Dryden Town Board adopts NYStretch Energy code

The Dryden Town Board officially adopted the NYStretch Energy code by a unanimous vote at the May 20 business meeting.

The Town Board is adopting the code two years before the state-mandated deadline of 2023. The code was executed by NYSERDA.

The Stretch Energy code provides municipalities an opportunity to “adopt stricter energy standards to ensure constituents enjoy reduced energy costs,” according to a breakdown of the code.

The code is intended to save more energy than the current 2020 Energy Conservation Construction Code. Depending on the climate zone and building strategy, the stretch code is 10-12% more efficient than the current code.

Communities benefit from adopting the stretch code in a variety of ways, including:

• Significant energy and utility cost savings for homeowners, tenants, renters and building owners
• Reduced building operational costs
• Reduced environmental impact
• Increased occupant comfort and health
• Increased real estate value and community attractiveness
• Research and development stimulation and commercialization of products that improve energy efficiency performance
• Green job creation related to next-generation technologies, code enforcement, quality control, building commissioning, energy auditing and modeling, among others

Changes in the stretch code compared to the current code includes:

• Envelope: improved insulation and window performance, air-barrier commissioning and air-leakage testing
• Lighting: reduced interior and exterior lighting power and lighting controls
• Electrical: whole-building energy monitoring
• Renewable and electric vehicle readiness
• Mandatory mechanical ventilation for residential buildings

The code was amended into local law and will take into effect Sept. 1 of this year. Before the voting and resolution process, a public hearing took place.

Resident Judy Pierpont is looking forward to the benefits of the new code.

“It will save me money on energy bills, it will be easy to keep my home at a comfortable temperature, and it will prevent me from using climate-warming gas emissions,” she said.

In a letter from students at Dryden High School, the climate change course at the school encouraged the Town Board to adopt the code so it is implemented when they “will be inheriting this planet and want to be left with a healthy home, benefiting everyone.”

Despite approval from a majority of residents, others disagreed with the language of the code and how it will affect the town in the long run.

Bruno Schickel, owner of Schickel Construction in Dryden, said the adoption of the code would see “big costs and very little savings.”

“I question the range of potential savings in this. [They] could be moderate to little for all we know,” he said. “Depending on the size of the house, you’re looking at potentially $3,000 or more in rising costs [a year]. The energy savings won’t offset these costs.”
Deputy Town Supervisor Dan Lamb said the stretch code “is coming and it’s effective. Why wait until 2023?”

Lamb added that the stretch code is a “change in policy.”

“This will represent change, but it won’t be crushing,” he said.

A handful of residents were concerned about how the new code will affect long-term housing, real estate in the general area and the building of houses. Board member Jim Skaley replied, “Hopefully this will assist in many ways, especially putting together affordable housing in this area.”

Lamb said that the code will not impact real estate or the building of houses in the area, and Schickel elaborated on his disapproval by requesting to remove the installation of the energy recovery ventilator (ERV) from the language of the stretch code.

“We’ve installed ERVs before. It’s not rocket science,” Schickel said. “But it’s a lot of cost. The cost isn’t going to go down every year like this code.”

Board member Loren Sparling wondered if that part was “carved out” of the code, it would “jeopardize funding from the state.”

John Kiefer, chairman of the town’s Planning Board, said “as part of NYSERDA’s initiative with this code, it needs to be adopted in its entirety.”

“As we tighten up our buildings, it’s vital to have these types of devices,” Lamb said. “If you have a tightly sealed house, they’re necessary for indoor-air quality.”

Lamb mentioned that nearly 40% of greenhouse gas emissions come from buildings, adding that “we have a lot of buildings here in Dryden.”

Resident Alice Green said ERVs are essential, “especially during a time like the COVID [pandemic]. It will be new for builders to price these out [under the new code], but it’s necessary.”

At the beginning of the meeting, Town Supervisor Jason Leifer mentioned the Board is looking into returning to in-person meetings. Meetings have occurred via Zoom since the start of the pandemic.

Leifer added that the Board may consider a hybrid option with the meetings, meaning Board members and residents can choose to either attend the meeting in person or virtually.

The upcoming abstract and agenda town meeting is scheduled for June 10 at 6 p.m. The next business meeting is slated for June 17 at 6 p.m.