BEFORE YOU RENOVATE, FIND OUT WHICH ENERGY CODE YOUR TOWN FOLLOWS
Energy codes don't usually make dinner-table conversation — but on Cape Cod they increasingly shape renovation plans, heating choices and construction budgets. Every town from the bridges through Orleans, plus Provincetown, follows the Stretch Energy Code. Outer Cape towns from Eastham to Truro have gone further, adopting the Specialized code that generally requires all-electric new construction. Depending on where you live and how big your project is, that can mean whole-house energy modeling, added documentation, or an electrical service upgrade you hadn't budgeted for.
"Understanding the Energy Code" explains what triggers what, weighs heat pumps honestly against gas and oil as Mass Save rebates recede and electric rates climb, and ends with a homeowner checklist worth reading before you call anyone.
From the Outgoing Board President: April Pond Ducott
HBRACC Raises the Bar A Year of Momentum, Partnership, and Purpose On Oct. 9th the Home Builders & Remodelers Association of Cape Cod (HBRACC) honored the region’s most exceptional builders, designers, and trade professionals at its seventh Building & Remodeling Industry of Cape Cod (BRICC) Awards, held at the Wychmere Beach Club in Harwich…
Energy Code Policy in Barnstable & Orleans
At the Special Town Meeting on November 17th, Orleans residents voted down the Specialized Energy Code. Builders in that town spoke at town meeting, educating the public about the challenges of the grid and technology. While the Barnstable Town Council recently voted to adopt the Stretch Energy Code (it will go into effect in July…
Koopman Lumber Announces Plans to Acquire Lyon & Billard, a Trusted Name in Connecticut’s Building Supply Market
WHITINSVILLE, Mass. (October 16, 2025) – Koopman Lumber, a third-generation, family-owned supplier of building materials with a growing presence in New England, is excited to announce its plans to acquire Lyon & Billard, a respected building materials supplier with more than 180 years of history serving professional contractors and homeowners in central Connecticut. Lyon & Billard currently…
Todd and Lori LaBarge of LaBarge Homes announce the opening of a new satellite office in Provincetown, Massachusetts
Provincetown, MA – November 5, 2025 – Todd and Lori LaBarge, founders and principals of LaBarge Homes, a custom building company, have announced the opening of a new Provincetown satellite office. The new location at 237 Commercial Street, Unit 31B in Provincetown is an intimate and inviting space beautifully decorated by the award-winning interior design firm, Digs Design…
Help Rebuild Jamaica
Have friends and colleagues here on the Cape with family in Jamaica and want to give back? Here are a few resources: NAHB’s partner organization that specializes in rebuilding, World Vision is a large international NGO focused on distributing building materials and is currently responding to the impacts of Hurricane Melissa in Jamaica. They typically coordinate larger…
HBRACC Member Spotlight: Robert Kaner Interior Design Featured in The Wall Street Journal
We’re thrilled to celebrate one of our talented HBRACC members – and recent BRICC Award winner – Robert Kaner of Robert Kaner Interior Design, whose exceptional work was recently featured in The Wall Street Journal. The article highlights the stunning transformation of a historic Provincetown beach house into a refined, year-round coastal residence – a…
Bringing Back the Starter Home: What Massachusetts’ New Chapter 40Y Law Means for Cape Cod Builders and Homeowners
For years, the Cape Cod housing market has been facing a growing challenge – there simply aren’t enough attainable homes for local families, young professionals, and retirees who want to stay here. Home prices have surged, available land is scarce, and zoning restrictions often make small-scale developments nearly impossible. But a new Massachusetts law, Chapter…
5 Things to Know Before Creating Your Outdoor Kitchen
5 Things to Know Before Creating Your Outdoor Kitchen (or Lifestyle Space) Op-Ed – Author: Erin Cox of KAM Appliances ecox@kamonline.com Whether you’re designing a full outdoor kitchen, a simple grilling zone, or a multi-functional backyard space, the best results come from smart planning. Here are five things to keep in mind as you get…
9th Annual Charter Cup Fishing Tournament Nets Nearly $500,000 for Local Charities
The 9th Annual Charter Cup Fishing Tournament made a big splash this year, raising $490,000 for 22 local non-profits, with every dollar going directly to support participating charities. Since its launch in 2017, the tournament has raised more than $2.7 million for the Cape Cod community. The tournament, held on Wednesday, July 9, 2025, brought…
Massachusetts’ Virtual Public Listening Sessions on Integrated Energy Planning
Join Massachusetts’ Virtual Public Listening Sessions on Integrated Energy Planning Massachusetts’ electric and gas utilities-National Grid, Eversource, and Unitil-are inviting residents to participate in virtual public listening sessions to learn about and provide feedback on Integrated Energy Planning (IEP). What is IEP?IEP is a coordinated planning approach that aligns investments across the state’s electric and…