The City of Boston’s Building Emissions Reduction and Disclosure Ordinance (BERDO) establishes carbon emissions limits for large buildings, aiming to reduce citywide greenhouse gas emissions over time. To support BERDO implementation efforts, the city’s Environment Department engaged RDH to develop a theoretical case study that compares building improvements to meet BERDO emissions limits. This case study examines seven scenarios for BERDO compliance in the context of an aging/end-of-life building enclosure and mid-life mechanical systems. The scenarios consider a blend of various action items a building owner may take to achieve BERDO compliance, including improving the building enclosure and heating/cooling systems, upgrading lighting, purchasing RECs, enrolling in the BCCE, and/or paying ACPs. The study further explores a best-fit approach of balancing technical and pragmatic considerations such as capital planning, tenant needs, and available space for new or upgraded equipment.
The outcomes of this examination offer valuable insights into a process for evaluating compliance needs that building owners can apply to their own buildings as well as solutions that design teams can consider to meet an owner’s needs.