Get your information together
Building owners must file a report through the Environmental Protection Agency’s Portfolio Manager by May 15. The reports are for the previous calendar year. So, if you submit a report by May 15, 2019, the information will be about 2018.
You need to gather information on the all types of energy your building uses. This may include water, electricity, gas, oil, solar, and other sources. Eversource, National Grid, and Veolia make energy reporting easy. They'll give you a report so you don't have to collect data from individual tenants:
- Visit Eversource if they provide your utilities. You can login with your account information.
- To contact National Grid, email them at BERDOSupport@nationalgrid.com. Give them your account number, address, and contact info.
- To get information from Veolia, email them at us.energy.boston.berdo@veolia.com with your address and account info.
- You can get your water usage history from the Boston Sewer and Water Commission.
You can also enter your information if you have it. You’ll need to have copies of your utility bills for the previous calendar year.
Set up a portfolio manager account
Go to Environmental Protection Agency’s Portfolio Manager and set up an account. Once you've created an account, click on "add a property" to enter your building information:
- You'll need to enter the gross floor area. Include everything inside the building.
- You don't have to include parking lots and other outside areas. You'll have to make a note if you estimate anything.
You’ll need to enter the different types of energy use for your building, and a separate “meter” for each energy source. If you got data from Eversource, National Grid, or Veolia, you can upload this information right into the system. Otherwise, you'll have to type your numbers in.
Check to make sure your numbers are accurate. You can run a check under the “summary” tab. It will tell you if there are any gaps or other mistakes in your report.
Share your portfolio with the City
Before you make your portfolio public, go to the “property notes” tab. Make sure any important information about your building is there. You have to make a note if:
- you used default information for energy measurements
- you estimated the floor space or property use
- you typed in data instead of using the forms from your providers, or
- the report was done by a tenant who rents the building.
Make sure to add your Boston Assessing Parcel ID. This identification number is critical for how the City makes sure they're getting reports for the right building. We use it to track that you are compliant with BERDO. You can find your parcel ID through the Assessing Department's online search. Submissions that lack a parcel number will be asked to re-submit with it included.
Access the reporting template for this reporting year. You can import this template into the Portfolio Manager. The system will walk you through adding all your information.
When you’re done, click “send data.” You'll be asked to digitally sign the report. You'll receive a confirmation email once you send your report.
Get your updated information together
Building owners must file a report through the Environmental Protection Agency’s Portfolio Manager by May 15. The reports are for the previous calendar year. So, if you submit a report by May 15, 2019, the information will be about 2018.
If you filed a report with us last year, most of the hard work is already done. You need to gather information on the all types of energy your building uses. Eversource, National Grid, and Veolia make energy reporting easy. They'll give you a report so you don't have to collect data from individual tenants:
- Visit Eversource if they provide your utilities. You can login with your account information.
- To contact National Grid, email them at BERDOSupport@nationalgrid.com. Give them your account number, address, and contact info.
- To get information from Veolia, email them at us.energy.boston.berdo@veolia.com with your address and account info.
- You can get your water usage history from the Boston Sewer and Water Commission.
You can also type your information in if you have it. You’ll need to have copies of your utility bills for the previous calendar year.
Add your new info to portfolio manager
You'll need to add your energy usage data to the Portfolio Manager account you used last year. Login to your account and find your building.
Go to the “meters” tab. You can upload your information from the utility provider, or manually enter everything.
Add any important information in the “property notes” tab. You'll need to make a note if:
- you used default information for energy measurements
- you estimated the floor space or property use
- you typed in data instead of using the forms from your providers, or
- the report was done by a tenant who rents the building.
Check to make sure your numbers are accurate. You can run a check under the “summary” tab. It will tell you if there are any gaps or other mistakes in your report.
Share your report with the City
Access the reporting template for this reporting year. You can import this template into the Portfolio Manager. The system will walk you through adding all your information.
When you’re done, click “send data.” You'll be asked to digitally sign the report. You'll receive a confirmation email once you send your report.
We've created a list of all the properties that need to file a report. You'll need to send us a report if:
- you own a non-residential building that's more than 35,000 gross square feet
- you own a residential building that's 35,000 gross square feet or more
- you own a residential building that has 35 or more units, or
- you own land with multiple buildings totaling 100,000 gross square feet or more, or with 100 residential units or more.
Environment
- Email us at energyreporting@boston.gov.
- If you're having technical problems, email buildings@energystar.gov.
- Learn how to use the portfolio manager with these tutorials and training guides.
- View our how-to tutorial video and try reading our in-depth guide for filing your report.
- Learn more about the energy reporting ordinance passed in 2013.
- You can also view reports from previous years and learn about how our findings fit into the Renew Boston initiative.
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