Boston's big buildings are on a tight leash when it comes to carbon emissions. The city's Air Pollution Control Commission gave the green light to updated regulations that will force buildings to go net zero by 2050. According to an announcement from the City of Boston, these rules are the final piece of the Building Emissions Reduction and Disclosure Ordinance (BERDO) puzzle, with a hefty $3.5 million pumped into the Equitable Emissions Investment Fund.
Buildings in Bean Town are the culprits for almost seventy percent of the city's total greenhouse gas emissions. The heavy hitters, the BERDO buildings, they're only five percent of the property in the city, but guess what? They spit out a whopping forty percent of those nasty emissions. "Policy is only as strong as it's implementation," Mayor Michelle Wu stated, in a sentiment echoed by the finalization of these policies. The plan isn't just about cleaning up the air; it's also about fairness, as the cash from that new-found fund is earmarked to support projects in parts of the city that have been hit hardest by environmental issues.
Rev. Mariama White-Hammond, Chief of Environment, Energy and Open Space, laid out the framework, "The final regulations were designed to accomplish significant emissions reductions while paying attention to equity and affordability." But the city didn't just cook this up in a backroom meeting. It's been a collaborative effort with community leaders and stakeholders putting their heads together over a series of working sessions and focus groups to tackle the threats of climate change head-on.
As part of the climate action push, residents also have the option to 'opt up' to the Boston Community Choice Electricity program that stocks 100% renewable juice, according to the city's website. And in a swagger move, it comes in cheaper than the basic residential rate from Eversource. That's not just a bold statement for the environment but also a vote for the pocketbook of every Bostonian looking to do their bit for the planet.
