2024 YEAR IN REVIEW

The Built Environment Plus Community & You in 2024

 

Our Mission & Vision

We drive sustainable and regenerative design, construction, and operation of the built environment!

We envision a thriving and diverse community, creating a built environment of net positive systems of water and energy, of financial and social equity, and of ecological and human health.

Embodied Carbon Reduction Challenge 2024
Embodied Carbon Reduction Challenge 2024
Green Building Showcase 2024
Green Building Tour 2024

Boardwalk Campus - Green Building of the Year

Executive Summary

Massachusetts is leading the charge for a healthy, sustainable, and regenerative built environment. Policy changes at the state level like the specialized opt-in stretch energy code and major investments in decarbonization and climatetech are literally paving the way for positive transformation in the Commonwealth. We are back on top of USGBC’s Top 10 states for LEED certifications per capita.

In the seven years that I have been with BE+ as Executive Director, I have seen so much progress, commitment, and innovation from the local green building community. What’s most exciting to me is the way we have developed as an organization and as an ecosystem of practitioners who are lifting each other up to take on incredible challenges together.

At the heart of it all, BE+ is a community, and I have the unique privilege of seeing the fullest picture of its rigor and reach. By linking and leveraging our efforts, networks, and expertise, we tap into the power of the collective and align ourselves to maximize our impact. And what an impact we’ve made!

In so many ways, 2024 was a banner year for Built Environment Plus. We started off the year continuing our implementation of the groundbreaking Embodied Carbon Reduction Challenge with the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC), and ended the year by signing a contract with MassCEC to increase our efforts decarbonizing existing buildings in Massachusetts.

We sold out the 45+ speaker slots at our annual Building Tech Forum for the first time, and had record attendance at our Green Building Showcase Awards Program & Celebration. Hosted again by WS Development, the lobby of One Boston Wharf Road featured the first commercial pour of Sublime Systems’ low-carbon Sublime Cement®. We capped off our premier events with a standout Women in Green networking breakfast, featuring the co-author of Women in Green, Kira Gould. Our six topic communities continue to be the heartbeat of the organization.

In 2024, we reached record numbers of individual and company members, people hours of public interaction, events and training registrations, unique attendees, and participating companies. The number of registrations grew 37% in just one year, while total people hours of interaction jumped up 48%. We grew to seven full time employees, with more on the way, and our budget surpassed $1 million for the first time.

The BE+ Education program led the way for upskilling the professionals who are putting the BE+ mission into practice, with 117 trainings provided and over $300,000 of workforce training funds leveraged. We partnered with USGBC, NREL, and the Sponsors of Mass Save® to deliver the Solar Decathlon Professionals Training to 23 participants. We also collaborated with AIA Massachusetts and Mass Save Sponsors to launch a five-part training series on the MA Stretch Energy Code, filling over 500 seats in total!

Our April 2024 net zero report update found 48.4 million square feet of net zero and net zero ready buildings, and we renamed the report from Massachusetts is Ready for Net Zero to Massachusetts is Going Net Zero. Many of these projects and the companies and professionals building them can now be found in BE+ CONNECTS, our new high performance building professionals directory. The platform now boasts over 150 professional profiles, 120 company profiles, and over 300 project profiles, and we are expanding its use as a valuable discovery tool.

As we continue to grow the BE+ team, we’ll be able to offer even more resources, support, and opportunities for you to engage, learn, and thrive in 2025. We are energized by the possibilities and want to take a moment to express our gratitude to you. With your partnership, we are ready to make 2025 our most impactful one yet!

Meredith Elbaum AIA, LEED AP
Built Environment Plus Executive Director

COMMUNITY SCORECARD

2024

Individual Members

Company Members

BE+ Events

People Hours of Public Interaction

Event and Training Registrations

Unique Attendees Public Registrations

Participating Companies

2023

Individual Members

Company Members

BE+ Events

People Hours of Public Interaction

Event and Training Registrations

Unique Attendees Public Registrations

2022

Individual Members

Company Members

BE+ Events

People Hours of Public Interaction

Event and Training Registrations

Unique Attendees Public Registrations

2021

Individual Members

Company Members

BE+ Events

People Hours of Public Interaction

Event and Training Registrations

Unique Attendees Public Registrations

COMMUNITY

THIS YEAR'S BIGGEST EVENTS
BE+ Green Building Showcase - Oct 27

BE+ Green Building Showcase

Registrations

Over 300 people gathered in the raw theater space on the second floor of One Boston Wharf Road in Boston’s Seaport District to take stock of the accelerating progress in sustainable buildings in Massachusetts and across the region. Hosted once again by WS Development, the 2024 Green Building Showcase celebrated groundbreaking success stories and market transformation. For the third year in a row, an exemplary public school project won Green Building of the Year.

BE+ Building Tech Forum - Accelerating Change in the Built Environment - June 13th, 2023 - The Foundry, Cambridge MA

BE+ Building Tech Forum

Registrations

On June 11th, the 2024 BE+ Building Tech Forum brought together over 193 attendees and 45 presenters in an exciting night, at The Joyce Cummings Center at Tufts University, highlighting the cutting-edge innovations, ideas, and approaches to greening the built environment. Lively presentations covered technology, materials, and services that will significantly improve the design, construction, and operations of buildings.

Close the Gap(s): Decarbonizing Large Buildings Symposium

Registrations

On May 2nd, we gathered at Greentown Labs for a half-day symposium addressing the knowledge gaps in decarbonizing large buildings through a series of short training sessions on strategies and technologies to overcome current obstacles. Topics included Preservation and Performance, Carbon and Components, Funding High Efficiency Retrofits and more. The event was a collaboration of our Carbon & Energy and Decarbonize Existing Buildings Alliance communities.

Women in Green BIG WIG breakfast. December 6, 2023 9am - 12pm. Event will be at Northeastern University

Women in Green 2024: Building Connections

Registrations

On the Morning of December 4th, the Women in Green community came together for their largest gathering celebrating women reimagining and reshaping our world. This year’s theme, Building Connections, focused on fostering meaningful conversations, expanding participants’ networks, and recharging their passion for building a more sustainable world. We were delighted and energized to feature Kira Gould, co-author of Women in Green: Voices of Sustainable Design.

BE+ Sustainability Scavenger Hunt

BE+ Earth Day Celebration

Registrations

We gathered at Cisco Brewers Seaport Beer Garden where we celebrated Earth Day and the 2024 Scavenger Hunt participants. We unveiled the 2024 Update to the “MA is Ready for Net Zero Report”, recognized the top contributing companies, and celebrated the hard work and progress of our dedicated community!

BE+ 2022 Building Tech Forum: Accelerating Change in the Built Environment

Living Future: A Just Celebration

Registrations

We joined together to acknowledge organizations in our community who have taken the next step towards transparency in becoming a socially equitable and diverse business. This exciting opportunity let us connect and celebrate with those raising the bar of social justice in their workplaces. This year we were hosted once again by Humanscale, a Just and Living Product Challenge certified organization!

BE+ COMMUNITIES

The six BE+ topic-based communities hosted 36 roundtables in 2024 covering vital issues of interest and concern to our members. These regular roundtables provide ongoing forums for connection, conversation, and collaboration.

2024

Roundtables

2023

Roundtables

2022

Roundtables

2021

Roundtables

BE+ Carbon & Energy Community

Carbon & Energy

In 2024, the Carbon & Energy Community identified industry gaps and barriers to meeting decarbonization mandates and responded with sessions focusing on codes and regulations, envelope derating, and ground-source heat pumps, along with a half-day symposium on large-building decarbonization. They partnered with Mass Save to share updates on available incentives, and focused on the future, exploring long-term impacts of decarbonization and campus roadmapping.

Co-Chairs:

Joelle Jahn, JB&B

Stephen Moore, Steven Winter Associates

Noah Klammer, Affiliated Engineers, Inc.

Roundtables

Attendees

Roundtable Topics:

January – Mind the Gap(s): What does the industry need to meet all these mandates?

March – Codes, Regulations, and Future Impacts

May – Envelope Derating Office Hours

July – Special Roundtable: Follow-up Discussion to Mass Save Incentives Webinar

September – Ground-source Heat Pumps

November – Campus Decarbonization Roadmapping

Associated Events:

Special Roundtable: LEED v5

Close the Gap(s): Decarbonizing Large Buildings Symposium

May Emerging Professionals Roundtable @ BR+A

BE+ Building Tech Forum 2024

The Future of Mass Save Incentives Webinar

Midwood
National Grid
Rockwool
Rockwool
Rockwool
Rockwool
enVerid Systems
Buro Happold
enviENERGY
BR+A
BR+A
BR+A
Vicinity Energy
Albireo Energy
Massachusetts Clean Energy Center
enVerid Systems
enVerid Systems
Decarbonize Existing Buildings

Decarbonize Existing Buildings Alliance

The DEBA Community continues to zoom in on small-scale interventions working to decarbonize existing buildings while also taking time to zoom out and think about the big picture of decarbonization planning. Topics included partial electrification, out-sulation, and managing moisture, proving that existing buildings do not require massive overhauls to kickstart the decarbonization process. DEBA also worked to bridge the gap between policy and project with a session on BERDO flexibility measures in a year of new mandates and regulations.

Co-Chairs:

Ilene Mason, RPM

Rand Lemley, DREAM Collaborative

William Riordan, Albireo Energy

Roundtables

Registrations

Roundtable Topics:

February – Partial Electrification in Multifamily and Higher Ed.

April – Outsulation

June – BERDO Flexibility Measures

August – Big Picture Thinking about Decarbonization Planning

October – Managing Moisture

December – Good surprises from the Decarb Process

Associated Events:

Special Roundtable: LEED v5

Close the Gap(s): Decarbonizing Large Buildings Symposium

BE+ Building Tech Forum 2024

Rethinking Power Management
Gradient
Gradient
Vicinity Energy
Vicinity Energy
Vicinity Energy
enviENERGY
enviENERGY
enviENERGY
enviENERGY
Albireo Energy
Massachusetts Clean Energy Center
Massachusetts Clean Energy Center
Massachusetts Clean Energy Center
Women In Green Community

Women in Green

The Women In Green Community lifted up women leaders in 2024, ranging from business owners and innovators to those driving change from the nonprofit sector. We held discussions on where women can have the most impact in a mission-driven sector, and how women can continue to bring fresh perspectives into a rapidly changing industry and environment. We wrapped up the year with our annual Women In Green Breakfast, focusing on building connections with a keynote from the author of Women In Green: Voices in Sustainable Design, Kira Gould!

Co-Chairs:

Elizabeth Venuti, enviENERGY Studio

Mary Beth Bigelow, Consigli

Roundtables

Registrations

Roundtable Topics:

February – Women-Owned Businessses

May – Shifting the Scope from Profit to Non-Profit

September – Women Leaders in Innovation

November –  Fresh Perspectives from Greenbuild 2024

Associated Events:

Special Roundtable: LEED v5

Women in Green 2024: Building Connections

National Grid
National Grid
Vicinity Energy
Vicinity Energy
Albireo Energy
Living Future Roundtable

Living Future

Throughout 2024, the Living Future Community continued to explore how the built environment fits into larger systems of ecology and justice, with an emphasis on collaboration and iterative processes. Topics such as environmental justice, pollinator health, and ecological patterns and urban planning helped to translate big ideas to tangible action, reinforcing the Community’s dedication to the health of the earth and all beings who depend on it.

Co-Chairs:

DiAnn Tufts, PCA

Jim Newman, Linnean Solutions

Jacob Bloom, Cambridge Seven

Roundtables

Registrations

Roundtable Topics:

February – Environmental Justice

April –  Design Charrettes

June –  The Integrated Process: Franklin Park Action Plan

August – Rebalancing Cities for Human Health

October – Rewilding Cities: How Do We Achieve Balance?

December –  Rethinking “Public” Land

Associated Events:

Just Celebration

Intro to the Living Building Challenge

Special Roundtable: LEED v5

Bee The Trees – Biophilic Walk in the Woods

Health and Wellness Community

Health & Wellness

The Health & Wellness Community wrapped up its PFAS series in early 2024, and proceeded to explore material health through a variety of lenses, including architect, contractor, and advocacy. They tapped into the expertise of their community members, hosting open forums for resource sharing and collaboration. Advocacy and transparency are at the core of the Community’s mission as we head into 2025 and continue to strive for healthy buildings and communities for all.

Co-Chairs:

Lindsay Bach, PCA

Carrie Havey, The Green Engineer

Gabriel Echeverria, enviENERGY Studio

Roundtables

Attendees

Roundtable Topics:

January –  PFAS Series: Specifications, Case Studies & Tools

March –  Materials Resources Sharing Open Forum

May –  How Architects and Designers Select Healthy Materials

September – Material Health Through the Contractor’s Lens: An Industry-wide Perspective

November –  Advocacy at the A&D Level: Everyday Influences

Associated Events:

Special Roundtable: LEED v5

Healthy Building Tour: Parcel 1 @ Cambridge Crossing

Emerging Professionals

The Emerging Professionals Community had a big year in 2024, welcoming new leadership and continuing to grow their member base and engage new professionals and sectors. They pushed conversations beyond energy efficiency to include waterfront resilience, embodied carbon, and more, and prioritized collaboration with other BE+ Communities. They tapped into the expertise of our Carbon & Energy and Health & Wellness leaders, co-hosting a codes and regulations event and a healthy building tour, respectively. The Emerging Professionals Community is excited to hit the ground running in 2025, exploring big topics, hearing new perspectives, making introductions, and partnering with more community members to grow its diverse and dynamic community.

Co-Chairs:

Cameron Burkacki, Consigli

Tammy Ngo, BR+A 

Axel Jeremie, WSP 

Roundtables

Registrations

Roundtable Topics:

February – Roundtable @ enviENERGY Studio

March – Roundtable @ Elkus Manfredi Architects

May – Roundtable @ BR+A

June – Roundtable @ Consigli

July – Roundtable @ Thornton Tomasetti

August – Roundtable @ Arup

October – Roundtable @ JB&B

November – Roundtable @ Buro Happoid

December – Roundtable (Virtual)

Associated Events:

Emerging Professionals 2024 Kickoff
Emerging Professionals Media Club
Emerging Professionals Scavenger Hunt
Special Roundtable: LEED v5
Healthy Building Tour – Parcel 1 @ Cambridge Crossing
Emerging Professionals September Social

Elkus Manfredi
Elkus Manfredi
Seaport by WS
Elkus Manfredi

2024 EDUCATION

OUR TRAINING & PROFESSIONAL RESOURCES
Edu Training 2024

Keeping Our Industry Up to Date

Through 2024, we’ve continued to deliver impactful results through our Education initiatives, advancing knowledge and skills in sustainable design and construction. Over the past year, the program achieved a remarkable 82% increase in unique public training registrations, and increasing our company reach by almost a third; reflecting a significant rise in public engagement.

With 87% of attendees reporting they were 100% or Very Satisfied with the quality of their training, we maintain a high standard of excellence. Notably, Passive House and LEED emerge as leading rating systems, shaping much of the program’s focus. Collaborative initiatives, such as partnerships with Mass Save, AIA MA, with participation from the DOER, in our first ever training series focused on the new MA Stretch Energy Code, as well as the Solar Decathlon with USGBC and NREL, further enrich the program’s offerings. With 117 trainings provided, 900 total training hours, and participation from 187 companies, the program exemplifies its commitment to fostering a skilled workforce for a sustainable future.

%

Participants were Very Satisfied with their Training Experience

BE+ CURATED PUBLIC AND PRIVATE TRAININGS IN 2024

Stretch Code Training Series

Registrations

In collaboration with AIA Massachusetts and Sponsors of Mass Save®, we launched the Massachusetts Stretch Energy Code Training Series to equip mid-level professionals with the knowledge to implement the new energy codes effectively. Supported by AIA MA and the Sponsors of Mass Save, the series offered discounted, live online sessions on topics like TEDI modeling, thermal bridge derating, and building envelope specifications. This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing sustainable design through accessible, high-impact education and industry collaboration. We look forward to offering the series again in the Spring of 2025!

Solar Decathalon Professionals Training

Participants

The Solar Decathlon Professionals Training offered building industry professionals an opportunity to enhance their expertise in designing high-performance, energy-efficient buildings through a blend of on-demand content and live virtual sessions. Participants from across the U.S., and even Europe, engaged in weekly discussions on topics such as passive design, HVAC systems, and renewable energy, culminating in a hands-on net-zero project design activity. This program, supported by NREL, USGBC, and Sponsors of Mass Save®, provided continuing education credits and fostered collaboration through interactive presentations, project sharing, and guided learning.

Total Trainings

Total Training Hours

Company Instructors

Trainee Companies

RESEARCH & TOOLS

FILLING THE GAPS

BE+ Wrapped up the Embodied Carbon Reduction Challenge with MassCEC

Embodied Carbon Reduction Challenge

In March 2023, the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center and Built Environment Plus launched the first-in-the-nation Embodied Carbon Reduction Challenge in order to jump-start the upfront reduction of carbon in building projects across Massachusetts.

In April 2024, 16 teams submitted projects performing Whole Building Life Cycle Assessments (WBLCAs), and the Challenge equipped a whole new slate of design firms and practitioners with the tools and knowledge they need to take embodied carbon reductions to the next level. A panel of nine judges from across the country made their selections based on embodied carbon reduction, innovation, replicability, and cost effectiveness.

A total of $380,000 in cash prizes were awarded to 11 lead applicants during a June 20th reception at the Northeast Embodied Carbon Summit. Over 1,100 people voted in the People’s Choice selection. Together, the 16 projects made a combined embodied carbon reduction of 25k metric tons of CO2e, which is equivalent to the carbon sequestered in 413,377 tree seedlings grown for 10 years.

BE+ Massachusetts Clean Energy Center Embodied Carbon Reduction Challenge. The Challenge: Reduce Upfront Carbon of Buildings. Entries Due March 31st, 2024 | 5:00pm

At Greenbuild 2024, BE+ presented the results nationally during the session The Challenge: Embodied Carbon Reduction in Buildings. In December we hosted a Lessons Learned webinar, and publicly released the results in a collection of helpful case studies.

These case studies present all 16 submitting projects in a consistent format. You can explore key results, compare the implemented low carbon strategies, and see which approaches had the greatest impact.

Massachusetts is GOING Net Zero - Spring 2024 Update released

In April of 2024, we released our 5th update to the Massachusetts is Ready for Net Zero Report.

Continued data collection since 2021 increased the total of Net Zero or Net Zero Ready Projects included in the analysis from 7.2 million GSF to 48.4 million GSF. That’s nearly a 6 times increase in known square footage in just 3 years. 

It is clear from this analysis that Massachusetts is not just Ready for Net Zero, as the first three reports were named, Massachusetts is now Going Net Zero.

Of the 13.1 million GSF with reported cost data, 80% reported <1% construction cost premium to achieve Net Zero Ready. Multi-family and affordable housing’s combined 15.3 Million GSF are leading the way for Net Zero development in Massachusetts, employing heat pumps and on-site renewables to reach their Net Zero targets. Over twice as many projects since 2023 have reported the use of electricity for domestic hot water with a total of 28.2 million GSF.

There are 319 companies working to make Net Zero buildings the standard in MA. Many of the companies can be found in BE+ CONNECTS.

Professional Profiles

Company Profiles

Project Profiles

BE+ CONNECTS - 1st Full Year of Operation

BE+ CONNECTS is an interactive and engaging discovery tool that curates evolving companies, and their linked professionals, to promote expertise to clients designing and constructing high-performance buildings. In 2024 it hit its one year mark since going public and has so far seen a steady increase in the number of profiles on the site. To date our emphasis has been on recruiting professionals to complete profiles and add projects.

We achieved a key goal in the work this year by utilizing the site as the primary data collector for our Massachusetts is Going Net Zero Report. An expansion of the site was kicked-off at the end of the year, which will see the addition of existing buildings, and more direct user access to projects and summary report data through a dashboard. Branding will also be improved, with better marketing materials and support pages to give new users a better experience. This aligns with current plans to start expanded marketing and outreach efforts to potential users.

Looking Ahead

In 2024, we were thrilled to announce MassCEC awarding BE+ funding to deepen our programming to decarbonize existing buildings, opening up even more opportunities for learning, connection, and growth. We look forward to sharing more in 2025.

OPERATIONS

ORGANIZATIONAL EXCELLENCE AND THOSE THAT MAKE IT POSSIBLE

2024 Company Members

Acentech
AHA Consulting Engineers
AKF Group
Albireo Energy
Annum Architects
Arrowstreet
Arup
ASSA ABLOY
Bala Consulting Engineers
Bergmeyer Associates
Boston Planning Departmenent
Boston Properties
BR+A Consulting Engineers
Brightcore Energy
Bruner/Cott & Associates
Buro Happold
Chapman Construction/Design
CMTA
Columbia Construction Company
Consigli Construction Co.
dbHMS
Devens Enterprise Commission
DiMella Shaffer Associates
DSK | Dewing Schmid Kearns
DXS New England
Dyer Brown
Elkus Manfredi Architects
Ellenzweig
enVerid Systems
enviENERGY Studio
Epsilon Associates
Eversource
Gail Roberts, Ed Feijo & Team
Gensler
Goody Clancy
Gorman Richardson Lewis Architects
Gradient Comfort
Green Badger
HMFH Architects
Homeowner’s Rehab
HTS New England
Humanscale
isgenuity
JB&B
Johnson Roberts Associates
Kalin Associates
Lam Partners
LDa Architecture & Interiors
LeMessurier
Linnean Solutions
Mass Clean Energy Center
MASS Design Group
MDS/Miller Dyer Spears
MP Boston
National Grid
Natural Systems Utilities
Next Phase Studios
Nitsch Engineering
Northstar Project and Real Estate Services
One Click LCA
Paul Lukez Architecture
Payette Associates
PCA Design
Perkins Eastman
Petersen Engineering
Rethinking Power Management (RPM)
ReVision Energy
RFS Engineering
Rockwool
RODE Architects
RSE Associates
Sasaki Associates
Schneider Electric
SGH
Shawmut Design & Construction
Shepley Bulfinch
Siena Construction
Sladen Feinstein
SMMA
Soden Sustainability Consulting
Solect Energy
Stantec
Steven Winter Associates
Structure Tone
Studio G Architects
Suffolk Construction
Superior Essex International
The Green Engineer
Thornton Tomasetti
TimberHP
Trane
Turner Construction
U.S. Green Building Council
Utile
Vanderweil Engineers
Vicinity Energy
WS Development
WSP Built Ecology
ZeroEnergy Design

2024 BOARD MEMBERS

 

Jenn Taranto, Chair

Vice President of Sustainability, Global Services, STO Building Group

Kristen Fritsch, Vice-Chair

Sustainability Coordinator, Elkus Manfredi Architects

 

Sarah Michelman, Secretary

Principal, The Green Engineer

Daisy Chen, Treasurer

Managing Director, Bain Capital

N Jonathan Unaka, At-Large Director

Adjunct Faculty, Wentworth Institute of Technology

 

Axel Jeremie, Emerging Professionals Representative

Assistant Sustainability Consultant, WSP Built Ecology

 

Brad Mahoney, Director

Senior Project Manager, MP Boston

 

Chad Laurent, Director

Principal, Cadmus Group LLC

Eudad Gonzalez, Director

VP & Business Manager, Turner Construction Company

Jacob Knowles, Director

Chief Sustainability Officer, BR+A Consulting Engineers

Julie Janiski, Director

Partner, BuroHappold Engineering

 

Kate Bubriski, Director

Director of Sustainability & Building Performance, Arrowstreet

Leah Robins, Director

Director, Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC)

 

Neetu Siddarth, Director

Sustainability Manager, Energy & Utilities, BXP

 

Rebecca Rahmlow, Director

Senior Associate and Sustainability Consultant, Thornton Tomasetti

 

Rebecca Schofield, Director

Developer, Pennrose

 

Sandhya Iyer, Director

Economic Development Director, Town of Lexington

THANK YOU 2024 INTERNS!

Jared Medina

InihAbasi Sunday

Nidhi Ravi

Maya Patel

Audrey Brecher

STAFF

Meredith Elbaum, Executive Director

Eli Beckerman, Deputy Director

Lilli Markle, Education Director

Ethan Vonderheide, Innovation Director

Dan Pham, Senior Communications Associate

Kaitlyn Chan, Communications Associate

Gwynn Klumpenaar, Education Program Associate

Ryan Pagois, Associate Director of Community Engagement

Allison Zuchman, Education Director – Left in 2024

Etianna Nascimento, Communications Associate – Left in 2024

BE+ Staff photo 2024