AIAVT was asked by the Vermont Department of Public Service (PSD) to nominate two representatives to serve on the VT Energy Code Advisory Committees this spring. These committees are part of the input process as Vermont begins the next update to the building energy codes (Residential Building Energy Standards, or RBES, and Commercial Building Energy Standards, or CBES).

The Advisory Committees serve to provide input and technical feedback in the process of updating the code. After putting out a call for nominees, AIAVT’s Executive Committee reviewed the applications received and selected Erica Ko, AIA, and Dave Mentzer, AIA to represent AIAVT on the Energy Code Advisory Committees. AIAVT’s Board of Directors is appreciative of Erica and Dave’s willingness to volunteer their time to this important process.

Erica Ko, AIA, Partner, KOAN Workshop After graduating with her Master of Architecture degree from the University of Texas at Austin, Erica worked for design-build firms in Brooklyn, NY with a focus on contemporary residential design and landscape architecture. She joined a local architecture firm after moving to the Upper Valley and designed and managed numerous projects from small interior renovations to substantial, new construction homes. She is a licensed architect in the state of New Hampshire.

Prior to working as an architect, Erica received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Religious Studies from Brown University. She volunteers with the Joint Thetford Energy Committee and the Intermunicipal Regional Energy Coordinator (IREC) Steering Committee. The IREC serves seven towns in the Upper Valley and has worked on initiatives including exploring ways to improve RBES compliance, weatherization of municipal buildings, and developing a regional climate action plan, among other projects.

Dave Mentzer, AIA, is a Senior Associate, Project Architect, Code Specialist, and Production Coordinator at Dore + Whittier. Dave graduated with a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Cincinnati and worked as a Director of Design and Project Manager at Connor Homes before joining the Dore + Whittier team in 2008. 

Dave works in code compliance, and technical development, and serves on the Dore + Whittier Sustainability Committee. Dave is certified by ICC as a Building Plans Examiner and Energy Code Plans Examiner. 

Dave has been an AIA Vermont-appointed NCARB licensing advisor for several years and has been a mentor to emerging professionals in that position. Dave also serves his community as a member of the Ferrisburgh Zoning Board and promotes awareness and inclusion as a member of the Board of Directors of the Champlain Valley Down Syndrome Group (CVDSG).

AIA Vermont will continue to share information on the Energy Code update with members. Information on the updates can be found here: https://publicservice.vermont.gov/content/building-energy-standards-update

Meetings were held for public input on the code in April, and a second round of meetings are scheduled for May (please see details below). As part of AIAVT’s Public Policy Committee’s ongoing efforts to bring attention to the need for enforcement of the energy codes, AIAVT submitted the text from this position statement to the Department of Public Service via the public comment submission form.

Vermont Building Energy Code Public Stakeholder Meetings #2

Thank you to everyone who joined the first set of Vermont Building Energy Code Public Stakeholder Meetings earlier this month.

Please join us for the second set of public stakeholder meetings the week of May 23. Below are the dates and times of the meetings.

RBES Public Stakeholder Meeting #2: Tuesday, May 24 from 2-4pm

CBES Public Stakeholder Meeting #2: Thursday, May 26 from 2-4pm

If you are interested in attending either or both of these meetings, please register.Click hereto register for the RBES meeting. Click here to register for the CBES meeting.