The Role Of Energy Efficiency In Boston’s Tech Industry – Today was Energy Efficiency Day in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Communities across the state are setting ambitious goals to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. Although setting goals is easy, achieving them is the challenge.

When it comes to achieving their energy goals, the city of Boston is not on track to become carbon-neutral by 2050. This is, in part, because the city has failed to keep up with high energy efficiency and new developments. Sustainability standards.

The Role Of Energy Efficiency In Boston’s Tech Industry

Boston has seen a huge boom in urban development over the past few years, with proponents boasting about investment opportunities, job creation and city growth. Although rarely mentioned, these projects are having a major impact on the city’s emissions portfolio and its ability to meet emissions reduction targets. Boston is, in fact, turning a blind eye to emissions from new construction. Data shows that 1 in 5 buildings constructed since 2012 are below the national average for energy efficiency.

The Energy Efficiency Group

Buildings account for most of the city’s carbon emissions. Ensuring that new construction is energy efficient is therefore one of the simplest steps a city can take to reduce such emissions. By not addressing emissions from new buildings as they are being built, Boston will be stuck with their energy inefficiency for decades.

The problem goes beyond energy efficiency, however. New developments like One Dalton Street are heavily dependent on natural gas, and the city needs local pipeline expansion. While the switch from coal to natural gas has allowed Boston, and the state in general, to make very significant reductions in emissions from electricity, natural gas is still a fossil fuel that we shouldn’t encourage much of anyway.

Recent explosions in the Merrimack Valley, which killed one person and left 40 families without a home, underscore the physical danger of the gas. Additionally, being a fossil fuel, it is the leading source of greenhouse gas emissions in the state.

Other US cities such as New York City and San Francisco have taken a radically different approach, holding their new developments to high environmental standards and bidding based on deep commitments to sustainability. San Francisco is an example of a city that does this. The new Salesforce Tower completed this year has become one of the greenest buildings in San Francisco.

Energy Efficiency As A Tool For Developing And Preserving Affordable Housing

It constitutes a huge missed opportunity for Boston not to adhere to the same styles and standards for development that could advance the city’s emissions reduction goals and make it a champion for sustainable urban development and climate action.

Emissions aren’t the only concern with this new development. Boston is a deeply humble city, and it’s only growing. The city is facing an affordable housing crisis and residents need more affordable housing. By focusing on higher energy efficiency standards, the city can in fact advance other such priorities as well.

The recently completed Old Colony redevelopment project in South Boston was one of the first affordable-housing projects in the region to plan for net-zero-energy-use. It scores extremely high on energy efficiency, and has recently had solar panels installed on its various roof tops.

Boston is by no means powerless to meet its climate goals. The city could halt all expansion of natural gas infrastructure, they could pass an ordinance proposed by Councilor Matt O’Malley to change zoning to encourage energy efficient design, and Mayor Marty Walsh could support a plan to implement community choice aggregation citywide. This would allow residents and small businesses, currently served by investor-owned utilities, to use wholesale purchasing power to negotiate electricity supplies and gain a say on their energy sources.

Energy Equity For Renters Policy Tracker

Boston should and can be at the forefront of innovation in urban development and climate response, serving as a force and guiding example for coastal cities around the world.

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Completed $11 million investment in energy efficiency and renewable energy upgrades in 14 city buildings

A solar canopy at police headquarters completes the first phase of the Renew Trust initiative, which is estimated to save approximately $680,000 in its first year.

Buildingenergy Boston 2022

Mayor Martin J. Walsh today announced the completion of the first phase of Renew Trust, the City’s initiative to invest in energy efficiency and renewable energy measures for municipal buildings. The first phase of the $45 million investment spans 14 city-owned buildings, including libraries, community centers, police and fire stations, and helps reduce energy use, save money and reduce the city’s emissions of greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change.

This work marks the City’s continued commitment to lead by example and implement the strategies outlined in the 2019 Climate Action Plan Update to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and become carbon neutral by 2050.

Mayor Walsh said, “Climate change is one of the greatest challenges of our lifetime and the City must lead by example in our commitment to building healthier, sustainable and more just communities. “The Renew Trust is a smart, forward-thinking program for the City of and allows us to reduce greenhouse gas emissions that pollute our neighborhoods and further climate change.”

The first phase includes dozens of energy-saving projects completed in 14 city-owned buildings across the city, estimated to save approximately $680,000 in the first year alone. Investments include efficient lighting and water fixtures, replacement of HVAC equipment, building management systems to improve performance, and installation of solar panels. This first phase is estimated to reduce municipal greenhouse gas emissions by one percent and increase the impact over time, improving air quality, creating healthier buildings and reducing carbon emissions to bring the city closer to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.

Massachusetts Ranked #1 For Energy Efficiency

“In, buildings are responsible for about 70 percent of the emissions that contribute to climate change. “Renew Trust not only makes our buildings more comfortable for employees and visitors, but also allows us to reinvest additional savings from these energy efficiency and renewable energy upgrades into resilience measures to build stronger and healthier neighborhoods across the city,” said Chris Cook, Environment. , Chief of Energy and Open Space.

The first phase of Renew Trust was completed with the establishment of a carport at the Police Department headquarters. On top of this carport are 707 solar modules that reduce the amount of power the building draws from the grid, producing about 242,000 kWh annually and saving $6,000 in its first year. Solar PV installations were also done at BCYF Roslindale Community Center and BCYF Tobin Community Center. With an expected more than 20-year contract, each building is guaranteed between $4,000-$6,000 in savings in the first year.

Chief Financial Officer Amy Handy said, “Using a self-funded financing model with guaranteed savings, the Renew Trust program saves the City money and helps us meet our climate goals. “The City issued the first series of green bonds in December to finance projects such as the first two phases of the Renew Trust, generating $32 million in revenue. We are pleased that the sale of the green bond has achieved a three basis point pricing differential, the largest and most definitive pricing advantage for municipal green bonds to date.”

Mayor Walsh formally announced his plans to renew the trust with an investment of $11 million in the FY19 budget. Energy savings are upgraded through performance contracts, a proven self-financing financing model that guarantees energy and cost savings. Savings to the city’s operating budget from more energy efficient buildings pay for the financing of the work. With additional savings, the city plans to reinvest in resilience measures. The next phase of Renew Trust is investing nearly $20 million in energy conservation measures in 31 city-owned buildings.

Improving Energy Efficiency Infographic

As outlined in the 2019 Climate Action Plan Update, a roadmap to reach its goals of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 and prepare our infrastructure and communities for the impacts of climate change, the City of has taken bold and necessary steps to lead by example. On top of investing in our existing buildings and using city assets like parking lots to harness renewable energy, in 2019 Mayor Walsh signed an executive order requiring all new municipal buildings (schools, libraries, community centers) to target a net-zero standard. . To provide high-quality, safe and clean affordable housing to our most vulnerable residents, the City offered $30 million to support the construction of new affordable housing built to net-zero standards. Climate Ready is strengthening climate change resilience and adaptation with near- and long-term planning through neighborhood-level engagement and solutions together. For more information on

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