sustainable site and building design. Similar regulations New Buildings Institute, a U.S. nonprofit organization advocating for improved energy performance in commercial buildings, describes a stretch code as "a locally mandated or incentivized code or alternative compliance path that is more ambitious than the base code, resulting in buildings that achieve higher energy savings." The institute says the codes provide an opportunity to train building and development communities in advanced practices before the underlying energy code is improved. They help accelerate market acceptance and adoption of more stringent energy efficiency codes in the future. Stretch codes can work in tandem with utility incentive programs. In November 2017, New Buildings Institute released a set of model stretch building code strategies that target 20% better efficiency than current U.S. national building energy codes. The new 20% Stretch Code Provisions address design aspects such as envelope, mechanical, water heating, lighting and plug loads. Other stretch codes are in place in the United States, in Massachusetts, Vermont, Oregon, New York, and California. See also Energy policy of Canada Efficient energy use Passive house California Green Building Standards Code List of low-energy building techniques References External links BC Energy Step Code (Building Safety and Standards Branch, Province of British Columbia) Canada's Energy Code (National Energy Code of Canada for Buildings 2015) BC Energy Step Code Design Guide & Supplemental (Research Library, BC Housing Management Commission) Building codes Standards of Canada