I encourage all registered voters to attend annual Town Meeting and especially to vote for Hopkinton to adopt the state’s Specialized Building Code, Article 36, a very important measure for our town.

The planet is warming rapidly, and the effects are deadly, costly and growing. In Hopkinton, we are already seeing more extreme weather events, with increased flooding and dangerously hot days. Projections show things becoming much worse for our descendants.

The major contributor is greenhouse gas emissions created from burning oil and gas, which trap heat in earth’s atmosphere. Over half of our town’s emissions come from burning oil and gas for appliances and heating in buildings. The main thrust of the Specialized Building Code calls for new construction to use electric appliances and heat pumps for HVAC instead of those that are oil and gas based. Heat pumps and appliances are more energy efficient and are powered by electricity, which produces fewer emissions. Currently, nearly one-fourth of our electricity is required to be from renewable sources, primarily solar, hydroelectric and wind; the renewable percentage will increase going forward, meaning further reductions in emissions from electricity over time.

There are different forms of compliance to the code depending on the type and size of the building. It does allow for oil and gas options, with additional requirements to offset the added emissions. While every situation is different, a typical new residence constructed with heat pumps and electric appliances would not cost more, especially given federal and state financial incentives and reduced energy consumption resulting from higher efficiencies.

The Specialized Building Code is already in place for more than 25% of Massachusetts residents. While some express concerns that the technology isn’t ready, that information is outdated. Today’s cold-climate heat pumps are greatly improved relative to previous models, as many people in Hopkinton who have been using them can attest. Even Maine, with colder winters than we have, is a nationwide leader in its rate of adopting heat pumps.

Voting to pass the Specialized Building Code is one of the most important things you can do to address climate change right now. If we don’t pass it now, we’re only causing further harm and digging a deeper hole that will be more costly to climb out of later. For more information, including an FAQ, visit HopSpecialized.org.

— Linda Chuss, Hopkinton

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