Buildings and Efficiency

Stretch Building Energy Codes

While many states have adopted mandatory building and building energy codes, local jurisdictions have the power to adopt regulations that are more rigorous than state codes. These are known as stretch codes, as opposed to the base code, and result in more energy efficiency and thus more energy savings. Local governments can use stretch codes to incorporate technologies, methodologies, and regulations that are not included in statewide mandates. Often, stretch codes will be performance-based, which measure the overall energy usage of a building.

States with Policy Enacted

In Progress

Partially Enacted

See States List

Key Resources

State and Local Stretch Codes

A series of technical briefs to advance and update national, state, and local stretch energy codes.
2023
Source:

Building Decarbonization Code

A model building code that amends the 2021 IECC to deliver carbon neutral buildings.

Stretch Codes

An overview of stretch codes and examples of their use.

Model Rules

Building Decarbonization Code

A model building code that amends the 2021 IECC to deliver carbon neutral buildings.

ZERO Code

A model energy code standard that would achieve net-zero carbon emissions for buildings.
2018
Source:

Model States

Illinois

The Illinois Capital Development Board approved the Illinois Residential Stretch Code on April 9, 2024. The Code will be available for municipalities to adopt by October 31, 2024.

Massachusetts

The Stretch Energy Code is 2021 IECC with Massachusetts amendments, and the Specialized Code is a municipal opt-in code that is designed to ensure new construction is consistent with the state's target of net-zero emissions by 2050.

New York

The NYStretch Energy Code: 2020 is a voluntary locally adopted stretch energy code that offers municipalities a more energy-efficient alternative to the minimum state energy code.

2020
Establishing Policies

Vermont

The Vermont Residential Energy Building Standards (RBES) Stretch Code is a building energy code for residential buildings that achieves greater energy savings than the statewide RBES.

Stretch Building Energy Codes By State

Filters
Status State Sort descending Region Components YR Enacted
Not Enacted
Empty column

Stretch building energy codes are an optional, more stringent building code established by the state that local jurisdictions can adopt to require that newly constructed buildings are more efficient than the baseline state codes.

Empty column
Southeast
Not Enacted
Empty column

Stretch building energy codes are an optional, more stringent building code established by the state that local jurisdictions can adopt to require that newly constructed buildings are more efficient than the baseline state codes.

Empty column
West
Not Enacted
Empty column

Stretch building energy codes are an optional, more stringent building code established by the state that local jurisdictions can adopt to require that newly constructed buildings are more efficient than the baseline state codes.

Empty column
Southwest
Not Enacted
Empty column

Stretch building energy codes are an optional, more stringent building code established by the state that local jurisdictions can adopt to require that newly constructed buildings are more efficient than the baseline state codes.

Empty column
Southeast
Not Enacted
Empty column

Stretch building energy codes are an optional, more stringent building code established by the state that local jurisdictions can adopt to require that newly constructed buildings are more efficient than the baseline state codes.

Empty column
West
Enacted
Empty column

Any municipality that adopts or updates building codes is also required to adopt or exceed the 2021 IECC.

Establishing Policies
Empty column
West 2022
Not Enacted
Empty column

Stretch building energy codes are an optional, more stringent building code established by the state that local jurisdictions can adopt to require that newly constructed buildings are more efficient than the baseline state codes.

Empty column
Northeast
Not Enacted
Empty column

Stretch building energy codes are an optional, more stringent building code established by the state that local jurisdictions can adopt to require that newly constructed buildings are more efficient than the baseline state codes.

Empty column
Southeast
Not Enacted
Empty column

Stretch building energy codes are an optional, more stringent building code established by the state that local jurisdictions can adopt to require that newly constructed buildings are more efficient than the baseline state codes.

Empty column
Southeast
Not Enacted
Empty column

Stretch building energy codes are an optional, more stringent building code established by the state that local jurisdictions can adopt to require that newly constructed buildings are more efficient than the baseline state codes.

Empty column
Southeast
Not Enacted
Empty column

Stretch building energy codes are an optional, more stringent building code established by the state that local jurisdictions can adopt to require that newly constructed buildings are more efficient than the baseline state codes.

Empty column
West
Not Enacted
Empty column

Stretch building energy codes are an optional, more stringent building code established by the state that local jurisdictions can adopt to require that newly constructed buildings are more efficient than the baseline state codes.

Empty column
West
Enacted
Empty column

The Illinois Capital Development Board approved the Illinois Residential Stretch Code on April 9, 2024. The Code will be available for municipalities to adopt by October 31, 2024.

Empty column
Midwest 2024
Not Enacted
Empty column

Stretch building energy codes are an optional, more stringent building code established by the state that local jurisdictions can adopt to require that newly constructed buildings are more efficient than the baseline state codes.

Empty column
Midwest
Not Enacted
Empty column

Stretch building energy codes are an optional, more stringent building code established by the state that local jurisdictions can adopt to require that newly constructed buildings are more efficient than the baseline state codes.

Empty column
Midwest
Not Enacted
Empty column

Stretch building energy codes are an optional, more stringent building code established by the state that local jurisdictions can adopt to require that newly constructed buildings are more efficient than the baseline state codes.

Empty column
Midwest
Not Enacted
Empty column

Stretch building energy codes are an optional, more stringent building code established by the state that local jurisdictions can adopt to require that newly constructed buildings are more efficient than the baseline state codes.

Empty column
Southeast
Not Enacted
Empty column

Stretch building energy codes are an optional, more stringent building code established by the state that local jurisdictions can adopt to require that newly constructed buildings are more efficient than the baseline state codes.

Empty column
Southeast
Enacted
Empty column

The Maine Uniform Building and Energy Code (MUBEC) Stretch Code incorporates 2021 IECC and certain appendices.

Empty column
Northeast 2021
Not Enacted
Empty column

Stretch building energy codes are an optional, more stringent building code established by the state that local jurisdictions can adopt to require that newly constructed buildings are more efficient than the baseline state codes.

Empty column
Southeast
Enacted
Empty column

The Stretch Energy Code is 2021 IECC with Massachusetts amendments, and the Specialized Code is a municipal opt-in code that is designed to ensure new construction is consistent with the state's target of net-zero emissions by 2050.

Empty column
Northeast 2023
Not Enacted
Empty column

Stretch building energy codes are an optional, more stringent building code established by the state that local jurisdictions can adopt to require that newly constructed buildings are more efficient than the baseline state codes.

Empty column
Midwest
Not Enacted
Empty column

Stretch building energy codes are an optional, more stringent building code established by the state that local jurisdictions can adopt to require that newly constructed buildings are more efficient than the baseline state codes.

Empty column
Midwest
Not Enacted
Empty column

Stretch building energy codes are an optional, more stringent building code established by the state that local jurisdictions can adopt to require that newly constructed buildings are more efficient than the baseline state codes.

Empty column
Southeast
Not Enacted
Empty column

Stretch building energy codes are an optional, more stringent building code established by the state that local jurisdictions can adopt to require that newly constructed buildings are more efficient than the baseline state codes.

Empty column
Midwest
Not Enacted
Empty column

Stretch building energy codes are an optional, more stringent building code established by the state that local jurisdictions can adopt to require that newly constructed buildings are more efficient than the baseline state codes.

Empty column
West
Not Enacted
Empty column

Stretch building energy codes are an optional, more stringent building code established by the state that local jurisdictions can adopt to require that newly constructed buildings are more efficient than the baseline state codes.

Empty column
Midwest
Not Enacted
Empty column

Stretch building energy codes are an optional, more stringent building code established by the state that local jurisdictions can adopt to require that newly constructed buildings are more efficient than the baseline state codes.

Empty column
West
Not Enacted
Empty column

Stretch building energy codes are an optional, more stringent building code established by the state that local jurisdictions can adopt to require that newly constructed buildings are more efficient than the baseline state codes.

Empty column
Northeast
Not Enacted
Empty column

Stretch building energy codes are an optional, more stringent building code established by the state that local jurisdictions can adopt to require that newly constructed buildings are more efficient than the baseline state codes.

Empty column
Northeast
Not Enacted
Empty column

Stretch building energy codes are an optional, more stringent building code established by the state that local jurisdictions can adopt to require that newly constructed buildings are more efficient than the baseline state codes.

Empty column
Southwest
Enacted
Empty column

The NYStretch Energy Code: 2020 is a voluntary locally adopted stretch energy code that offers municipalities a more energy-efficient alternative to the minimum state energy code.

Empty column
Northeast 2020
Not Enacted
Empty column

Stretch building energy codes are an optional, more stringent building code established by the state that local jurisdictions can adopt to require that newly constructed buildings are more efficient than the baseline state codes.

Empty column
Southeast
Not Enacted
Empty column

Stretch building energy codes are an optional, more stringent building code established by the state that local jurisdictions can adopt to require that newly constructed buildings are more efficient than the baseline state codes.

Empty column
Midwest
Not Enacted
Empty column

Stretch building energy codes are an optional, more stringent building code established by the state that local jurisdictions can adopt to require that newly constructed buildings are more efficient than the baseline state codes.

Empty column
Midwest
Not Enacted
Empty column

Stretch building energy codes are an optional, more stringent building code established by the state that local jurisdictions can adopt to require that newly constructed buildings are more efficient than the baseline state codes.

Empty column
Southwest
Enacted
Empty column

The Oregon Reach Code is a statewide optional energy construction standard approved by the Building Codes Division.

Empty column
West 2023
Not Enacted
Empty column

Stretch building energy codes are an optional, more stringent building code established by the state that local jurisdictions can adopt to require that newly constructed buildings are more efficient than the baseline state codes.

Empty column
Northeast
Enacted
Empty column

The Rhode Island Stretch Codes are used on a voluntary basis for private and public building construction and renovation projects.

Empty column
Northeast 2018
Not Enacted
Empty column

Stretch building energy codes are an optional, more stringent building code established by the state that local jurisdictions can adopt to require that newly constructed buildings are more efficient than the baseline state codes.

Empty column
Southeast
Not Enacted
Empty column

Stretch building energy codes are an optional, more stringent building code established by the state that local jurisdictions can adopt to require that newly constructed buildings are more efficient than the baseline state codes.

Empty column
Midwest
Not Enacted
Empty column

Stretch building energy codes are an optional, more stringent building code established by the state that local jurisdictions can adopt to require that newly constructed buildings are more efficient than the baseline state codes.

Empty column
Southeast
Not Enacted
Empty column

Stretch building energy codes are an optional, more stringent building code established by the state that local jurisdictions can adopt to require that newly constructed buildings are more efficient than the baseline state codes.

Empty column
Southwest
Not Enacted
Empty column

Stretch building energy codes are an optional, more stringent building code established by the state that local jurisdictions can adopt to require that newly constructed buildings are more efficient than the baseline state codes.

Empty column
West
Enacted
Empty column

The Vermont Residential Energy Building Standards (RBES) Stretch Code is a building energy code for residential buildings that achieves greater energy savings than the statewide RBES.

Empty column
Northeast 2024
Not Enacted
Empty column

Stretch building energy codes are an optional, more stringent building code established by the state that local jurisdictions can adopt to require that newly constructed buildings are more efficient than the baseline state codes.

Empty column
Southeast
Not Enacted
Empty column

Stretch building energy codes are an optional, more stringent building code established by the state that local jurisdictions can adopt to require that newly constructed buildings are more efficient than the baseline state codes.

Empty column
West
Not Enacted
Empty column

Stretch building energy codes are an optional, more stringent building code established by the state that local jurisdictions can adopt to require that newly constructed buildings are more efficient than the baseline state codes.

Empty column
Southeast
Not Enacted
Empty column

Stretch building energy codes are an optional, more stringent building code established by the state that local jurisdictions can adopt to require that newly constructed buildings are more efficient than the baseline state codes.

Empty column
Midwest
Not Enacted
Empty column

Stretch building energy codes are an optional, more stringent building code established by the state that local jurisdictions can adopt to require that newly constructed buildings are more efficient than the baseline state codes.

Empty column
West

The State Climate Policy Dashboard tracks only passed policies and does not include bills currently proposed in legislative sessions. The website is intended to illustrate the current status of policies for each state, as well as key resources and model states for each policy.

Much of the information contained in this database is derived from the public domain, with links to resources provided. The information provided is made available solely for general information purposes and does not constitute legal advice. Click here for full Terms of Use.

Report an issue
See something we’re missing or a needed correction in our data?