Beyond Buildings: LEED ND presented by USGBC MA

By Robert Weiss, Neighborhood Development Working Group

Since its inception, LEED ND has been guiding many communities toward sustainability. The upcoming May presentation BeyondBuildings: LEED ND will showcase the importance of LEED for Neighborhood Development as both a certification and a tool for guiding sustainable community developments.
 
 
We will hear from some of the original USGBC 2008 pilot projects in Massachusetts about their progress toward attaining LEED ND certification now that they are six years into their development. We will also hear from new projects, including neighborhood developments that are pursuing LEED ND certification or have taken the elements of the program to guide them toward sustainability. A discussion of how LEED ND can be used by communities as a development guide will complete the agenda.
 
The Box District
Located as an infill project and surrounded by compact neighborhoods, Chelsea’s Box District is walkable to civic, commercial, recreation, parks and transit amenities. It has created affordable and market rate rental and condominium units, retail and new green spaces. Working with The Neighborhood Developers of Chelsea was a partnership from the private, non-profit, municipal and state sectors illustrating the cooperation required to create new living spaces for a mix of incomes.
 
Old Colony Housing

 

By Robert Weiss, Neighborhood Development Working Group

This major renovation of a traditional South Boston public housing project replaced outmoded housing with townhouses and four-story elevator buildings. New streets were created to make the grounds more walkable and integrate the housing with the surrounding neighborhood. Families can stay in their own neighborhood with its schools and access to public transportation. The project meets criteria for Enterprise Green Communities, LEED Building and Neighborhood Certifications, and Energy Star Homes certification. The units will be smoke-free.

 
Old Colony Housing Development in South Boston

 

Jackson Square
Jackson Square is located in the Roxbury and Jamaica Plain neighborhoods of Boston. The project is led by Jamaica Plain NDC and Urban Edge (non-profit developers); the Jackson Square Partners, which includes private corporations, non-profits, municipal and state public agencies. Two key components of the project’s green strategy are on-site generation of renewable and low-carbon energy from sources such as solar, wind, biofuel co-generation, geothermal and green roofs on each building. The 11.2 acre transit-oriented project includes 438 units of housing, 60,000 sq. ft. of commercial, 30,000 sq. ft. retail with recreational uses as well. It is a mixed-income development built on previously developed land. Because it is an infill project within a compact area, the new mixed-use development connects with its surroundings and enhances an even larger area.
 
 
The Village at Taylor Pond
Located in a suburban situation, this green living development is a great example of neighborhood development’s residential/jobs connectivity. Its site plan shows loads of green space that is simultaneously a human amenity and an environmental feature. There are connected paths of wooded walkways, a large space reserved for dog park, a rain garden and wetlands. Its 60,000 sq. ft. of office space and 27,000 sq. ft. of retail is an opportunity to walk to work and to commercial life. These amenities help eliminate use of cars for commuting and convenience.  Sited on an infill area that was previously developed, Criterion Development Partners designed the project to encourage a healthy lifestyle.
 
 
Talbot Norfolk Triangle
Located near Dorchester’s Codman Square, the Talbot Norfolk Triangle area has been the focus through years of environmental, economic and residential development led by Codman Square Neighborhood Development Corp. and TNT Neighbors United. Codman is using LEED ND as a reference to drive quality of life improvements for residents. It is an Eco-District and is an illustration of input from the public as well as non-profit sectors. The neighborhood’s activism has resulted in the area being transit-oriented today and a leader in urban environmental stewardship.
 
 
Talbot-Norfolk Triangle in Dorchester, Boston
 
LEED ND is a valuable tool for sustainable development in our communities. When you attend Beyond Buildings: LEED ND, you will hear first-hand from the people who make these projects work and their analysis of their successes and shortcomings. GBCI, 3.5 CE hours, LEED ND specific are approved and AICP CM hours are pending. The presentation is from 8:00AM-12:00 P.M. on May 20 at the Atlantic Wharf Community Room, 290 Congress Street in Boston. For more information, learn about our sponsors and registration see: http://www.usgbcma.org/civicrm/event/info?reset=1&id=572.
 
 

The inside scoop about the Green Building Awards

By Grey Lee

Want to know more about the many entries in our Green Building Awards contest? Want to see more from the many excellent sponsors? You can read through the 20-page printed program of the Earth Day Gala using this link. It's like “Sports Illustrated” for green buildings…seriously!

Thank you to the New England Real Estate Journal for publishing this great summary of the event and highlighting all the contestants for the Green Building Awards!

Here is my intro article about the awards, with an added paragraph about the event in general:

US Green Building Council Massachusetts Chapter Celebrates Building Performance and Green Innovation with 7th Annual Green Building Awards

In honor of Earth Dayeach year, the USGBC MA Chapter community gathers to recognize superior achievement in the green building industry. We have two awards: the Green Building of the Year and the Green Innovation Award. The Chapter seeks to recognize and encourage higher-level performance in buildings. Thank you for your interest and your work for green buildings!

High-performance buildings are all around us because we see them every day. However, they don't always get the attention they deserve considering the effort that has gone into their creation and into their ongoing management. Our awards program is designed to highlight these achievements and provide recognition to the parties responsible for the green buildings in our communities which are making the world a better place.

The Green Building of the Year is a competition among buildings that are saving energy, conserving water, and improving the user experience. Achievement on these metrics also results in a building that costs less to operate and is more beneficial to occupants than conventional structures. By comparing buildings against each others' measured performance, we help push the entire industry towards improved performance and value.

Similarly, the Green Innovation Award acknowledges that significant creativity and expertise can go into a component of a building project, which can set the stage for future superlative performance.

Green buildings are a significant part of the Massachusetts “innovation economy.” Our members are working with new technologies, new design, construction and facility management techniques to configure buildings in better ways with improved results for all.

This year's entries include a wide variety of buildings designed, built and operated by Chapter members and sponsors. The industry of green buildings brings together teams from a wide variety of disciplines.

Our entries for Green Building of the Year include major downtown office towers, residential facilities and academic centers. Each has demonstrated incredible attention to detail on the part of the facility managers.

In Massachusetts, we have a tremendous amount of talent in the building industry as well as many individuals and firms committed to sustainability. Working on thousands of projects here and beyond, our community of green building professionals is pushing the envelope on achievement in the built environment.

Our Green Innovation Award helps to recognize and reinforce this collective effort. This year we highlight innovations in rainwater management and building project re-use. These are just a sampling of the way Massachusetts is a leading innovator in the green building and real estate arena.

The community that coalesces around the USGBC is expert, exacting and passionate. We share a common engagement on green building projects and a common vision of the future. Our mission is to promote the design, construction, and operation of sustainable buildings and communities in Massachusetts through education, mutual support, and advocacy; this helps with enabling an environmentally and socially responsible, healthy and prosperous environment that improves the quality of life.

As an organization, we welcome anyone interested in sharing this mission to join us and participate in our many programs and activities. We support professional development and general green building education.  Our organization advocates for state & local regulations and legislation which will support our green building industry.  At the end of the day, we convene the community to facilitate relationships and connections that can help solve the challenges we face in the building industry.

Thank you for being a part of our work, participating in our mission, and coming together for the Earth Day Gala to celebrate the best work of our peers through the Green Building Awards!

We held a great Earth Day Gala at the LEED Gold Federal Reserve Bank of Boston. Congratulations to the winners of the Green Building Awards!  Green Building of the Year: One Beacon Street by CBRE-NE. Green Innovation: Waltham Watch Factory rainwater management by Richard Burck Associates. Thank you to all the entries and to all who attended. It was a fabulous gathering of our community!

See you at an upcoming event soon!

EARTH DAY GALA

By Grey Lee

On Tuesday April 22nd, the USGBC MA hosted the 2014 Earth Day Gala & Green Building Awards at the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston. Thank you again to Paul Gusmini of the Fed for contributing the venue. It was a great night had by all!
 

 
 

Congratulations to the winners of the Green Building Awards:
 

  • Green Building of the Year: One Beacon Street by CBRE-NE 
  • Green Innovation: Waltham Watch Factory rainwater management by Richard Burck Associates 
 
 
The team at CBRE-NE won Green Building of the Year (affectionately known as GBOTY) for their project at One Beacon Street in Boston. The judges thought this was a great example of something we should see more of. They thought it was commendable to set out to do LEED for Existing Buildings on a 1970s building and achieve LEED Platinum. They were impressed with the LEED recertification in 2013.

 

 
 

Philip Laird of ARC / Architectural Resources Cambridge was on hand to receive their Special Recognition for the Colby College Cogeneration Plant project – which they originally entered as a GBOTY project, but was really impressive as a Green Innovation. The judges were very impressed with the project’s innovative use of biomass as an efficient fuel source. Colby College is the fourth college nationwide to achieve carbon neutrality and the biomass plant is helping to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 70%. Nice!
 

 

Here's presenter Tracey Beckstrom with Green Innovation Special Recognition award winners from BH+A Ben Wilson and Adrienne Cali for their entry Factory 63 in Boston. The judges were very impressed with the level of energy performance in an historic building. They appreciated the densities the project achieved and how the smaller-sized “Innovation units”, which traded personal space for shared occupant spaces, helped to control energy use.  
 

Tim Mackey from Richard Burck Associates picked up the award for Green Innovation. The project was to manage rainwater at the Waltham Watch Factory. They have taken something as prosaic as roof drainage and reintegrated it into the site in a manner that is absolutely prevalent.  It is a perfect combination of innovation and experience.
 

 
 
Congratulations again to all the winners and to the many good folks who entered their projects into the 2014 Green Building Awards Contest — nice work!  Thank you for your work to advance the mission of green buildings for all within a generation. 
 
The evening was a great gathering of green building professionals and their guests, who no doubt are at least green building aficionados. We had a great cocktail reception on the roof deck of the Federal Reserve and then went in for dinner and speeches. We had posters of the many entries to the Green Building Awards in a gallery sponsored by RS Means / Reed Construction Data. 
 
 
The weather was just perfect – 68F and a light breeze. It was just fun to be up on that roof deck with the great views of the Fort Point Channel.
 
 
A lot of wonderful people came out – many familiar faces and it was great to reconnect with so many.  On the right, we have Mark Stafford representing the event's Platinum Sponsor, National Grid.
 

 
Thank you to John Picard (not pictured) for taking all these photos of the friendly attendees!
 
 
 

 

Then, inside, we had a great dinner.
 

 

No one minds a major-funder group selfie, right?
 

 
 
But let's recall why we were here for a moment – the Green Building Awards. Really good stuff all around!

 

 

 Nice work, Gold Event Sponsors, AHA Consulting Engineers!
 

 

And at the end of the evening, there were still a few Chapter stalwarts hanging out – just couldn't say goodnight. Thanks for always being ready to support this community. You guys rock!
The Late Show with John, Mark, Phoebe, Caitriona, Jim, Emily, Jenn and Suzanne!

 

Special Thanks to the many Event Sponsors of the 2014 USGBC MA Earth Day Gala: National Grid, Boston Properties, AHA Consulting Engineers, NStar, Structure Tone, SMMA, Columbia Construction, A Better City, DTZ, Chapman Construction, Robinson & Cole, Suffolk Construction, Entegra, WB Engineers, IRONWOOD Design, The Green Engineer, RS Means, as well as media sponsor NEREJ and venue sponsor The Federal Reserve Bank of Boston
  

2014 Massachusetts Sustainable Campuses Conference

By Steve Muzzy

by Steve Muzzy

 

 

The 3rd Annual Massachusetts Sustainable Campuses Conference was held April 17th, 2014 at UMass Lowell. Individuals representing all facets and sectors of the State came together to hear the best practices for creating sustainable communities. Most of the presentations focused on how higher education institutions are leading these efforts. I attended “Campus Sustainability Plan Updates” and heard from Bentley University, Framingham State University, and UMASS Lowell. All three institutions have signed the American College & University Presidents' Climate Commitment (ACUPCC) – a pledge made by the university President that commits the institution to eliminating its operational GHG emissions, supporting the educational research, and community engagement efforts that support the goal; thus, contributing to the ongoing annual public reports of progress. Bentley has set a climate neutrality date of 2030Framingham State is aiming for 2060, and UMASS Lowell has set a date of 2050. Framingham State and UMASS Lowell are state-owned buildings.  Through Executive Order 484, they are required to reduce GHG emissions by 25% by 2012, 40% by 2020 and 80% by 2050. The ACUPCC and EO 484 also recommend and require institutions to utilize green building certification. EO 484 requires institutions to build and renovate to a LEED Plus green building standard. All campuses in Massachusetts are well supported in these efforts as the State has implemented terrific programs to advance energy efficiency, increase renewable energy production, and support the development of sustainable communities

 

 

Advocacy Committee Reborn

By Grey Lee

On Monday April 14th, the USGBC MA Chapter convened a reinvigorated Advocacy Committee. Ben Myers of Boston Properties hosted the small but dedicated group, which included a couple of dial-in conferees.

You are welcome to join us in this effort towards green building and sustainability advocacy!

This committee now consists of Norm Lamonde of Turner Construction, Mihir Parikh of A Better City, John Dimodica of Noresco, and Ben Myers. Grey Lee is an ex-oficio member.

The Chapter is already engaged on a number of important advocacy campaigns, including:
 

  • Updating the MA Building Code – Stretch Code
  • Building Energy Reporting & Disclosure Ordinance – BERDO in Boston
  • LEED for Schools
  • LEED for Federal, State and Municipal portfolios
  • Greening the Multiple Listing Service(s)
Most of these campaigns align with what USGBC is working on at the national level. However, Massachusetts has the privilege of a very sympathetic political arena. We must make advances on our advocacy efforts while the climate is still receptive – as we know, anything could happen with any election. We certainly hope not to find ourselves in a situation like Mississippi, Ohio or even Maine – where state politicians are openly opposed to green buildings. Some have outlawed the use of LEED, for instance, like the case with Maine for their state-owned buildings.
 
We also are forming campaigns around:
  • Property-Assessed Clean Energy + Resiliency (PACE+R)
  • Climate Action Plan Update for Boston
  • Net Zero Task Force in Cambridge
You can find information about these campaigns (some yet forthcoming) at our Advocacy webpage.
 
The group explored how we have selected and to what level can we endorse a campaign. Norm Lamonde has held the torch and provided structure to our efforts by creating an advocacy issue template. We discussed how advocacy and education overlap considerably and looked at how to coordinate our calls to action – some more acute around legislation, some more about sharing knowledge. We are also establishing a system so multiple issues could be introduced, be graded in importance, and added to our mix of active, passive, and related advocacy issues.

 
Please contact us if you would be willing to help out with our Advocacy efforts – info@usgbcma.org
 
Thank you!
Grey
 
PS: Also, our meeting gave us a chance to experience the Boston Properties Headquarters in the Prudential Tower.
 
 
Far in the distance, one can actually see the airport past the seaport…not quite in this picture, sorry to say.
 
But here you can make out Spectacle Island with its signature “pile of Big Dig dirt” at its northern tip (on the left in the picture).
 
 
One of the great things about Boston Properties (a Gold Chapter Sponsor) is their total commitment to excellence in real estate development. This means active participation in the LEED system and nothing says “We're in” like a pile of LEED plaques awaiting installation in someone's office. Nice work Boston Properties!
 
Here's a sneak peek at a big upcoming project for Boston Properties.  Yes, that is North Station people! Get ready for awesome LEED certified high-rises!
 
 
Thank you Ben Myers for hosting the Advocacy Committee meeting at Boston Properties. We have a lot of work to do, but with committed and dedicated folks on the team, we will continue to make more green buildings in Massachusetts!

Green Building Awards are here!

By Grey Lee

With a little over two weeks until the Earth Day Gala, we are well on our way to a successful Green Building Awards contest for 2014. We do hope to see you there!

Brian Swett, Chief of Energy & Environment for the City of Boston, will offer a few remarks on how Boston and Massachusetts demonstrate leadership for green innovation in our industry.

This is an opportunity for you to revel with your peers over a great meal and open bar at the roof deck of the Federal Reserve in downtown Boston. The LEED EBOM Gold Fed Building, that is!

Mark Richey Woodworking has just delivered the awards for this year and they are beautiful, as always:
 

Now the big question is: who will win? We have a lot of contenders from all around the state, representing many types of buildings and excellent innovations for our green building industry.

You can read more about the Green Building of the Year entries here. Recent past year winners are also listed on our website.

You can read more about the Earth Day Gala on April 22nd here. Tickets are available on that link to our flyer or directly at our event registration page here.
 

Foam-Free High Performance Building Enclosures

By Adam Prince

[Article and photos by Adam Prince]

On Tuesday April 1st, Oliver Klein from 475 Building High Performance Building Supply (http://www.foursevenfive.com) presented on Foam Free High Performance Building Enclosures. Approximately 25 architects, builders, product vendors, and other professionals attended the presentation that was co-hosted by the USGBC Cape & Islands Interest Group (http://www.usgbcma.org/capeandislands) and the BSA Cape & Islands Architects Network (http://www.architects.org/committees/cape-and-islands-network).

 
Oliver, an architect and Certified Passive House Consultant, noted that the requirements and characteristics for high performance enclosures are evolving, with greater emphasis on air tightness, active vapor control, resilience and sustainability. He put forward the argument that foam is a less effective approach than what can be achieved without it.  He discussed optimizing building enclosures using membranes, wraps, tapes in combination with off-the-shelf building materials such as cellulose to help provide airtightness, vapor control, ventilation, and strategies for super-insulation.
 
 
 
The crowd greatly appreciated the thoughtful presentation on efficient, resilient, comfortable and healthy buildings, while also benefiting from continuing education units (CEUs) for both the architects and builders. Shepley Wood Products (http://shepleywood.com) generously donated use of the presentation space. 475 Building High Performance Building Supply provided both content and food/drinks!
 
USGBC Cape & Islands Interest Group finished the evening by announcing that the event in May would be a tour of a brand new mixed use building in the process of LEED-NC certification, plus a short update presentation on the status of a previously toured house targeting LEED for Homes certification. More details on the May event to come!
 
 

The Massachusetts School Building Authority Requires Funded Projects to Register Under LEED for Schools v4

By Grey Lee

Last month, the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) Board of Directors approved an update to their Sustainable Building Design Guidelines that will require projects beginning June 5th, 2014 entering schematic design to register under LEED for Schools v4

 

You can read the full memorandum here – that outlines the MSBA's current practices, discussion, outcome, and recommendations. Massachusetts is fortunate to have a funding entity that requires all new school construction to select a green building certification and provides a financial incentive to exceed the required basic green building certification level. 

Stay tuned for more information on this update. We are working on programs to educate our network on the v4 LEED for Schools rating system and to highlight LEED for Schools projects across the State. 
 

The R3build Design Competition – from a Chapter Member's perspective

By Sebastian Downs, (EIT, LEED GA, Boston Green Schools Volunteer Management Coordinator)

My Experience with the R3build Design Competition
 
By Sebastian Downs, EIT, LEED GA, Boston Green Schools Volunteer Management Coordinator
 
The Competition
 

 
Last November, New York’s USGBC chapter Urban Green opened registration for their emerging professional design competition “R3build.” The design was for a new home on Breezy Point, NY, which was one of many communities devastated by Hurricane Sandy in 2012. The objective of this competition was to design a home with a focus on resiliency, energy, environment, and economy in order to create an affordable, scalable, modular home that could be quickly built in coastal communities impacted by natural disasters; this home would be resilient enough to withstand extreme weather events. The design also had to meet all local codes and LEED v4 for Homes Gold standard.
 
When I decided to sign-up, I figured it would be a fun way to engage with some of my far-flung friends in architecture and engineering programs, get some good hands-on experience in working with a cross disciplinary team on a design project, and a chance to flex my newly accredited Green Associate skills. It proved to be all of those things and more.
 

 

The Design
 
 
 
Coordinating primarily via Google Drive and Hangout, we ended up with a design that was truly a melding of many individuals’ inputs. Our final design was inspired by the dynamic, yet resistant nature of the sand dune, which is simultaneously shaped by the ocean, and protects itself as well as the surrounding area from storm damage.
 
 
 
 
We used shipping containers as a primary building element since they are water and wind proof, highly durable, modular, and relatively inexpensive for the size and durability they provide. The roof system mimicked sand dunes in shapes and was lofted above the structural elements, which would reduce wind speeds, increase solar exposure for panels, and provide some cover for the upper deck level. The interior had an open layout that could be rearranged to suit the needs of the occupants, including a mobile kitchen island to distinguish the kitchen from living space. Even the landscaping resembled dunes with bio-swales infiltrating stormwater on site. The building systems provided resiliency through redundancy, such as integrating both solar hot water and an electric heating element, so if one system broke there would be a back up. We anticipated the design achieving 71 points on the LEED v4 for Homes, including all the potential regional priority credits.
 
The Results
 
On March 12th, two of my teammates and I attended the Urban Green spring reception as one of five finalist teams in the emerging professional design competition (working from Boston, upstate New York, and Rome, not every team member could make it in to NYC on a Wednesday night). As it turns out, we were the only finalist team with no professional architects or engineers. Although we did not rank in the top three, the design was noted by the judges for being the only in the competition to use shipping container architecture and bio-mimicry.
 
The winning design, a self-titled “Bayside Bunker,” came from an architecture duo out of Queensland, Australia.
 
You can learn more about the competition, and the winning design at http://www.urbangreencouncil.org/UGCInteraction?key=VuPr1ULj4D3YuIxaVgYqfA_3D_3D
 
 
 

The Challenge for Sustainability: A Better City's Awards Winners

By Mihir Parikh, Sustainability Programs Coordinator at A Better City

Courtesy Mihir Parikh, Sustainability Programs Coordinator at A Better City

Prominent Boston Businesses Lead Charge on Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions 

Emissions reduced 18% since 2009; leaders celebrate at Annual Challenge for Sustainability Awards
 

Boston March 20th, 2014 – Over 100 of Boston’s largest buildings and employers came together at the New England Aquarium to honor and celebrate their accomplishments at A Better City’s 5th Challenge for Sustainability Awards. The Challenge for Sustainability works with Boston business leaders and properties to improve energy efficiency and overall sustainability, leading the efforts of the private sector towards the city’s goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions 25% by 2020. Since the program’s debut in 2009, participants have collectively reduced greenhouse gas emissions by a staggering 18% and implemented over 1,500 sustainability actions. 
 

The Challenge Awards recognize businesses who achieved significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and improvements in their overall sustainability. This year’s award for Greatest Energy Reduction went to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute’s Shields Warren building, which achieved a 20% drop in electricity use and saved nearly 200,000 kWh of electricity. 

The Most Improved Sustainability Score was awarded to Nixon Peabody LLP and John Hancock at 601 Congress Street, taking home the award for Highest Sustainability Score. 

The award for Largest Greenhouse Gas Reduction also went to John Hancock for their 197 Clarendon Street building, which has seen a 40% drop in greenhouse gases since then. “We are honored to receive these awards from ABC’s Challenge for Sustainability”, said Bruce Pearson, Managing Director of US Corporate Real Estate at John Hancock Financial Services.  “It is extremely gratifying that these awards recognize John Hancock's continuing commitment to finding ways to decrease energy and water consumption and increase sustainability initiatives.  Each year we evaluate how we can better operate and manage our buildings through energy conservation initiatives and improved business practices. From recycling and composting, to support of employee bicycling, to capital efficiency projects, John Hancock’s investments in these initiatives help the environment and make good business sense.” 
 

A much prized Peer Award, voted on by fellow program participants recognizing an individual for their outstanding contributions to the program, guidance, and leadership, was presented to Fred O’Grady, Chief Engineer at One Beacon Street (managed by CBRE). 

Additionally, 59 facilities representing over 25 million square feet of commercial real estate received certificates for achieving their sustainability goals and excellence in the following categories: People, Energy, Water, Waste, Purchasing, Cleaning & Toxins and Transportation. See a full recap of the winners and event here
 

In 2013, participants in the Challenge for Sustainability collectively reduced CO2 emissions by 2.2%, including a reduction of over 18 million kWh. These electricity reductions saved participants over $1.4 million in electricity costs. According to Mike Cantalupa, Senior Vice President of Development at Boston Properties and Chairman of A Better City, “The Challenge for Sustainability has proven its success amongst Boston’s commercial real estate sector. This effort is helping businesses reduce their energy costs while moving the City and State closer to achieving aggressive goals for sustaining our climate.” 
 

About the Challenge for Sustainability 

ABC’s Challenge for Sustainability is a voluntary program that engages buildings and businesses in Greater Boston with a holistic approach to implementing sustainability and energy efficiency programs. 

The Challenge for Sustainability provides participants with a concierge level of service that leads them through a complete benchmarking of their facility, the development of a comprehensive sustainability action plan, and offers them valuable technical assistance as well as peer-to-peer networking/sharing of best practices in an effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in order to create a more sustainable work site. 

The Challenge for Sustainability is designed to leverage the private sector’s ability to influence change and make Boston a leader in energy efficiency and sustainable business practices. The program challenges businesses, institutions, and building owners to meet a broad range of sustainability standards and practices within energy efficiency, water efficiency, transportation, waste reduction & management, cleaning & toxics, program implementation & policies, purchasing, and renewable energy in order to reduce environmental impacts as well as improve the economic competitiveness and preparedness of businesses throughout the region. 

About A Better City 

A Better City (ABC) is a Boston-based, non-profit organization that represents the business and institutional community on issues of transportation, land development, and the environment. ABC improves the economic competitiveness and quality of life in the Boston region by providing leadership on significant policies, projects, and initiatives related to the commercial real estate sector.