Several Franklin County towns will consider adopting the Municipal Opt-in Specialized Energy Code (Specialized code) in upcoming Town Meeting cycles. Energy codes like these set minimum energy efficiency requirements for new buildings, saving residents money, making for long-lasting quality construction, and strengthening communities. There are three tiers of energy codes in Massachusetts: the Base, Stretch and Specialized codes. Each town decides its own code tier. The Base code sets minimum requirements required by the state. Most towns in Franklin County have adopted the next tier, the Stretch code, which is more comprehensive and encourages all-electric homes, reducing their construction costs and carbon footprint.
The Specialized code, the top tier, further incentivizes all-electric construction without banning fossil fuels. The code only applies to new buildings; it does not apply to additions or major renovations, nor does it apply to new accessory structures such as barns that do not require space heating and cooling. Here are three benefits of adopting the Specialized code:
- Immediate and long-term cost savings. The Specialized code protects residents financially. Construction decisions can shape home performance and costs for decades. While the code does not place any new requirements on new all-electric homes, it requires pre-wiring for electric equipment such as heat pumps and electric stoves in new multi-fuel homes, including those that use fossil fuels such as oil, propane or natural gas. Installing electrification-ready measures such as electric panel capacity, wiring pathways, and space allocation is far more cost-effective during construction than retrofitting later. The Specialized code also outlines requirements for rooftop solar photovoltaics. Exemptions are included for steep roof pitch, orientation, and shading, and cutting of trees is not required. These infrastructure decisions enable consumer choice for future electrification and protect homeowners by lowering the cost of future retrofits.
- Modern and quality construction protects vulnerable residents. The Specialized code provides commonsense modernization that ensures new buildings meet the standards that our future requires and protects the most vulnerable Franklin County residents concerned about health and environmental conditions. Requirements for large multi-family buildings under the Specialized code ensure they are energy-efficient, well-insulated, and air sealed to reduce the amount of energy needed to heat or cool the home and maintain safe, comfortable indoor temperatures during outages. Air exchangers with heat recovery ensure there is a constant supply of fresh air — a house doesn’t need to be drafty to breathe. These ventilation and efficiency features also improve indoor air quality, which is becoming increasingly important especially for vulnerable residents, such as the elderly. The Specialized code improvements in energy efficiency in large multifamily buildings will also lower monthly utility bills for renters. Many upfront costs for builders are offset by Mass Save incentives, including for multifamily buildings.
- Local economic benefits. The Specialized code helps bring state dollars to Franklin County communities, capturing resources that would otherwise go elsewhere. Three Franklin County towns have already adopted it: Warwick, Shutesbury, and Ashfield. Municipalities that have adopted the code and met the other requirements to become Climate Leader Communities have already earmarked enhanced grant funding for municipal building projects that will improve their towns. Climate Leader Communities are eligible to receive funding from two separate grants. The Decarbonization Technical Support Grant provides up to $150,000 and the Decarbonization Accelerator Grant provides up to $1 million. This additional support can fund improvements to municipal buildings that continue to save money over time through reduced utility and maintenance costs.
Adopting the Specialized code gives Franklin County towns a practical way to lower long-term housing costs, strengthen community resilience, and secure state funding for local projects. By preparing new homes for modern technologies and energy systems, towns can ensure that residents — today and in the next generation — have access to affordable, comfortable, efficient, and healthy places to live.
This information is brought to you by the Franklin County Energy Code Collaborative, which was convened in February 2026 to support informed decision making and navigate the energy code. The collaborative, which includes members from local communities and is facilitated by Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships, provides neighbor-to-neighbor learning from local towns who have adopted the code and other local experts. As one collaborative member said, adopting the Specialized code “will enable residents to build a house [their] kids will want to live in and can afford to live in.”
Charlotte Weigel is manager of codes and standards at Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships and is writing on behalf of the Franklin County Energy Code Collaborative.