The City of Cambridge, Mass., recently mandated that all non-residential buildings—including existing structures—larger than 100,000 sf meet a net-zero emissions requirement by 2035.
In a news release, Cambridge says it is “the first known city in the country” to enact a 2035 deadline for net zero. Mid-size buildings, defined as 100,000 sf or smaller, will have to reach net zero by 2050.
Buildings covered under the new law can continue to burn fossil fuels on site if owners purchase verified carbon credits, but only until 2050, and only to offset limited amounts of emissions. Building owners must eventually use renewable energy, either by investing in solar panels or purchasing a contract for renewable energy.
Cambridge has 314 buildings facing the 2035 net-zero deadline. “The City is committed to supporting Cambridge property owners with robust technical assistance and connections to incentives and moving forward together with this challenging yet absolutely critical work,” the news release says.
Cambridge will use a separate process to develop regulations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in residential buildings.
Related Stories
Concrete | Jun 13, 2016
American Concrete Institute releases new Guide to Shotcrete
Includes information on application procedures, testing.
Healthcare Facilities | Jun 10, 2016
Top 10 health technology hazards include some influenced by space design
ECRI Institute’s annual list includes operational and workflow issues.
Codes and Standards | Jun 9, 2016
Supreme Court ruling could aid developers on properties containing wetlands
Unanimous decision allows landowners to take regulatory decisions straight to court.
Green | Jun 8, 2016
TD Bank Group's renovated Toronto office is first WELL-Certified project under WELL v1
The newly renovated 25,000-sf space achieved gold-level status.
Concrete | Jun 7, 2016
Concrete Institute publishes document providing concrete curing guidance
New curing monitoring techniques included.
Energy | Jun 7, 2016
Energy modeling payback typically as short as one to two months
Energy modeling is a ‘no-brainer—like checking MPG on a car’
Green | Jun 2, 2016
USGBC offers new LEED pilot credit: Building Material Human Hazard and Exposure Assessment
For assessing human health-related exposure scenarios for construction products.
Resiliency | Jun 1, 2016
Federal agencies boost standards for more resilient construction
HUD, FEMA, GSA, Army Corps of Engineers make policy changes.
Green | May 31, 2016
Miami Beach requires developers to meet green standards or pay a fee
Applies to structures larger than 7,000 sf.
Codes and Standards | May 27, 2016
Better enforcement needed for successful implementation of energy efficiency policies
Commercial buildings the focus of recent code initiatives.
