The latest BE+ roundtable on Wednesday, June 5th, brought together industry experts and city officials to discuss the Building Emissions Reduction and Disclosure Ordinance (BERDO) and its Flexibility Measures, aiming to help building owners comply with emission standards through various methods. The session was kicked off by Meredith Elbaum, who welcomed attendees and set the stage for an engaging discussion.
Ilene Mason, the founder and CEO of Rethinking Power Management (RPM) introduced the roundtable, emphasizing its purpose and significance. Special guests from the City of Boston, Diana Vasquez and Dima Moujahed, were present to provide insights and answer questions. Ryan Pagois facilitated the session, guiding attendees through the Miro Board to ensure an interactive and collaborative experience.
Main Themes Discussed
BERDO Compliance
The central theme of the discussion was the obligations under BERDO. Building owners are required to adhere to emission standards, achievable through three primary methods: reducing energy usage by implementing energy-efficient measures, obtaining renewable energy from sustainable sources, and investing in community decarbonization projects.
BERDO Review Board
An independent review board plays a crucial role in BERDO’s framework. This board is responsible for reviewing applications, enforcing compliance, and recommending updates to the ordinance. Its function is to ensure that BERDO’s goals are met effectively and equitably.
Flexibility Measures Explained
The roundtable delved into the flexibility measures available under BERDO, providing building owners with four major pathways to compliance:
• Blended Emission Standards: This measure applies to buildings with multiple use types, offering a flexible approach without the need for a formal application.
• Building Portfolios: Owners with multiple buildings can opt to comply by aggregating emissions across their properties. This pathway requires an application and offers significant flexibility.
• Individual Compliance Standards (ICS): Based on historical data, ICS allows for a customized emission reduction schedule. This approach requires a formal application and focuses on absolute emissions rather than per square foot standards.
• Hardship Compliance Plans (HCP): For buildings facing significant challenges, HCPs offer the most relief. These plans can be short-term (1-3 years) or long-term (5+ years) and require a detailed application and presentation at a public hearing.
Key Questions and Answers
During the Q&A session, several pertinent questions from attendees were addressed. One question concerned whether the energy utility’s whole building energy use reporting includes tenants who opted into Boston’s Community Choice program. The response confirmed that this data is included in emissions calculations at the building level.
Another inquiry was about the linear reduction approach for individual Compliance standards (ICS), clarifying that the reduction follows a five-year increment, similar to default emission reductions. There was also a question about the applicability of portfolio compliance to lab and office projects, confirming that portfolio compliance can be applied if specific requirements are met. Finally, a question about the Environmental Justice (EJ) maps and their layers was answered, explaining the parameters of these maps and their role in improving air quality compliance.
By actively participating in this roundtable, attendees gained a deeper understanding of BERDO compliance measures and how to effectively implement them to meet emission standards. This meeting highlighted the collaborative efforts required to achieve city-wide decarbonization goals
Note: Save the date for our next session on Wednesday, August 7th at 3 pm. Register here.
Be mindful of the upcoming BERDO Flexibility application deadlines: July 1 for Long-term Hardship, September 1 for Building Portfolios and Individual Compliance Schedules, and October 1 for Short-term Hardship.
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