Policymaker & Practitioner Roundtable: MA Energy Code
Massachusetts is moving to some of the most ambitious building energy code requirements in the country, including a TEDI-driven performance requirements for many commercial projects. Practitioners are already feeling the impact in design, coordination, and documentation.
Join the IBPSA-USA Boston Chapter for an in-depth roundtable with Paul Ormond of the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER), focused on the MA Base Code, Stretch Code, and Specialized Code from both policymaker and practitioner perspectives.
This is a working-session style event: expect a concise code overview, followed by an extended open-floor discussion aimed at real project questions, implementation challenges, and practical solutions for design teams.
Location
Arup Boston Office
60 State St, 10th floor, Boston, MA 02109
(Thank you, Arup, for hosting us!)
(In-person event with a Zoom remote option available for registered attendees)
Speaker: Paul Ormond, P.E.
Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources
Paul is an expert on building decarbonization working at the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources, the state energy office, helping Massachusetts achieve its legal decarbonization mandates. In this role, Paul works with Massachusetts cities, towns, planners, developers, architects, and utilities to improve new and retrofitted buildings with a particular focus on building thermal performance. Recently, Paul co-led the team that updated Massachusetts building code to include a Passivehouse mandate for new multi-family residential buildings as well as thermal energy demand limits, air infiltration requirements, and thermal bridge mitigation requirements, for most commercial buildings, well above the current requirements of American model energy codes. Paul also teaches building decarbonization at Harvard University Extension School. Paul is a Massachusetts licensed Professional Engineer and a graduate of Worcester Polytechnic Institute (BS, Civil Engineering) and the University of Massachusetts at Amherst (MS, Civil Engineering).
Proposed Agenda
- 6:00 – 6:30 PM – Arrival, check-in, networking & refreshments
- 6:30 – 7:00 PM – Presentation: Overview of MA Energy Code & Stretch Code
- Presenter: Paul Ormond, Massachusetts DOER
- 7:00 – 7:45 PM – Practitioner roundtable & open-floor Q&A
- 7:45 – 8:30 PM – Social & networking
Key Topics
- Current MA Energy Code and Stretch Code structure
- Passive House for new multifamily residential projects
- Thermal Energy Demand Intensity (TEDI) and envelope-driven requirements
- Air infiltration and thermal bridge mitigation requirements for commercial buildings
- Practical implications for architects, energy modelers, and MEP designers
- Coordination with AHJs, documentation expectations, and review processes
- How MA code updates align with statewide decarbonization goals
Who Should Attend
This session is designed for:
- Architects & facade/envelope designers working under MA Stretch / specialized codes
- Energy modelers & building performance consultants
- MEP engineers and system designers
- Developers, owners, and sustainability managers with MA projects
- Code officials, plan reviewers, and AHJs interested in practitioner feedback
- Students and researchers focused on building decarbonization and codes
Space is limited, so early registration is encouraged.
