new storm windows...my understanding     is that the stretch code is adopted by each town/city and the code may     be slightly different from town to town depending on how the     citizens/inspectors constructed the code...what should the homeowner know     prior to applying for a permit for the conversion?  we all know that an     old window with a new storm and weather stripping will offer the same U     value as a new window but it can be an uphill battle convincing those     who make the decisions...

thanks     in advance....

...jade

jade     mortimer
heartwood window restoration
26     forget road
hawley, ma      01339
413-339-4298
you can see right through our     work.....

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