What is the Boston Building Emissions Reduction and Disclosure Ordinance (BERDO 2.0)?

The Boston Building Emissions Reduction and Disclosure Ordinance (BERDO 2.0) is a regulation implemented by the city of Boston to address and reduce greenhouse gas emissions from residential and commercial buildings.

All large and medium-sized buildings in the city must report their energy usage and carbon emissions annually and make this information publicly available through an online platform.

Which buildings are covered by the BERDO 2.0?

Here are the specific building requirements of BERDO 2.0:

• Non-residential buildings that are 20,000 square feet or larger.
• Residential buildings that have 15 or more units.
• Any parcel with multiple buildings that sum to at least 20,000 square feet or 15 units.

The Boston Building Emissions Reduction and Disclosure Ordinance applies to over 6.000 buildings in the Cradle of Liberty as the environment department in the city list. All of them need to report their energy since 2022 and going forward. They will not be subject to the emissions standards until 2031, reporting for 2030 emissions.

How building automation is the solution to BERDO 2.0?

Building automation systems enable building owners and operators to gain better monitoring and control over energy-consuming components to enhance energy efficiency and greenhouse gas emissions as the BERDO law requires.

As an example, integrating HVAC and lighting systems can ensure that heating, cooling, and lighting within the building are only activated when and where they are needed. These behaviors minimize unnecessary energy consumption through scheduling, occupancy patterns, weather conditions and so on to promote efficient operation.

Furthermore, data collected from integrated systems can provide valuable insights for ongoing optimization and energy management strategies such as demand response, where energy usage can be adjusted during peak demand periods, contributing to grid reliability and potential cost savings.

Which are the real benefits of the Boston Building Emissions Reduction and Disclosure Ordinance?

The goal of the BERDO 2.0 is to drive improvements in building energy efficiency, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and ultimately contribute to a more sustainable and environmentally friendly built environment in the city of Boston.

BERDO 2.0 is an updated version of the original ordinance implemented in 2013 that aims at a growing trend in the United States to address climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions from large and medium-sized buildings.

In summary, integrated building systems contribute to meeting the goals outlined in the Boston Building Emissions Reduction and Disclosure Ordinance providing the building with tools and capabilities to enable energy reporting, optimize its control and reduce energy consumption.

Read further information about USA Regulations for energy efficiency and key policy initiatives for building owners in this Whitepaper.