Building Energy Reporting and Disclosure Ordinance
The ordinance requires Boston’s large- and medium-sized buildings to report their annual energy and water use. It further requires buildings to complete a major energy savings action or energy assessment every five years.
Buildings account for over seventy percent of greenhouse gas emissions in Boston. The Building Energy Reporting and Disclosure Ordinance (BERDO) makes building owners, tenants, and other stakeholders more aware of their energy usage and greenhouse gas emissions and opportunities to reduce both. It also requires the City to make this data public. Buildings covered must also show concerted efforts to reduce their emissions every five years through energy actions or audits. This helps Bostonians save money and the City achieve its emissions reduction goals, as laid out in its Climate Action Plan.
- Reporting deadline for owners: May 15
- Disclosure deadline for the City of Boston: October 1
Do you have any questions, concerns, or need any other help with your BERDO submission?
You can reach us at 617-635-3850 Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
In 2018, BERDO requires the following portfolios to report their annual energy and water usage for January 1, 2017 - December 31, 2017:
- Nonresidential buildings that are 35,000 square feet or larger.
- Residential buildings that are 35,000 square feet or larger, or have 35 or more units.
- Any parcel with multiple buildings that sum to 100,000 square feet or 100 units.
The Ordinance also requires these buildings to complete an energy action or an energy assessment every five years beginning in 2019.
BERDO helps property owners understand how their buildings' energy performance compares to that of similar buildings nationally. They also learn, after public disclosure, how they compare to other Boston buildings.
After five years of being covered by BERDO, buildings must:
- perform major energy saving actions, or
- complete an energy assessment.
This rule encourages buildings to improve their energy performance and reduce their emissions. If buildings have not reduced emissions by 15% or more, they can perform an energy assessment. Assessments offer recommendations on how to improve a building’s energy performance.
Buildings must complete an energy assessment or action within five years after their first year of being covered by BERDO. But, some buildings may receive an an exemption.
For example:Buildings with their first year of reporting to BERDO in 2014 need to report by May 15, 2019. This includes:
- all non-residential buildings that are 50,000 square feet or larger, and
- any set of non-residential buildings on one tax lot that total 100,000 square feet or greater.
Please review this list to confirm your due date for the Energy Action and Assessment requirement.
submit your required materials:
The 158-unit residential building reduced its energy costs 45% through heating equipment replacements and new advanced controls.
The former manufacturing turned commercial building improved the indoor comfort for its tenants while drastically lowering their energy bills.
Upgrades to the Landmark Center's energy management system, installation of LEDs, and new variable frequency drives have helped to lower energy usage.
