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Commercial Building Energy
Standards

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

 

The Commercial Building Energy Standards (CBES) was enacted into law in 2006 (21 V.S.A. § 268). The CBES is the energy code for all commercial buildings and residential building 4 stories or greater above grade in Vermont, and is effective as of January 1, 2007. This code shall not apply to farm structures as defined in 24 V.S.A. § 4413.

The CBES uses the 2005 Vermont Guidelines for Energy Efficient Commercial Construction as the energy code handbook. The 2005 Vermont Guidelines for Energy Efficient Commercial Construction is a stand alone document for the State of Vermont based upon amendments to the International Energy Conservation Code® 2004 Supplement. In addition the energy code allows an alternative path of ASHRAE 90.1-2004 with some Vermont specific requirements that are outlined in the energy code handbook.

The CBES requires that commercial buildings be certified that they comply with the energy code. A certification may be issued by a builder, a licensed professional engineer, or a licensed architect. If certification is not issued by a licensed professional engineer or a licensed architect, it shall be issued by the builder. To meet the certification requirements, a CBES Certificate and a CBES Affidavit must be completed and sent to the Department of Public Service and the local Town Clerk of the town in which the property is located. The CBES Certificate and a CBES Affidavit are available from the Department of Public Service. The certification process applies to all new commercial building construction and additions. Alterations, renovations, or repairs on commercial buildings are required to meet the energy code, but are not required to complete the certification process.

 

2005 Vermont Guidelines-Compliance Documents & Tools

• 2005 Vermont Guidelines for Energy Efficient Commercial Construction-Third Printing (view only PDF version of the energy code) A limited amount of hard copies are available by sending an email request to publicservice@vermont.gov or by calling 1-800-642-3281.
  
  
• Errata for first and second printing editions of 2005 VT Guidelines for Energy Efficient Commercial Construction

 

• CBES Certificate, Affidavit, and Instructions
  
  
• CBES Code Compliance Worksheets

 

• CBES worksheet examples and additional information:
  • Completed Worksheet Examples
  • Basic Lighting Power Density Information
  • Detailed Lighting Power Examples
    
    
• COMcheck Software Free downloadable software developed by the Department of Energy that can be used to demonstrate code compliance.
  
  
• COMcheck-Web Free online software developed by the Department of Energy that can be used to demonstrate code compliance.

 

 

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:

John Becker, VT Department of Public Service, 802-828-4020