Building Carbon Emissions Reporting Deadline Extended, Free Technical Support Offered for Building Owners

BOSTON – April 15, 2026 – This week, the City of Boston announced that it is extending its energy reporting deadline for large buildings subject to the Building Emissions Reduction and Disclosure Ordinance (BERDO). The Environment Department is also offering free one-on-one technical support and flexibility measures to help owners reach their carbon neutrality goals and comply with the ordinance in a manner that best meets their individual situations. This deadline extension, as approved by the BERDO Review Board, gives building and property owners three additional months — until August 15 — to report their buildings’ annual building and water use to the City of Boston. Buildings subject to a 2025 emissions standard will have until August 15 to complete third-party verification and demonstrate compliance with the emissions standard. 

BERDO is a local law that aims to reduce air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions from Boston’s largest buildings. Just 5 percent of buildings in Boston account for 40 percent of the city’s carbon emissions, emitting more carbon than all the cars, trucks, and trains traveling in Boston in any one year. Building owners subject to BERDO are required to report their buildings’ annual energy and water consumption as well as comply with building emissions standards. These emissions standards decrease over time, with all BERDO buildings expected to reach net-zero emissions by 2050.

To support building owners in reaching their building decarbonization goals and comply with BERDO, the City of Boston is providing free, one-on-one technical assistance, including: 

• Building Decarbonization Advisor Program: The City is connecting eligible BERDO building owners with vetted building science professionals to develop long-term decarbonization plans. These plans are provided at no cost to the owner and outline steps to reduce building emissions and comply with BERDO emissions standards. In addition, the program has funds set aside from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to assist with deeper engineering studies and equipment purchasing. The deadline to apply for the next cohort of building owners is May 17, 2026. 
• One-on-One Virtual Building Decarbonization Consultations: Any building owner or property manager subject to BERDO can meet with City staff to understand how their building uses energy, as well as discuss BERDO compliance options, opportunities for building energy improvements, and incentives and rebates available through Mass Save.
• Free Technical Advice on Building Upgrades: Building owners who are ready to implement building upgrades may be eligible for free technical advice from the City’s vetted engineering consultant. This can include technical advice to support project planning, preparing contracting bids, comparing vendor quotes, or reviewing designs or schematics to spot potential challenges. Owners can schedule a virtual building decarbonization consultation to get started.
• Free Reporting and Verification Services: The City offers free reporting and third-party verification services to under-resourced building owners who face particular challenges in completing BERDO reporting and verification.
• Reporting and Compliance Help Desk: The City is available to answer questions by phone at 617-635-3850 x5 or by email at energyreporting@boston.gov. The BERDO Help Desk is open Monday through Friday during regular business hours. You can also schedule a virtual call to receive one-on-one support on a wide variety of BERDO-related topics.

The City also offers a number of flexibility options, including hardship compliance plans, for building owners and managers that are facing technical and financial hardships complying with BERDO emissions standards. The Review Board also recently approved a new Streamlined Short-Term Hardship Compliance Plan for under-resourced building owners who have buildings above their emission limit this year and need additional time to plan for emissions reductions. 

The reporting deadline was extended in anticipation of the Boston Air Pollution Control Commission opening a public comment period for a proposed revision to the BERDO regulations that will expand flexibility for building owners to purchase MA Class I Renewable Energy Certificates, a renewable energy purchasing option for BERDO compliance. As per City of Boston statute, emissions reporting deadlines must be extended after any modification of the BERDO regulations.

“Reducing our large buildings’ carbon footprint is our single biggest emissions reduction tool in Boston to protect our air quality and meet our climate action goals,” said Oliver Sellers-Garcia, Environment Commissioner and Green New Deal Director for the City of Boston. “We understand this is a large undertaking, and throughout this process, the City is committed to balancing building owners’ needs with our shared environmental and public health goals.”

“As many Green Ribbon Commission members have learned through completing their own projects, BERDO is both smart environmental policy and sound business practice,” said Lindsey Butler, Executive Director of the Green Ribbon Commission. “Fulfilling BERDO goals helps Boston building owners reduce energy, save money, and makes our community healthier by curbing emissions."

“A Better City has worked closely with the City of Boston over the past several years to help shape the scope and implementation of BERDO, providing the business community perspective,” said Yve Torrie, Director of Climate, Energy and Resilience at A Better City. “We appreciate the leadership and collaboration of the BERDO team and BERDO Review Board, especially their openness to address the challenges and opportunities that are arising for BERDO covered buildings.” 

Many cities in the US have also implemented building performance standards, including New York City, Washington DC, Denver, Seattle, and Cambridge. This is the first year that the largest building owners in Boston are required to comply with BERDO emissions standards. 

For more information on the ordinance, visit boston.gov/BERDO.