Proven Practices
Building performance upgrades are happening across Massachusetts, scaling from quick mechanical system interventions to major renovations. This page will collect owner stories, project case studies, and industry best practices to help owners and operators to make informed decisions for their own buildings.
What is Building Decarbonization?
Building Decarbonization 101 | An introductory guide to understanding building decarbonization which also offers steps for owners to begin their own emissions reduction plans.
Building Performance Upgrades
Healthy, Low-Carbon Building Improvements | A City of Boston resource that provides an introductory summary of measures to improve building performance and lower carbon pollution in buildings.
More on High-Performance Buildings
High-Performance Building Procurement Toolkit | For Developers, Owners, and Municipalities to prepare to work with High-Performance Professionals and to set up their projects for success.
Learn from buildings with plans for Building Performance Upgrades
Through real world examples of diverse commercial buildings, learn how planned upgrades – energy efficiency & load reduction, electrification, and renewable energy– impact energy and utility savings, lifecycle costs, and building performance goals.
This growing collection of case studies is produced through the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center’s BETA: Project Planning program. The program pilots a decarbonization assessment process for commercial buildings and multifamily residential buildings with 15 or more units. The pilot provides no cost, in-depth building audits to support commercial building owners in creating an electrification and decarbonization plan.
Condo
Fulton Street | Built in 1850 – Boston
Education
The Thompson Elementary School | Built in 2013 – Arlington
Turner Falls Middles & High School | Built in 1970 – Montague
Healthcare
Waltham Healthcare Center | Built in 1992 & 1996 – Waltham
Lab / Tech / Science
670 Albany Street | Built in 2005 – Boston
Lodging / Hospitality
West Hall at Olin College | Built in 2000 – Needham
Envision Hotel | Built in 1979 – Mansfield
Manufacturing / Industrial
Hathaway Mills | Built in 1910 – New Bedford
Multifamily
Danesh Residences | Built in 1972 – Brookline
Mixed-use
The Stationary Factory | Built in 1889 – Dalton
450 Artisan Way | Built in 2014 – Somerville
Religious Worship
Temple Beth Avodah | Built in 1970 – Newton
High-Performance Building Technologies
The High Performance Technology Primers are a set of resources that introduce readers to solutions that can help save energy and improve comfort in their buildings. Each Tech Primer introduces a high performance technology and outlines steps for its implementation. A costs and benefits rating system helps readers choose the right technology for their building.
Lighting, Plug Loads, and Appliances
Induction Cooking| User-friendly cooktops and ranges that reduce emissions and improve air quality
LED Lighting Retrofits | Long lasting, highly efficient lighting upgrades that enhance building performance and occupant well-being.
Plug Loads and Tenant Energy Use Reduction | A guide to saving energy in tenant occupied spaces.
Heating, Cooling, and Ventilation
Mini-Split Systems | Highly efficient heat pumps for decentralized electric heating and cooling in multifamily buildings.
Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) Systems |Highly efficient heat pumps for centralized electric heating and cooling in multifamily buildings.
One-Pipe Steam Systems | Simple measures for one-pipe steam systems that enhance efficiency and comfort.
Two-Pipe Steam Systems | Simple measures for two-pipe steam systems that enhance efficiency and comfort.
Metro Steam Systems | Simple measures for metro steam systems that enhance efficiency and comfort.
Dedicated Outdoor Air Systems (DOAS) and Energy Recovery Ventilators (ERV) | Controlled ventilation for enhanced comfort and savings.
Hydronic Heating Upgrades | Highly efficient centralized heating upgrades that increase comfort and energy savings.
Chilled Water Plant Optimization | Highly efficient centralized cooling upgrades that increase energy efficiency and savings.
Packaged Terminal Heat Pumps (PTHPs) | Decentralized electric heating and cooling for multifamily buildings.
Enhanced Ventilation with Energy Recovery Ventilators (ERV) | Mechanical ventilation optimization for improved comfort and savings.
Building Envelope
Air Sealing for Room ACs | Low-cost measures to increase cooling efficiency and improve the building envelope.
Roof Insulation | High-performance roof insulation upgrades that improve the building envelope.
High Performance Windows | State-of-the-art windows significantly improve comfort, reduce operating costs, and save energy.
Wall Insulation | High performance insulation improves comfort and saves energy while reducing utility bills and long-term maintenance costs.
Domestic Hot Water
Air to Water Heat Pumps | Highly efficient domestic hot water production that reduces emissions and energy costs.
Point of Use Domestic Hot Water | Highly efficient on-demand domestic hot water that reduces emissions and maintenance costs.
Renewable Energy
Solar Photovoltaics and Batteries | Clean, renewable electricity generation and storage to dramatically reduce utility costs.
Additional Existing Building Case Studies
Various Building Types
Retrofit Playbook for Larger Buildings (New York) | A living library of case studies, technical resources, and best practices to support high quality, low carbon upgrades.
Case Studies on The Building Energy Hub (Illinois) | Features building upgrade case studies from different building types from all over Illinois.
Case Studies on the Building Innovation Hub (DC) | Features building upgrade case studies from different building types in DC.
Mass Save Energy Efficiency Case Studies | A collection of various buildings that received Mass Save incentives to finance energy efficiency upgrades.
Boston BERDO Fest Spotlights:
Renewable Energy: Consortium for Climate Solutions (Harvard, MGB, MIT, PowerOptions)
Weatherization: Distillery North
Innovative Approaches to Building Decarbonization: Trinity Church
Climate Justice: Hano Homes (Allston Brighton CDC)
Deep Energy Retrofit: Eva White Apartments (Winn)
Boston Project Development Case Studies:
Hano Homes (Allston Brighton CDC)
Multifamily & Affordable
LISC’s Decarbonization Hub | Explore deep energy retrofit case studies, funding opportunities, and a vendor list to support the decarbonization of affordable multi-family buildings.
BE-Ex High Rise / Low Carbon Multifamily – Deep Retrofit Profiles | A collection of deep retrofit profiles of fourteen tall residential buildings to demonstrate how existing high-rise multifamily buildings can achieve low carbon emission targets.
Carroll Tower Pilot Project (Rhode Island) | Example of window heat pump technology in low-income housing, as part of the Clean Heat Rhode Island Program. Administered by Abode Energy Management.
Co-ops & Condos
Cutting Carbon in Co-ops & Condos | This case study document is part of a series of resources created by BE-Ex for the Cutting Carbon in Co-ops & Condos Strategic Planning Workbook. Check out their project page for additional guidance and support.
Office
BE-Ex High Rise / Low Carbon Office – Deep Retrofit Profiles | A collection of deep retrofit profiles of eighteen projects that undertook a deep retrofit that resulted in often dramatic energy reduction.
Religious Worship
Wellesley Village Church’s Geothermal Transition: A GreenerU White Paper | Example of a geothermal HVAC system as a cost-effective approach to meet emissions goals in a church.
The Building Peformance Exchange is funded by MassCEC
The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center accelerates building decarbonization with proven electrification technologies, financing solutions, and workforce programs that deliver immediate economic and environmental benefits to every Massachusetts community.
PE | Associate, LeMessurier
Vice President, AEW’s Architecture & Engineering group
Interior Designer, Jacobs, Boston
Senior Vice President, Market Transformation and Development U.S. Green Building Council
AIA LEED AP BD+C | Senior Associate, Gensler Boston 
LEED Fellow, WELL AP | Founder and Principal, Ecoworks Studio
LEED AP BD+C | Environmental Sustainability Manager, Armstrong World Industries
Sustainability Director, Steven Winter Associates
Assistant Professor of Exposure Science | Director of the Healthy Buildings program
Managing Director, Harvard University Office for Sustainability
Principal & Director of Certifications and Consulting, Epsten Group, Inc.
Vice President of Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility, Jamestown
Founder and Principal, Linnean Solutions | LEED AP, O+M; EcoDistrict AP
Associate Principal, BuroHappold Engineering
Senior Vice President, Sustainability at Kilroy Realty Corporation
Co-Founder, Facilitator at The Laurentia Project | LEED AP BD+C, LFA
Founder and President, Board of the Healthy Building Network
Building Technology Director, Kingspan North America
LEED® AP ID+C, BD+C, USGBC Faculty, WELL® AP, WELL Faculty and Fitwel Ambassador
Workplace Strategy Expert and Researcher, EYP
Principal, Integrated Ecostrategy
Senior Vice President, International WELL Building Institute
AIA, LEED AP BD+C, WELL AP
Principal, Bruner/Cott
Architect, Associate, and Sustainability Design Leader, Stantec Architecture and Engineering
FAIA, LEED Fellow, Long Green Specs
Products & Materials Specialist, BuildingGreen
Director of Acquisitions and Development
Director of Restorative Enterprise, Interface
Vice President of Sustainable Development, Shaw
Sustainability Manager, Consigli Construction Company
Global Head of Sustainability, Superior Essex