BOSTON — Achieving its state goal of 250 megawatts (MW) of solar energy four years early, Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick announced a new, more ambitious state goal of 1.6 gigawatts (GW) to be installed by 2020.
BOSTON — Boston commercial property owner Equity Office Properties announced that its building at 222 Berkeley was awarded LEED Gold certification for Existing Buildings by the U.S. Green Building Council.
The building, located in Boston’s Back Bay, contains 535,000 square feet of retail and office space. Tenants include Houghton Mifflin, Summit Partners, Liberty Mutual and Bank of New York Mellon.
Read More LUDLOW, Mass. — The Hampden County Sheriff’s Department completed major infrastructure improvements designed to increase energy and water efficiency, reduce operational costs and reduce the department’s environmental footprint.
WESTON, Mass. — The new 21,000-square-foot addition to the Cambridge School of Weston campus is designed to significantly reduce its impact on the environment through several water- and energy-saving features and sustainable elements.
The new Garthwaite Center for Science and Arts will provide educational program space for the boarding school’s 320 9th-12th graders and is expected to use 60 percent less water than conventionally designed school buildings and only 10 gallons of water a day.
BOSTON — A bill to give tax credits to public, private and commercial buildings that comply with energy-efficient standards is under consideration in the Massachusetts Legislature.
The legislation would require the state to adopt the International Energy Conservation Code for new construction and renovation projects. It sets heating standards and minimum energy provisions for residential and commercial buildings. Officials estimate that the standards would increase construction costs by 3 percent, but builders would see savings in energy costs and tax breaks.
BRIGHTON, Mass. — Officials are hoping a renovated office building that was converted to serve as the main component of the new home for the St. Patrick School will be awarded LEED silver certification.
In addition to the 36,000-square-foot former office building, the new $10 million campus for first through eighth graders includes a new 14,000-square-foot gymnasium and a 6,000-square-foot lab and studio.
Teachers at the school, which opened in September, will incorporate many of the building’s sustainable design components into course curriculum.
