Boston Leads Way Towards Green Buildings For All

Mar 17, 2023 | Blog

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu announced on Thursday that Boston intends to adopt the state’s new specialized opt-in stretch energy code for new construction and major renovations. She also announced a new $10 million Large Building Green Energy Retrofits Program using American Rescue Plan funds to provide up to $50,000 per unit for deep energy retrofits for income-restricted affordable housing buildings with 15 or more units. These two big announcements demonstrate the city’s leadership greening both new buildings and existing buildings.

“Building a Green New Deal city means improving on our existing infrastructure as well as investing in future resilient development,” said Mayor Wu. “This new green building code will help ensure that we set the foundation for healthy, resilient growth throughout our neighborhoods.”

BE+ Executive Director Meredith Elbaum was invited to attend the press conference at the Brian Honan Apartments in Allston-Brighton, and Mayor Wu thanked Built Environment Plus, along with Passive House Massachusetts, the Sierra Club, and others who have advanced the decarbonization of Boston’s built environment.

“It was amazing to witness,” Elbaum said of her experience at the press conference. “Seeing Boston’s top leadership saying exactly what we’ve been saying for so many years, and seeing such meaningful action towards making healthy green buildings the standard for every resident in the city regardless of socio-economic status, it was kind of surreal.”

“To advance Boston’s Green New Deal, we are tackling building decarbonization from all different angles, using all of the tools at our disposal,” said Green New Deal Director Oliver Sellers-Garcia. “By both adapting existing buildings and setting new energy standards for new buildings, we are taking an all of government approach to reducing emissions in more buildings to ensure our climate’s health and our city’s quality of life.”

“The adoption of the state’s Specialized Stretch Energy Code is an important part of Boston’s work to decarbonize our buildings and reduce our carbon footprint,” said Reverend Mariama White-Hammond, Chief of Environment, Energy and Open Space.“ I’m grateful to be a part of a Green New Deal City where we prioritize affordable housing in our decarbonization work.”

Read the City’s press release here.

Read the City’s RFP for its Large Building Green Energy Retrofits Program here.

Workforce Training Grants Driving Sustainability

Mar 16, 2023 | Blog

Congratulations to all three Workforce Training General Grant consortiums that concluded in 2022: Prellwitz Chilinski Associates and HMFH Architects; Gensler and Arup; and Payette Associates and Saam Architecture. These three grants represent approximately $510,000 grant dollars used to provide over 1,100 hours of training for 630 unique individuals in our industry. And the results were impressive.

Built Environment Plus (BE+) participates in the Commonwealth Corporation’s Workforce Training Fund General Grant Program to improve the continuing education opportunities available to building industry professionals. The General Grant Program awards approved consortiums (companies that partner to apply for the grant) the opportunity to take up to $250,000 worth of training over a two year period. BE+ partners with companies in the AEC (architecture, engineering, construction) industry to develop a curriculum and apply for the grant and then we administer the grant once awarded.

In 2022, we administered four Workforce Training Fund General Grants, consisting of nine AEC firms who worked together in four consortiums. Three of the consortiums concluded their grant period in late 2022, and the fourth will complete their grant period in July of this year. Each of the three grants is made up of a consortium of two or three AEC firms of varying sizes.

As the grant administrator, BE+ curated a list of diverse trainings to enable the consortiums to develop their staffs’ skills in sustainability, leadership and management, and technology. By collaborating with instructors across 38 organizations, the training we provided for the three consortiums that concluded in 2022 covered topics ranging from green building rating systems and high performance building technologies to energy modeling, embodied carbon software, communication, and effective team building skills. All in all, 242 trainings were held with a total enrollment of 2,700.

The education provided through the grant courses advanced our teams’ knowledge and reinforced our firmwide culture of continuous improvement and learning. The courses offered real-world education that contributed to talent attraction and retention, project wins, and competitiveness in a changing marketplace.

–Gensler Boston Office, 2020-2022 BE+ Workforce Training General Grant Consortium Partner

“As a result of the trainings, Saam’s productivity and performance has improved in numerous areas. For example, staff utilization for construction administration on LEED projects increased by 50%. Additionally, many of the staff now use Excel in much more efficient and advanced ways, allowing us to produce report graphics at a higher level.”

–Saam Architecture, 2019-2022 BE+ Workforce Training General Grant Consortium Partner

BE+ would like to congratulate these firms for their successes and for all the hard work they completed over the past few years to offer training sessions to their staff. We look forward to collaborating with them in the future. Over the course of the grant, the consortiums tracked progress made at their individual firms in the form of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). Below are examples of achievements that firms were able to celebrate at the end of their two-year grant period:

- Completed 13 green building certified projects between 2020 and 2022.
- 10% improvement in pEUI (predicted energy use reduction) across projects firmwide.
- Increased the use of in-house energy modeling, daylighting, and sustainable material assessments on projects by 30%.
- 50% increase in LEED Accredited Professionals on staff
- 15% increase in the number of projects performing life-cycle assessments (LCAs).
- Increased the number of energy modelers on staff by 50%
- 35% increase in the number of projects using Revit
- Increased the project win rate by 11% due to improved project performance and client relationship building.
- Achieved a 25% increase in the win rate of public projects due to improved leadership and management skills
- Achieved a 50% increase in the staff utilization rate for construction administration on LEED projects.

BE+ would also like to thank all of the instructors we partner with who provide hours upon hours of high quality, informative, and engaging trainings. Needless to say, the past few years have been an adjustment for all of us, and we are proud to have worked through the challenges with all of our partner firms and instructors to be able to continue to provide trainings.

In 2023, we look forward to reporting back to you the results of a General Grant currently underway that ends in July, with a consortium consisting of DiMella Shaffer, Leers Weinzapfel Associates, and BR+A Consulting Engineers. We also look forward to announcing new General Grant consortium partners soon whose grant period will start later this spring, and we plan to submit two more General Grant applications later this year.

Participating in the General Grant Program is an effective way to provide valuable skills to your firm’s staff across all departments and experience levels. Additionally, BE+ offers public trainings which are open to anyone to take and are eligible for Workforce Training Fund Express Grant funding for Massachusetts firms. Review our Upcoming Course List and register for some trainings! Review our 2023 Training Priority List and complete the BE+ Training Interest Form to let us know which specific training(s) you are interested in taking. If you are interested in being considered for a future General Grant, you can let us know that too on this form.

Welcome Spring 2023 Interns!

Mar 10, 2023 | Blog

Join us in welcoming our Spring 2023 interns Lia Clark and Yasir Faisal! We are thrilled to have them on board for the spring semester to strengthen the BE+ community and advance our mission to drive the sustainable and regenerative design, construction, and operation of the built environment. They’re bringing exciting interests, passions, and skills to the table, and we can’t wait to see what we can accomplish together.

We can’t wait to see how their unique interests, passions, and talents will strengthen the BE+ community and our collective work.

Lia Clark

Hello! My name is Lia Clark and I am excited to be interning with BE+ this semester and learning more about sustainable building practices. Currently, I am in my final semester at Tufts University where I am working towards a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Environmental Studies with a focus on sustainability, policy, and equity. Ultimately, I am interested in pursuing a masters degree in urban and environmental planning, and hope to work in communities like the ones BE+ serves. I look forward to taking advantage of the experiences and opportunities interning at BE+ will provide me with and learning more about how the built environment can serve both the planet and community members to the fullest.

Yasir Faisal

Hello! My name is Yasir and I am delighted to be working with the BE+ team to help them fulfill their mission to significantly improve the sustainability of our built environment. I am entering my last semester at Western New England University, where I will earn a Bachelor’s degree in Civil engineering with concentration in environmental engineering . I am particularly interested in improving the efficacy of building and environmental conservation management. I very much look forward to contribute to further sharing of knowledge and spread of sustainable building practices within and outside the community.

Carbon: The New Sustainability Metric

Dec 21, 2022 | Blog

The following post was provided by Bala Consulting Engineers.

The building industry is transitioning from measuring a building’s “sustainability” based on its energy efficiency and energy use to a more comprehensive model that includes both the operational and embodied carbon from the building. Carbon has emerged as the new sustainability metric and is here to stay.

Often when the term ‘carbon’ is used, it is a general term for greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions derived from the use of fossil fuels. With the building sector producing 39% of the total greenhouse gas emissions over the course of a year globally, the built environment has an immense impact on our climate future. Furthermore, building practitioners have an equally large opportunity in reducing this impact.

To effectively reduce emissions the best place to start is to measure. “You can’t manage what you don’t measure” as they say, thus carbon accounting practices are the best place to begin. There are two major carbon accounting frameworks– the Greenhouse Gas Protocol and Whole Building Life Cycle Assessment (WBLCA). The Greenhouse Gas Protocol aligns with ESG reporting methods, which many companies, outside of the building industry, are familiar with, while the WBLCA tool is specific to and growing in popularity across the built environment.

Greenhouse Gas Protocol

The Greenhouse Gas Protocol includes 3 scopes of emissions:

Scope 1 is direct onsite emissions primarily stemming from natural gas use, company vehicle use, and fugitive emissions from refrigerants and other gases.
Scope 2 emissions are indirect emissions that come from other entities providing electricity, steam, etc.
Scope 3 emissions are indirect emissions from a company’s entire value chain, this can include product manufacturing, business travel, employee commuting, waste, and more.

The Greenhouse Gas Protocol is a widely used framework for companies with a portfolio of buildings. Corporations are being asked by their stakeholders and even now by the SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) to be transparent and consistent with carbon emissions reporting. There are of course other ways in which companies can reduce total carbon emissions, however much of the work can be accomplished in built spaces through effective choices, strategies, and solutions from the design community. Building design has immediate and direct influence over scope 1 and 2 emissions through the design of efficient systems, HVAC systems, and fuel choices. Building practitioners can also influence building occupants’ choices, by designing on-site electric vehicle charging, which eliminates emissions from scope 1 and 3.

Whole Building Life Cycle Assessment

A Whole Building Life Cycle Assessment (WBLCA) digs into the stages of a building’s life, starting from raw material extraction through manufacturing of products, construction, occupancy, all the way to the demolition and disposal of the building’s materials. Considering the full life of a building is critical for net zero design and leads to better project and carbon outcomes.

Reducing operational carbon via energy-efficient design has been the focus of the building industry for years. It has often been thought of as a solely HVAC issue with MEP firms taking the lead in energy reduction strategies. However, as we start to view our built spaces more like the mini-ecosystems they are, we must recognize how all aspects of a design influence and modify other parts of the design. Energy efficiency, as with carbon, starts at the building’s conception with the site planning, orientation, and design of the façade and envelope and is continued with proper construction, commissioning, and operation. These design aspects directly influence the engineered internal systems which use energy and ultimately produce carbon that we are trying to mitigate.

Embodied carbon is the carbon emitted from the full life of the materials used in a building–starting at extraction and extending all the way through disposal. With such a vast lifecycle, material selection and management require collaboration and communication from parties during each stage of this cycle to best reduce carbon. Architects, owners, engineers, contractors, manufacturers, and more all have their part to play in this process.

Bala Consulting Engineers is increasingly seeing clients asking to measure carbon for their building designs, following either the Whole Building Life Cycle Assessment Approach or the Greenhouse Gas Protocol. An understanding of what to measure and the frameworks for doing so empowers the design community and our clients toward meaningful carbon reduction and positive action. When we get a handle on measurement, we can more effectively start to reduce emissions.

BERDO 2.0 Breakdown – The Path Towards Decarbonizing Boston’s Buildings

Dec 13, 2022 | Blog

The following post was provided by Bala Consulting Engineers.

BERDO 2.0 is a landmark ordinance set to drive decarbonization in Boston’s building sector by establishing mandatory carbon emission standards and requiring yearly energy and emissions data reports. The design community and building owners need to prepare for the reporting requirements starting this year and consider strategies to meet upcoming emissions limits.

BERDO 2.0 sets upcoming carbon emissions limits and requires annual reporting for the following buildings:

Non-Residential greater than 20,000 SF
Residential greater than 20,000 SF or 15+ units

According to the city of Boston, 3,975 buildings in the city are subject to BERDO reporting starting in 2022. June 15th, 2022 was the initial deadline for all buildings over 20,000 SF to report their energy and water usage. However, December 15, 2022, is the extension deadline for reporting and verification, with over half of all buildings taking advantage of this extension.

Driving Decarbonization through Building Emission Limits

The most groundbreaking aspect of BERDO 2.0 is the upcoming building emissions standards. Beginning in 2025, buildings over 35,000 SF are required to include carbon emissions within their annual reports. Emissions will be calculated on a per-square-foot basis and measured against the city’s Emissions Standards (units are kg CO2e/SF/year) showcased in the table below. Emissions Standards vary by building use and become increasingly more stringent every 5-years until reaching carbon neutrality – zero carbon emissions – in 2050.

Buildings 20,000-35,000 SF will not need to comply with emissions standards until 2030, reporting emissions for the first time in 2031. “Qualified Energy Professionals” must provide a Third-Party Data Verification for the first year of reporting and every 5 years after that. To avoid costly fines, building owners need to report accurately and on time, and if needed, implement building emissions reduction strategies to comply with the upcoming emissions standards.

The Path Forward for Existing Buildings

Since 2022 is the first year the reporting and compliance requirements of BERDO 2.0 are in effect, it can be difficult for building owners to know where their existing buildings stand and what the best course of action may be. As a result, Bala Consulting Engineers’ sustainability team developed a decision tree for building owners, laying out the path forward:

If a building is projected to exceed 2025 emissions standards, direct action to reduce energy consumption of the building is needed, such as conducting retro-commissioning or capital improvement projects. If a building is projected to fall under 2025 emissions standards, Bala recommends conducting a Building Carbon Compliance Planning Study to forecast building emissions limits over time and identify if and when to take specific actions. Having a proactive plan for BERDO 2.0 will lead to optimal end savings and avoidance of penalties for building owners.

As for reporting requirements, “Qualified Energy Professionals”, like Bala’s team, are equipped to help building owners navigate the data acquisition for emissions, energy, and water usage reports, as well as perform official Third-Party Verifications.

The Path Forward for New Buildings

Consideration of BERDO 2.0 and its emissions standards is also critically important for new building projects moving forward. Bala has already integrated preliminary analyses on projects in design, considering current energy codes and 2025, 2030, and 2035 emissions standards. While every building is different, a combination of reducing building energy loads, utilizing all-electric systems, and integrating renewable energy, are essential strategies we are implementing in our projects. To effectively reach building emission targets, engineering solutions should be explored and vetted through exhaustive modeling, calculations, and research, alongside iterative conversations with system manufacturers, the building owner, and the whole design team.

BERDO 2.0 is certainly presenting new challenges for building owners, managers, developers, and design teams. However, by prioritizing decarbonization into short- and long-term capital plans, the legislation is set to positively reshape the role of buildings in our environment and is an important tool for helping Boston meet its climate goals.

For more information on BERDO 2.0 visit the City of Boston’s Resource Page –
https://www.boston.gov/departments/environment/building-emissions-reduction-and-disclosure

Health & Wellness Roundtable Discussion on Biophilia and Wellness

Dec 1, 2022 | Blog

BE+ is happy to start blogging about some of our ongoing community roundtables with the help of our Fall interns. Thank you to Linh Mai for this blog entry on the Health & Wellness Community’s recent roundtable on Biophilia.

The November Roundtable dove into the different strategies, benefits, and challenges of biophilic design elaborated through the speakers’ rich portfolio of examples. Janice Goodman, the owner of Cityscapes, initiated the conversation by emphasizing that now is an exciting time for biophilic design with more interest in healthy and safe indoor environments than ever. According to Jan, scientific research, ROI, and data conducted through different channels (Green Plants for Green Building and Terrapin Bright Green) are key tools to convince the owners and developers to adopt biophilic design elements. Some measurable statistics of biophilic design benefits include: “15% Increase in productivity when biophilic design is present. 12% decrease in absenteeism…lowering stress hormones by 15%.” The MassMutual Headquarters was a collaboration between Cityscape and Elkus Manfredi spearheaded as a biophilic success in Boston’s Seaport District, raising the demand from clients and influencing upcoming projects. Thomas Kinslow, Senior Architect at Elkus Manfredi, discussed the concept of forests inside the city and the abstract illustration of the concept through bringing a variety of plants (moss, trees) inside the lobby, installing dappled lighting mimicking daylighting patterns, and reclaiming recycled timber as ceiling stretches.

Erik Hegre, the Director of Behnisch Architekten, talked about the contrast between the openness of Flatiron Building’s operable windows and the closeness of current buildings. He believed that bringing nature into the building should start with natural elements (light, air, water, etc.) and the interaction between these elements and the architecture. How can buildings embody the ethos of your research culture? Lumen Building Institute for Forestry Research and Harvard University Science and Engineering Complex provide their own answers to that question through natural daylight, indoor gardens, complex screen facades, and vegetated roofs.

The discussion continued with raised questions on the challenges of keeping plants alive in buildings and the resulting added cost. Thomas understood Elkus Manfredi’s mission as creating a terrarium for the tree, providing anything that the trees need to thrive. According to Janice, those conditions include the correct planting process, lighting, soil and planter depth, and ongoing maintenance. Further challenges lie in convincing, communicating, and making sure the owners are on board with the additional costs and monthly maintenance fees from early in the design process.

Aside from plants, the speakers shared additional biophilic design strategies used by their firms. In terms of material, Erik pointed out that natural and healthier materials often have premium costs. His firm strategically reserved timber for seatings and staircases where users can have an immersive experience. Another method is making indispensable structural building components multifunctional. For instance, the Harvard University Science and Engineering Complex’s overhanging roof provides both shading and indirect light for the upper floor, acts as a green roof, and helps with water runoff.

Another discussion topic is how biophilia improves indoor air quality. Although plants remove VOC, their impacts are miniscule compared to the overall mass of the building and the carbon produced through transportation and installation.

The final message of this discussion is a call to rethink how we are designing and constructing buildings, so that biophilia and wellness are integral to the building design and not an addition.

Mass Timber at the Wellesley College Science Center

Nov 30, 2022 | Blog, Green Building Showcase

The following post was provided by Turner Construction.

Turner Construction Company recently partnered with Simpson Gumpertz and Heger to educate staff on Mass Timber design and construction. Hosted at Simpson, Gumpertz, and Heger’s office in Waltham, MA, the first session included a technical presentation on Mass Timber structures. During the second session, attendees had the opportunity to tour the recently completed Mass Timber project at Wellesley College. The emphasis on Mass Timber at the Wellesley College Science Center is most notable in the building’s ‘Hub,’ a 15,000 sq. ft. area that serves as the focal point to the expansion. The Hub features Glue Laminated Timber (GLT), which is lumber bonded together with durable, moisture-resistant adhesives. The use of GLT creates not only an aesthetically pleasing space, but is a considerable contribution to our company’s sustainability efforts.

Turner featured the Wellesley project in their submission to the 2022 Green Building Showcase.

DisplayOnly_Wellesley College Science Center

Mass Timber has become a leading design due its environmental and potential cost benefits. As a natural material, wood stores carbon making it an excellent building material choice when considering the environmental impacts compared to other traditional building materials. Recent advances in the digital fabrication tools have created new possibilities to fabricate intricate Mass Timber members, which previously were not feasible. The ability to prefabricate the material reduces the project schedule and eliminates waste, bringing overall cost savings to a project. Additional benefits include increased building occupant health and well-being associated with the use of Mass Timber design and the ability to leave the structure exposed while maintaining the aesthetic of a completed ceiling.

Turner is always looking for ways to embrace new innovative and sustainable construction methods, and the successful use of Mass Timber has only strengthened our commitment to being a green builder. Nationally, Turner has already incorporated more than 3,000,000 sq. ft. of Mass Timber on our construction projects, and will continue to champion it along with a more sustainable future for the industry.

2022 Green Building of the Year: Bristol County Agricultural High School

Nov 17, 2022 | Blog, Green Building Showcase

BE+ was pleased to award HMFH Architects the 2022 Green Building of the Year for their work on the renewal of Bristol County Agricultural High School (Bristol Aggie)’s campus at this year’s Green Building Showcase.

According to the judges, Bristol Aggie “checked so many boxes for us… aggressive sustainability, a strong community connection, a focus on carbon reduction, a teaching tool …all on a limited, public-school budget. The project is also a very familiar project type, the renovation and expansion of an obsolete public school, which the team executed beautifully, serving as a fiscally responsible model for the community, state, and public-school project type.”

The renewal of Bristol Aggie’s campus reflects the school’s close ties to the natural environment and unique curriculum rooted in science and environmental education. Integrating sustainability with curricular goals, the campus is both a place of discovery and an instructional tool through its highly sustainable design. Building systems that reduce energy use, carbon emissions, waste, and water are purposefully exposed to view to offer immersive, hands-on learning experiences and to maximize educational impact.

Designing a multi-building campus for a complex technical program with a limited public-school budget, for the Bristol County Agricultural High School showcases achievable, replicable, and comprehensive sustainable design of public projects.

HFMH - Bristol Aggie - 2022 Green Building of the Year

At the heart of the campus, the heavy timber-framed Student Commons provides a space to work, eat, study, and socialize. Home to the dining area and media center, the Student Commons is a community asset hosting local environmental organizations in addition to being a hub for student activities.

The new Center for Science and the Environment (CSE) highlights the integral role of science and environmental research. Designed as an interactive learning center, the CSE houses a student-curated natural resource museum, specialized bio-secure labs, and flexible classrooms. The CSE is the first public school in Massachusetts with composting toilets that reduce annual water use by 68% from code baseline and helps educate students about water conservation. In addition, rainwater harvesting, vegetated green roofs, and exposed mechanical systems reinforce the idea of the building as a teaching tool.

The renovation and addition to the main academic building, Gilbert Hall, originally built in 1935, showcases the environmental benefits of reusing existing buildings. The design revitalizes the existing space to accommodate academic classrooms, administrative space, two gymnasiums and a one-of-a-kind indoor arborist climbing lab, while maintaining the original building’s character.

All new buildings on campus—the Center for Science and the Environment (CSE), Dairy Barn, Student Commons, and Landscape Arbor building—are designed to accommodate rooftop PV arrays to power 100% of the campus’ energy use. The design team performed radiance map studies of each building to determine the optimal PV placement and roof orientation.

Appropriate access to daylighting and view to support the circadian rhythm of students and faculty and help maintain the psychological connection to nature.

Three out of four newly constructed buildings on campus utilize heavy timber as the primary structure, as it is significantly lower in embodied carbon compared to steel or concrete. Together, the three timber buildings save approximately 221 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions.

Water conservation strategies reduce campus water usage by 50% even while the campus expanded from 450 to 640 students.

Heavy timber structures are uncommon in public schools due to cost and code restrictions. The use of timber reflects the school’s natural setting and environmental educational mission. Together, the two heavy timber structures, Student Commons and net-zero ready Dairy Barn, sequester 75 metric tons of carbon. While the visibility of the structural components offers opportunities for student learning, reinforcing math- and science-based principles, and give the spaces their lofty, warm, and light-filled appearance.

The renovation of Gilbert Hall demonstrates another strategy for the reduction of embodied carbon, building reuse. Programmatic needs and increasing costs often limit the reuse of public buildings. This building avoids 744 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions versus building a new structure and updates a significant piece of the school’s historical identity.

Natural carbon sinks can be overlooked, and maintaining their integrity is an important, carbon savings strategy with broad environmental benefits. Beyond addressing operational carbon, the campus design also addresses waste and water systems, paying homage to its relationship to the Taunton River. Bristol Aggie is the first state-funded public school in Massachusetts with composting toilets, a key water conservation strategy that saves between 95-97% potable water. In addition, comprehensive composting of degradable waste, diverts an average of 90% of trash from landfills and not only avoids the generation of methane but becomes a resource to use on-site.

Using these carbon reduction strategies and holistic approach is regenerative. They contribute to a clean watershed, reduce waste, and create a low-carbon campus, and are powerful lessons for generations of students demonstrating that sustainability and environmental stewardship can be realized.

As a county-based public career technical school, Bristol Aggie serves a diverse range of students from across the region and is a valuable resource to the local community. Early visioning engaged stakeholders in conversations about designing a campus that would best serve the students, educators, community, region, and the State.

Bristol is designed to positively impact student well-being by fostering social interaction, strong connections to nature, and highly visible and interactive constructed interventions. The close ties between the school and the natural landscape are evident the moment you arrive on campus: amphitheater style outdoor seating, a grassy common for gathering and socializing, and rooftop academic spaces foster this connection and nurture students.

Project board submitted by HMFH Architects. Click the image to see the PDF version.

Public school projects are a highly visible commitment from a community for future generations. This project not only educates the students and faculty that regularly attend Bristol Aggie, but the highly public nature of this specific school is a model that can educate visiting communities about sustainable practices and be a demonstration for feasible, and fiscally responsible strategies.

Apply for 2022 Express Program Grant Funding by December 10th

Nov 17, 2022 | BE+ Trainings, Blog, Education, Workforce Training Funds

It is still possible to get 2022 Express Program grant funding approved for BE+ trainings, with a two-year window for course completion. Be sure to apply by December 10th. After December 10th, you are then eligible for 2023 grant funding.

Under the Commonwealth Corporation Workforce Training Fund Express Program, any company in MA may be eligible for up to $30,000 of training per year. Companies with fewer than 100 employees in MA may qualify for full course reimbursement. Companies with over 100 MA employees are 50% reimbursed.

BE+ has over 80 courses approved in the grant program as listed in our Training Catalog, including Passive House 101 and 201, Certified Passive House Consultant (CPHC) Training, Building Science Fundamentals, Energy Codes and Trends, Introduction to Designing a Net Zero Building, LEED, WELL, and SITES Courses, Healthy Materials, Designing with Energy Models, Honeybee and Ladybug, Implicit Bias, Effective Meeting Facilitation, and many more.

Looking for ideas on how to spend the rest of your 2022 grant funds? Apply for grant funding for courses already on our 2023 Calendar:

Certified Passive House Consultant (CPHC) Training – December 14th, January 9th, February 13th, March 13th (recurring monthly registration) (Grant Deadline: 21 days before course start date)
Building Science Fundamentals, January 10th, 12th, 17th, and 19th (Grant Deadline December 20th) Registration Coming Soon
Introduction to the Passive House Standard – January 24th, (Grant Deadline: January 3rd)
LEED BD+C Exam Prep – March 7th and 9th (Grant Deadline: February 14th)
High-Performance Building for Carpenters – April 6th, 13th, 20th, 27th, May 4th and 11th (Grant Deadline: March 16th) Registration Coming Soon
Lead Carpenter Training – May 9th, 16th, 23rd, and 30th (Grant Deadline: April 18th)
APPLY FOR ANY COURSE on our 2023 Training Priority List. You do not need to know the course date to apply for the grant funds. You can use awarded funding for two years. Once the course is on our calendar and registration is open you can sign up.

Want to learn more about available Grant Funding? Visit our Workforce Training Grants page and stay tuned for a BE+ Education Open House to be scheduled early next year when we will fill you in on all our trainings and also how to apply for grant funding.

Announcing the 2022 BE+ Green Building Showcase Award Winners

Nov 1, 2022 | Blog, Green Building Showcase

Celebrating and showcasing inspiring success stories for a sustainable built environment.

Over 225 people gathered in the main atrium of Harvard University’s new Science & Engineering Complex to celebrate the impressive array of projects that have slowly but surely transformed the built environment and our relationship to it. The venue itself served as a fitting success story itself – winning last year’s Green Building of the Year Award, and securing LEED Platinum certification along with Living Building Challenge petal certifications for Materials, Equity, and for Beauty.

The annual awards program and celebration is an important marker of progress towards sustainable and regenerative design, construction, and operation of the built environment. The local green building community came together in full force. It was the largest showcase since the national Greenbuild conference was held in Boston in 2017. Attendees included architects, engineers, contractors, developers, owners, facility managers, building users, lenders, suppliers, and others who play a role in shaping the built environment. The Harvard SEC project team, led by Erik Hegre of Behnisch Architekten, coordinated building tours ahead of the reception.

For the second year running, local judges selected a Change Agent of the Year to recognize someone who has made a significant positive impact on the environment, social equity, and economy. The awards program included one new award for Sustainable Building Renovations, highlighting the importance of retrofitting existing buildings. Another new award category for Sustainable Interior Fit-outs did not receive any submissions, but we hope for many projects to submit for next year’s program.

The highly coveted Green Building of the Year Award went to HMFH Architects for their impressive Bristol County Agricultural High School.

GREEN BUILDING OF THE YEAR

Bristol County Agricultural High School
Submitted by HMFH Architects

The renewal of Bristol County Agricultural High School’s campus reflects the school’s close ties to the natural environment and unique curriculum rooted in science and environmental education. Integrating sustainability with curricular goals, the campus is both a place of discovery and an instructional tool through its highly sustainable design. Building systems that reduce energy use, carbon emissions, waste, and water are purposefully exposed to view to offer immersive, hands-on learning experiences and to maximize educational impact.

A new Landscape Arbor Building, renovations of a small building for the Agricultural Mechanics program and the new net-zero ready, heavy timber Dairy Barn which features state-of-the-art robotic milking technology complete the campus expansion.

Here’s what the judges had to say: “The Bristol County Agricultural High School checked so many boxes for us… aggressive sustainability, a strong community connection, a focus on carbon reduction, a teaching tool …all on a limited, public-school budget. The project is also a very familiar project type, the renovation and expansion of an obsolete public school, which the team executed beautifully, serving as a fiscally responsible model for the community, state, and public-school project type.”

GREEN HOME OF THE YEAR

Preserving a Family Legacy
Submitted by Byggmeister Inc.

The owners of this 1930 home reached out to the designers with a long list of frustrations. Their kitchen was cramped, dark and isolated. The half-bath was tiny and lacked privacy. Insufficient insulation and old, inefficient systems made for hot summers, cold winters, and high utility bills. While such frustrations are common for owners of older homes, the relationship these owners have with their house is anything but common. The husband’s grandfather was the home’s first owner, and his mother grew up there. He and his wife inherited the house and raised their children there. This family legacy imbued the project with special significance.

The design team reoriented the kitchen towards the back yard, adding a full glass door and three windows that beckon onto a generous deck. They widened the opening between the kitchen and dining room, eliminating a pinch point and visually connecting the front and back of the house. They addressed the comfort complaints, inefficient systems, and high operating costs with a comprehensive package of insulation, air sealing and HVAC measures. They insulated the basement walls with 2” of closed cell spray foam; dense packed the wall cavities with cellulose; insulated the underside of the roof with 3” of closed cell spray foam followed by 7” of cellulose; reduced air leakage by 58%; and replaced the gas heating and hot water and window air conditioning with ducted heat pumps and a heat pump water heater.

According to the judges, “The project demonstrates the value of preserving the embodied carbon of the home, which might have otherwise been demolished; yet accomplishes substantial energy savings and comfort improvements. The project preserved the original character of this home as well as its neighborhood and was done affordably. The judges were impressed with the practical approach that achieved such significant results.”

CARBON & ENERGY

Williams College Renovation of Fort Bradshaw
Submitted by Mesick Cohen Wilson Baker Architects, LLP

Fort Bradshaw (The Fort) a 1931 Tudor Revival building, neighboring The Clark Art Institute, today is home to 12 students in The Williams College Graduate Program in the History of Art. The Fort, constructed with brick masonry walls, slate roof, crenellated parapets, copper oriel window, and four-centered Tudor arch entry, needed interior and exterior renovations. The building had no insulation, was difficult to heat, not fully accessible and had programmatic issues from being divided up piecemeal, over the years.

Williams College set a high bar for the renovation requiring LEEDv4 Gold, Living Building Challenge Petal Certification, eliminating on-site combustion energy and an aggressive site EUI of 30 kBTU/yr/sf, all while maintaining the historic features of the building that had become part of the program’s identity. Through reuse of an existing building and an addition designed to blend-in, a dedicated design-build team, supported by the college’s commitment to sustainability, was able to achieve these goals.

The completed renovation is 12,900 gsf, fully accessible with elevator, contains 14 bedrooms, 8 bathrooms, community space for cooking, dining, socializing, and a space for film screening and lectures, bike storage inside and out, and a variety of exterior spaces that extend and connect to the interior. Landscaping is with native plants and grasses and no need for irrigation.

Critical to the success of the project, work included window replacement, insulation, blower door testing, geothermal well field, ground source heat pump, VRF heating and cooling, energy recovery ventilation, roof mounted solar thermal, drain water heat recovery as well as low-water usage fixtures and energy efficient lighting and control systems.

Extensive research and review ensured material selections were free from toxins that affect human health and our ecosystems and that the sources of these materials are close to the site, meeting both LEED and LBC requirements.

In the judges’ words, “Reuse and renovation of existing buildings is the critical next step to decarbonization of the built environment and this project accomplishes not just that goal, but also shows a replicable pathway. The judges were impressed with both embodied and operational carbon savings through use of several innovative technologies.”

HEALTH & WELLNESS

Smith College – Neilson Library
Submitted by Thornton Tomasetti

Creating a sustainable building was a critical objective for the new Neilson Library; one that reflects Smith College’s commitment to sustainability. As a result, the design team used a series of workshops and meetings with stakeholders to create a project sustainability charter that established metrics from the most stringent third-party green building rating systems such as LEED, WELL and Living Building Challenge. The team developed four sustainability priorities as part of the charter:

The new Neilson Library will:

Be smaller than the old library, featuring collaborative space and reducing energy use and carbon emissions.
Be one of the most energy efficient libraries with special collection spaces in North America.
Emphasize health and well-being of students, the community, and the environment.
Enhance the local ecology of Smith’s historic campus.

The college committed to making the new Library as healthy as possible for the people using it. They decided to utilize the iconic nature of the building to advocate for positive change in the marketplace and encourage manufacturers to eliminate Red List chemicals, as defined by the International Living Future Institute. The project team used a targeted vetting approach to focus on visually prominent materials, interior finishes, furniture, and other materials that could influence market transformation efforts. This effort evaluated more than 100 manufacturers and 68 products from a healthier materials standpoint. The process and outcomes of this project are influencing other large institutions, and the healthier materials initiative is continuing to be implemented on Smith’s campus.

In addition to healthier materials, the team prioritized low carbon materials. Thornton Tomasetti performed a whole building Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to study opportunities for reducing embodied carbon and engaged Smith College students on a capstone project focused on creating a campus Embodied Carbon Roadmap using findings from the Neilson Library.

The judges “appreciated Smith’s commitment to both eliminating materials with Red List chemicals in the Nielson Library and to publicly sharing the knowledge they gained in the process. The library is a beautiful, thoughtful project with aggressive sustainability goals that seem to have largely been met.”

EQUITY & INCLUSION

Frost Terrace
Submitted by Bruner/Cott Architects

Frost Terrace is a unique, transit-oriented, 100% affordable family community. By weaving together three historic houses, significant contemporary architecture, and a dynamic, human-centered landscape, the design transforms a forgotten residential site, along a commercial avenue, into high-quality multi-family affordable housing for 40 low- and middle-income families—including (13) three-bedroom, (13) two-bedroom, (13) one-bedroom, and one (1) studio unit(s). Frost Terrace creates critically needed, modern, and sustainable affordable housing.

Frost Terrace’s approach to sustainable design aligns with the principles of affordable housing—lowering utility costs, conserving resources, prioritizing mobility (bikes and transit), and creating healthy living environments for residents. The LEED Gold-certified project includes re-used existing buildings and materials, wood structure and finishes, energy recovery ventilation, efficient electric-driven heat-pump systems, and highly insulated envelopes (new and upgraded).

Frost Terrace is an innovative project that transforms a forgotten residential site along a commercial avenue into high-density, affordable urban housing. The design combines new construction with the creative reuse of existing historic resources – reminding us of the past while connecting to the present and future of Cambridge – and leverages the urban, transit-friendly site to create a place that favors people over parking.

According to the judges, “this project provides opportunities for affordable, intergenerational living in infill environments. The engagement with the community through design, and the community created by the development, are both exemplary.”

SITE & LANDSCAPE

Colby College Harold Alfond Athletics & Recreation Center
Submitted by Thornton Tomasetti

Colby College Harold Alfond Athletics & Rec Center

As one of the leading sustainable institutions in the country—and one of seven to achieve carbon neutrality— Colby College considers sustainability to be a key factor of every building and site design for its campus. The new 350,000-square-foot Harold Alfond Athletics and Recreation Center (HAARC) is the most advanced and comprehensive NCAA D-III facility in the country, and it achieved LEED Platinum and SITES Gold certification. The facility includes an indoor track-and-field competition center, aquatic center, squash center, gymnasium, hockey arena, fitness center and studios, as well as training rooms and coaching suites. In addition, three new relocated fields are available for use by the community as well as the college.

Sustainable Building Features include:

Energy savings: 52.19% reduction with PV, 42.05% without PV.
19.84% of total energy costs offset through on-campus generated renewable energy.
100% of the total building energy consumption offset by RECs and carbon offsets
50% reduction in indoor potable water use
95.53% of construction waste diverted from the landfill.
Biophilic design strategies improve indoor space quality and connect people with the natural environment.
Whole Building LCA was performed to reduce embodied carbon in the project.
Envelope and monitoring-based commissioning was performed on the project
Advanced submetering to monitor usage water and energy usage over time and track on-going performance.

Timber from the existing athletic center was salvaged and repurposed to clad the support building adjacent to the fields and provide custom benches across the site, and all topsoil removed from the building site was saved, amended, and reused on-site to provide better drainage, plant growth and drought-resilience. Boulders were found during excavation and integrated into the site landscape and the central courtyard in the building.

The judges commented, “We celebrate this project for both its design aspirations as well as the reality of its implementation and operations. The site and landscape are a living organism and this project has the infrastructure to support an on-going, durable landscape.”

SUSTAINABLE BUILDING OPERATIONS

Circling Back After Getting the Plaque
Submitted by The Green Engineer, Inc.

The Green Engineer gathered operating performance metrics and conducted interviews with town staff for 21 public schools and libraries in Massachusetts that received LEED (15 total) or CHPS (6 total) certification. Energy use was the primary focus in this study of “high performing buildings” but other feedback was requested as well, such as on water use, occupant well-being, commissioning effectiveness, problems encountered, and lessons learned.

The actual site EUI, the total amount of energy consumed in one year, was calculated for each building and compared to the predicted EUI from energy models. We found that the total amount of energy consumed each year is typically higher than predicted by models. Energy models underpredict EUI by 15 kBtu/SF on average. Looking at schools only, we found that energy models underpredict EUI by 17 kBtu/SF.

The design water use estimates showed water use savings ranging from 26% to 38% for the 11 schools and libraries in our study with water data. However, when comparing actual use to design estimates, 6 out of 11 projects experienced more water use than predicted.

Many of the problems faced and lessons learned during the initial years of a school or library’s operation were shared by the Interviewees and summarized in the report. One common theme was that High Performing schools and libraries are complex buildings whose operators need to be properly trained and adequately supported to take full advantage of the efficiencies in their buildings’ design. Issues varied, however complicated air conditioning systems and schools occupied year-round were often noted as explanations of high energy use. Many of the insights and lessons learned after occupancy are best practices in the industry, however this pilot study highlights and documents some of the problems encountered by those who are charged with operating public schools or overseeing public libraries.

The judges said “building performance is the proof case for sustainability. This team demonstrated transparency, collaborative leadership, and accountability by circling back to past projects to measure and share ongoing performance data.”

SUSTAINABLE BUILDING RENOVATION

808 Memorial Drive
Submitted by Bruner/Cott Architects

The project at 808 Memorial Drive is an occupied renovation of two 1970s-era apartment buildings along the Charles River. 808-812 Memorial Drive houses 300 mixed-income apartments of varying sizes, approximately 38,000 square feet of commercial space, and five levels of parking. The project aims to improve residents’ comfort and security, while also strengthening their sense of community and identity. Exterior renovations include the installation of new, high-performance cladding and window systems that refresh the appearance of the building, support efficient mechanical system upgrades, and significantly reduce residents’ cost of living. The project also reworks the landscape and community courtyard space to improve lighting, circulation, and accessibility.

To avoid displacing families and individuals, the two buildings have remained fully occupied during construction and installation of their overcladding systems. This critical goal refined the approach to design, installation, and phasing for the 450,000 square feet of exterior surface. The team developed a panelized skin that could be assembled off site and lifted into place. Once installed, the existing windows are removed and sealed to the new windows as a last step of assembly.

Fair Housing Act guidelines and requirements for material specifications on projects that receive public funding presented an unprecedented challenge for the design team. Research and development in healthy material and product alternatives directly inform the interior design of 808 Memorial Drive, which is uniquely positioned to advocate for formal healthy building materials criteria on future publicly funded affordable housing projects.

According to the judges, “the project caught the jury’s eyes for its replicability, every city has brutalist apartment buildings that would benefit from a face lift. Renovating while the mixed income residents occupied the building took careful consideration to avoid disrupting occupants, and the resultant energy and water savings are compelling. This project gives us hope that refreshing existing buildings can breathe new life into our communities.”

SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION INNOVATION

Mass Timber for Mass Workers: The C. Gerald Lucey Building
Submitted by Jones Architecture, Inc.

Mass Timber for Mass Workers - Lucey Building

The C. Gerald Lucey Building for the Massachusetts’s Department of Unemployment Assistance (DUA) is a modestly sized building that takes on an outsize role, blazing an important new path to sustainability for the Commonwealth. Envisioned as prototype for the design of future State office buildings, it has set a new standard by being the most sustainable building in the State’s inventory. In addition to the high bar raised for sustainability, its forward-thinking design for the workplace provides a comfortable and flexible environment for its hard-working occupants. The building, its programs and the energy of its presence, are also helping to revitalize a struggling historic core and revive what was once a vibrant area of Brockton. As the first State project of this scale constructed with cross laminated timber (CLT) and glulam and a column structural system, the success of this building, and its ability to be replicated, establish a benchmark for the future.

Here is what the judges had to say: “Realizing mass timber is not easy on a budget! By utilizing an advanced bid package to work within the Massachusetts procurement requirements a thoughtfully integrated design and construction process resulted in holistic sustainability. The jury recognizes that the project will have a far reach as a visible ambassador for mass timber and more for its occupants.”

STUDENT PROJECT OF THE YEAR

Eco Homes Highland Park
Submitted by Northeastern University Solar Decathlon: Aasav Harania, Kamran Zahedi, Theodore Walinskas

Eco Homes Highland Park is a proposal for an affordable homeownership development as part of a recent RFP submission for Packages 3 & 5 of the Highland/Marcella E+ Sites released by The City of Boston’s Mayor’s Office of Housing. The proposal calls for 18 Units of housing, all Home Ownership & Income Restricted. The design is inspired by a triple decker and bow front, and looks to restore Highland Park’s Urban Landscape of the early 20th Century using this brownfield development.

The project structure creates a model that brings educational and environmental stewardship to the development process. In terms of technological innovation, using the power of home automation & passive house design strategies, the Project Team can successfully achieve ‘energy-positive’ even under high occupancy and dense living. This is supported by energy modeling early in the design process, as well as collaboration with Northeastern Labs & Faculty.

The engineering theory within the project is that many sustainable design techniques in housing have already been created, and the next step is to efficiently converge these designs into a development that can meet performance measures such as energy-positive, yet remaining affordable to local residents in historically disadvantaged communities, where sustainable housing may otherwise price them out.

The judges commented “the collaboration in this project brings the community together on a topic that concerns everyone around affordability and inclusion in new housing development. This project could serve as a model not only for cities that struggle with housing affordability and choice issues, but also for cities that deal with historic segregation. This model gives the community an opportunity to voice their opinions and co-create.”

PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD

10 Fan Pier / MassMutual
Submitted by Elkus Manfredi Architects

People's Choice - 10 Fan Pier / MassMutual

MassMutual at 10 Fan Pier Boulevard is an expansion of the company’s presence in Boston that honors their long history with a landmark destination and a contemporary, inspiring work environment. Applying the same empathy and respect for its employees that it does for its policyholders, MassMutual aspired to create a flexible, responsive workspace able to adapt to employee needs. Designed to house 1,200 staff members, the 17-story building offers ground-floor restaurant and retail, and an outdoor public plaza along the Harborwalk.

With a biophilic rounded exterior and tiered setbacks, the building establishes a uniquely elegant presence on Fan Pier—the distinctive exterior incorporates folded stainless steel panels in a pattern of contrasting angles, accentuating the building’s curvature as reflections shift throughout the day. Inspired by cresting waves, the curved, undulating façade has two large terraces carved out of the massing, allowing all employees access to the waterfront views.

While a glass curtain wall was desirable by the owner and tenant, they recognized the importance of energy efficiency and collaborated with the design team and energy modeler in a vigorous, iterative process to maximize the envelope performance and drive energy savings up, resulting in meeting the 2019 AIA 2030 carbon reduction target. Health and wellness was also a high priority for MassMutual. The office space features gender neutral restrooms, yoga rooms, an open communicating stair as well as consideration for indoor environmental quality which is maintained by monitoring CO2 levels, providing increased outside air rates for ventilation, selecting low-VOC materials, and incorporating biophilic elements. The building as a whole is similarly responsive–high-performance, low-emissivity glazing contributes to the highly efficient exterior envelope that, when coupled with high-performance mechanical systems, creates a building designed to LEED Platinum standards.

CHANGE AGENT OF THE YEAR

Katherine Walsh
Sustainability, Energy, and Environment Program Director for Boston Public Schools

Congratulations to Katherine Walsh, Sustainability, Energy, & Environment Program Director of Boston Public Schools for such important work supporting future generations.

Her nomination raved “Katherine’s innovation and leadership even extends beyond the walls of our buildings. She leveraged the pandemic to re-emphasize the timely importance of access to nature for all students, and the benefits of outdoor classrooms, particularly in urban school districts. This past year, she was able to hire the district’s first Outdoor Teaching and Learning Coordinator, who will work to design outdoor classrooms, accessible gardens, green stormwater infrastructure, and curriculum for our district.”

The judges were particularly impressed with such measurable outcomes, her deep commitment to equity and inclusion in all of her work, and the innovative, replicable, and collaborative approaches she takes, sharing her learnings beyond BPS to practitioners across the country.