What the Law Says: BUILDING EMISSIONS REDUCTION AND DISCLOSURE
Boston enacted the Building Energy Reporting and Disclosure Ordinance (BERDO). Boston’s updated Building Emissions Reduction and Disclosure Ordinance (BERDO) sets requirements for large buildings to reduce their energy use. The goal is to reduce their emissions gradually to net zero by Boston Building Energy Benchmarking 2050.
This ordinance required the buildings of Boston to report their annual energy and water consumption to Boston to make publicly available. Every five years, buildings need to complete an energy assessment or energy action. Exceptions to this rule include buildings that are already “efficient” or are making significant progress on becoming “efficient”. The 2021 amendment to BERDO gives the City authority to set emissions standards for large existing buildings. The emissions standards will decrease over time, with all buildings achieving net zero emissions by 2050.
Who is Required to Comply
Buildings between 20,000 and 35,000 square feet or residential buildings with 15 to 35 units will need to begin reporting their energy use in 2022.
BERDO applies to the following buildings:
- Non-residential buildings that are 20,000 square feet or larger.
- Residential buildings that have 15 or more units.
- Any parcel with multiple buildings that sum to at least 20,000 square feet or 15 units.
Deadlines
REPORTING DEADLINES
June 15, 2022 – Deadline for reporting and verification without extension.
December 15, 2022 – Deadline for reporting and verification with extension.
In 2022, all building owners are entitled to apply for a one-time, six-month extension. Extension requests must be made through the BERDO Reporting Form.
HOW TO REPORT
There are three main parts to reporting in 2022:
Energy Star Portfolio Manager: Energy Star Portfolio Manager is used for reporting key building characteristics and energy and water usage.
BERDO Reporting Form: A new requirement in 2022, this form captures data required for Boston Building Energy Benchmarking that isn’t included in Energy Star Portfolio Manager.
Third-Party Data Verification: A new requirement in 2022, third-party verification of buildings must be completed by a qualified energy professional.
What are the fines Like?
Fines: $3,000.00 / Year