In general, buildings built in Boston before 1950 are more energy efficient than those built after that year, according to the city’s first annual report of private-sector energy use.
A 2013 city ordinance requires large buildings in the city to report energy and water use. The first year of reporting covered about 45% of the energy used by all commercial, industrial, and institutional buildings in Boston. Owners of 820 buildings participated, with a combined accounting of 175 million sf of space.
Another key finding was that the energy used per square foot varied greatly even among buildings of the same type. Among Boston’s large office buildings, for example, the most energy-intensive buildings reported ten times more energy per square foot than the least energy-intensive buildings.
This year, the city has expanded outreach to buildings between 50,000 sf and 100,000 sf, which had lower compliance rates than larger buildings. City administrators are working to identify the appropriate points of contact within complex ownership entities. The city is also increasing staff resources for help services and improving guidance documents.
Related Stories
Green | May 16, 2016
Development team picked for largest Passive House project in North America
The 24-story curved building would be 70% more efficient than comparable housing in New York City.
Green | Apr 27, 2016
Top 10 green building projects for 2016
The Exploratorium at Pier 15 in San Francisco and the West Branch of the Berkeley Public Library are two of the projects recognized by AIA COTE as the top green buildings of 2016.
Sports and Recreational Facilities | Apr 17, 2016
An expanded and renovated complex brings together U. of Colorado’s sports programs
This two-year project enhances the experiences of athletes and fans alike.
Building Technology | Apr 11, 2016
A nascent commercial wireless sensor market is poised to ascend in the next decade
Europe and Asia will propel that growth, according to a new report from Navigant.
Multifamily Housing | Mar 10, 2016
Access and energy control app clicks with student housing developers and managers
Ease of installation is one of StratIS’s selling features.
BIM and Information Technology | Mar 2, 2016
Thanks to MIT researchers, Boston now has its very own citywide building energy model
The most detailed model ever for a city this size will help Boston meet its long-term energy use goals.
Energy Efficiency | Feb 23, 2016
Economists, energy efficiency practitioners need to work together for better cost/benefit studies
Flawed energy efficiency research yields misleading, confusing results.
Green | Feb 18, 2016
Best laid plans: Masdar City’s dreams of being the first net-zero city may have disappeared
The $22 billion experiment, to this point, has produced less than stellar results.
Green | Feb 1, 2016
Supreme Court ruling on demand response expected to benefit smart grid
Ruling allows PV owners and other small energy generators to continue to be paid wholesale rates for power they generate.
Codes and Standards | Jan 22, 2016
State Savings Calculator analyzes savings associated with energy codes
The calculator breaks down the cost-effectiveness of energy codes on a state-by-state basis.
