- Home
- Departments
- Departments A-F
- Climate Action
- Buildings
- Municipal Opt-in Specialized Energy Code
Municipal Opt-in Specialized Energy Code
Annual Town Meeting 2023 Action on New Energy Code
Annual Town Meeting 2023 adopted the Municipal Opt-in Specialized Energy Code (Opt-in Code). Opt-in Specialized Code adoption is an action in Wellesley's Climate Action Plan. The Code will benefit Wellesley because it:
- Is a necessary step toward achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, a goal shared by the State of Massachusetts and federal government.
- Encourages electrification and avoids costly retrofits by requiring new buildings that are not all-electric to prewire for future electrification.
- Offsets GHG emissions by requiring solar installation for some mixed-fuel projects (i.e., buildings with combustion equipment designed for fossil fuel use).
TWO Opt-in Code Zoom Webinars - presentation & roundtable discussion
The Opt-in Energy Code and New Construction in Wellesley
Zoom webinar for building professionals
Monday, March 6, 2023
7 to 8:30 p.m.
Panelists for March 6
Tom Catalano, AIA, Principal, Catalano Architects
Mark Doughty, Principal, Thoughtforms
Ian Finlayson, Director, Energy Efficiency Division, MA Department of Energy Resources
Hank Keating, AIA, President, Passive House Massachusetts
Marybeth Martello, Ph.D., Sustainability Director, Town of Wellesley
Lara Pfadt, AIA, Senior Associate, Architect, and Sustainability Strategist, Finegold Alexander Architects
March 6 webinar slides
March 6 webinar video
The Opt-in Code: What it Could Mean for New Buildings in Wellesley
Zoom webinar for the general public
Wednesday, March 8, 2023
7 to 8:30 p.m.
Panelists for March 8
Tom Catalano, AIA, Principal, Catalano Architects
Mark Doughty, Principal, Thoughtforms
Nick Falkoff, Owner and General Manager, Auburndale Builders
Allen Hebert, Operations Manager, Facilities Management Department, Town of Wellesley
Hank Keating, AIA, President, Passive House Massachusetts
Marybeth Martello, Ph.D., Sustainability Director, Town of Wellesley
Ellen Watts, FAIA, LEED AP
March 8 webinar slides
March 8 webinar video
Opt-in Code Reference Materials
- Summary re: Article 36, Wellesley Annual Town Meeting 2023
- Frequently Asked Questions re: Article 36, Wellesley Annual Town Meeting 2023
- Press release for Opt-in Code webinars
- DOER Summary of the Updated Stretch and Opt-in Codes
- Opt-in Code Presentation to Wellesley Housing Task Force
- MA Clean Energy Center Passive House Design Challenge