Winchester students, climate committee seek school committee backing for new construction energy code

The Winchester School Committee heard a presentation Sept. 12 from the Climate Action Advisory Committee (CAC) and student members seeking the committee92s support for a Fall Town Meeting warrant article to adopt the state92s new construction energy code. Rick Eno, CAC chair, told the committee the code applies to new buildings including schools and would make Winchester eligible for a Climate Leader funding stream that can underwrite energy efficiency, electrification and on‑site solar at town buildings.

"Lynch is our first all electric and first net 0 school building," Eno said, noting the Lynch project as a local example of the code92s approach. Junior Vita, speaking for CAC and Winchester High's environmental club, urged committee members to act: "It's our issue right here and right now," she said, asking the committee to "please support us." Catherine Plosky, a tenth‑grader, said adopting the code would demonstrate the committee92s commitment to students' future climate safety.

Ken Prude, the town92s sustainability director, outlined the technical details and incentives. He said Winchester has previously used the 2010 "stretch" code and that adopting the new construction energy code would open eligibility for a Climate Leader grant program that state staff expect could be in the "$100,000 to $200,000 a year" range for the town, and that new schools meeting the code may receive an extra 3 percent MSBA reimbursement. Prude said the code, created under a 2021 state climate law, applies only to new construction and that one pathway to compliance is to build all‑electric buildings; an alternate pathway allows limited fossil‑fuel use if the building is pre‑wired for future electrification and sized rooftop solar is included.

Committee members asked detailed questions about enforceability and practical meaning of "pre‑wiring," the experience of other towns, and whether grant prospects should drive policy. Committee member Mr. Nixon said he "struggle[d] with this" in practical terms, asking how a town would verify that pre‑wiring met future equipment requirements and whether incentives at the town level might accelerate voluntary adoption. Presenters said CAC and the sustainability office have already briefed multiple stakeholder groups (Planning Board, Energy Management Committee, FinCom and affordable housing advocates) and will continue outreach; a builders/developers session and public information sessions are scheduled before Town Meeting.

Several school committee members signaled general support in principle and asked that the warrant article and final language be brought back formally for a vote once the article is drafted. The CAC requested the committee92s support to show municipal alignment ahead of Town Meeting and to help Winchester qualify for the additional Climate Leader funding.

The committee took no formal vote at the Sept. 12 meeting; presenters were asked to supply the warrant language and additional technical details so the committee can consider a formal position at a future session.