Boston Zoning Commission Passes Zero Net Carbon Zoning
January 30, 2025
On January 29, the Boston Zoning Commission voted 8-3 to approve the Zero Net Carbon (ZNC) Zoning Initiative. Among other things, the ZNC will require the owners and operators of new buildings over a certain size to purchase green power at the time of occupancy. We appreciate the intent of this initiative, as well as our membership's deep engagement and valid concerns regarding feasibility. Moving forward, we will continue to work closely with our members and with City leadership to troubleshoot implementation challenges that may arise and to advocate for strategies to help mitigate cost concerns. Please see the additional information below and do not hesitate to reach out with questions.
What does this mean?
Beginning on July 1, 2025, most new buildings with 15 or more units or 20,000 square feet and additions of 50,000 square feet will be required to meet a Net Zero Carbon emissions standard. This standard requires net zero operational emissions upon a building’s opening, embodied carbon reporting, and a LEED certifiable requirement. Once constructed and in operation, compliance with net-zero emissions will be demonstrated through Building Emissions Reduction and Disclosure Ordinance (BERDO) compliance. Labs will be given until 2035 to comply, and hospitals and manufacturing will be given until 2045 to comply with Net Zero Carbon emissions.
How has A Better City represented member perspectives?
Over the past several months, A Better City has been working directly with the City of Boston’s climate leadership team to discuss member perspectives and concerns. On January 21, A Better City hosted a ninety-minute member focus group with Brian Swett, Chief Climate Officer; Oliver Sellers-Garcia, Green New Deal Director; and Travis Anderson, Senior Infrastructure and Energy Planner—you can review the presentation here and meeting recording here. During this and other meetings, key concerns were raised about the projected cost of complying, scope of the proposal, interface with the Opt-In Stretch Energy Code and BERDO, and projected emissions reduction impacts. For additional perspectives, see the Boston Business Journal's recent coverage here and here.
What are the next steps?
As outlined below, for covered buildings, renewable energy service must begin upon occupancy, followed by annual BERDO compliance:
- Submit Project Notification Form (PNF): From July 1, 2025, all PNFs must include energy modelling, the climate resilience checklist, the LEED checklist, and a preliminary embodied carbon analysis.
- Board Approval: A net zero carbon acknowledgement letter is required.
- Building Permit: An embodied carbon analysis for large projects is required, and updated energy model, climate resilience checklist, and LEED checklists will be required as needed.
- Completion of Construction: A final energy model, climate resilience checklist, and LEED checklist, is required. A BERDO ID number will be established.
- Certificate of Occupancy: Renewable energy service will begin.
- Reporting Net Zero Compliance via BERDO: Annual reporting and compliance is required through BERDO for the first full year of operations following a Certificate of Occupancy that includes 3rd party data verification.
- Annual BERDO Reporting and Compliance will follow.
Please reach out to Yve Torrie for more information or with any questions.
