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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 been revised as of October 3, 2011. Revisions took effect January 3, 2012 and apply to construction commenced on and after the date they became effective. CBES applies to all new commercial construction, including additions, alterations, renovations, and repairs.

 

Free hard copies of the updated Vermont Commercial Energy Codebook are now available. Please be aware that minor corrections have been made to the previous draft that was posted on this website. Please email Barry Murphy at barry.murphy@state.vt.us to receive a codebook.

 

Additional free trainings on the new CBES are being scheduled by Efficiency Vermont and will be posted here when available.

 

CBES Trainings:

 

 

 

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 took effect, which applies to all new commercial building construction, additions, alterations, renovations, and repairs. The 2011 Vermont Commercial Building Energy Standards is available as the energy code handbook; it is a standalone 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 ASHRAE 90.1 2007 with some Vermont specific requirements outlined in the energy code handbook. A limited number of hard copies are available upon request from the Department of Public Service and a free for viewing electronic copy is 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 along with the appropriate supporting documentation. 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