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Commercial Building Energy
Standards

This web page contains information about the statewide Commercial Buildings Energy Standards (CBES) for Vermont.

 

The CBES has just been revised as of October 3, 2011. Revisions will take effect January 3, 2012 and “shall apply to construction commenced on and after the date they become effective". CBES applies to all new commercial construction, including additions, alterations, renovations, and repairs.

 

Hard copies of the updated Vermont Commercial Energy Codebook will be available soon and a viewable only copy is posted below.

Free hard copies will also be available free of charge from DPS and Efficiency Vermont.

 

Free trainings on the new CBES are being scheduled by Efficiency Vermont. The following are currently available:

 

CBES Trainings:

 

Newfane
December 16th, 9:00 AM to 12:00 Noon
NewBrook Fire Dept.
698 VT Route 30

 

History

The CBES was enacted into law in 2006 (21 V.S.A. § 268). It is the energy code for all commercial buildings and residential building 4 stories or greater above grade in Vermont, and took effect January 1, 2007.

 

On January 3, 2012 an update to CBES takes effect, which applies to all new commercial building construction, additions, alterations, renovations, and repairs. The 2011 Vermont Guidelines for Energy Efficient Commercial Construction will be made available as the energy code handbook; it is a stand alone document for the State of Vermont based upon amendments to the International Energy Conservation Code® 2009 Supplement. The CBES also allows an alternative compliance path of AHRAE 90.1 2009 with some Vermont specific requirements outlined in the energy code handbook. A limited number of hard copies will be available upon request from the Department of Public Service; a free for viewing electronic copy shall also be available on the ICC website.

 

21 V.S.A. §268 requires certification that both the design AND the construction of a commercial building is in compliance with the CBES.  The design shall be certified by the primary designer; if a licensed professional engineer or a licensed architect is not involved in designing the project, certification shall be issued by the builder.  The construction of a commercial building shall be certified as compliant with CBES by the party having primary responsibility for coordinating the construction of the building, such as a general contractor or construction manager.  In the absence of such a party, the owner must certify compliance.  The certifying person may reasonably rely on one or more supporting affidavits received from subcontractors or others engaged in the construction or design of the commercial building affirming that the portions of the building constructed by them were properly certifiable.  Certifications must be accompanied by affidavits certifying that the building was designed and constructed in substantial compliance with the requirements of the CBES.

 

To meet certification requirements, a CBES Certificate and a CBES Affidavit must be completed and sent to the Department of Public Service.  Further, certification must be permanently affixed to the outside of the heating or cooling equipment, to the electrical service panel located inside the building, or in a visible location in the vicinity of one of these three areas. 

 

2005 Vermont Guidelines-Compliance Documents & Tools

 

 

 

 

Other Resources:

DOE Building Energy Codes Program
New Buildings Institute (NBI)
Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships (NEEP)
Building Codes Assistance Project (BCAP)
American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE)
Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IES)
International Code Council (ICC)

 

For more information contact:

Barry Murphy, VT Department of Public Service, 802-828-3183

 

 

 

 

112 State Street, Drawer 20, Montpelier, VT 05620-2601
Phone: 802-828-2811  |  Fax: 802-828-2342  |  Consumer Hot Line: 800-622-4496