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Boston announces retrofit and energy-savings projects
Awardees of the Equitable Emissions Investment Fund are working to reduce air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions generated by large buildings in the city.
At a glance
Who: City of Boston.
What: Mayor of Boston Michelle Wu and the City’s Environment Department has announced the second round of awardees for the $750,000 Equitable Emissions Investment Fund (EEIF) to finance building retrofit and energy-savings projects for community organisations.
Why: To ensure that communities disproportionately affected by lower air quality and high energy costs have access to innovative energy efficiency solutions.
When: The next round of applications to receive funding through the Equitable Emissions Investment Fund is open until 1 June 2026.
Mayor of Boston Michelle Wu and the City’s Environment Department has announced the second round of awardees for the $750,000 Equitable Emissions Investment Fund (EEIF) to finance building retrofit and energy-savings projects for community organisations.
The City has also opened applications for the 2026 application cycle. The funds help ensure that communities disproportionately affected by lower air quality and high energy costs have access to innovative energy efficiency solutions.
Reducing air pollution and GHG emissions
The EEIF is an annual grant programme funding projects that reduce air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions generated by large buildings, with priority given to projects that benefit Boston’s low-income communities and communities of colour.
The fund was created under the Building Emissions Reduction and Disclosure Ordinance (Berdo) and initially seeded with $3.5m from the City. The EEIF will continue to be supported through Berdo fines and Alternative Compliance Payments.
“Investing in building efficiency and clean energy improvements helps residents save money and protects all of us from the impacts of climate change,” said mayor Michelle Wu. “These community-led solutions lower emissions, reduce costs, and ensure every neighbourhood can share in a more sustainable future.”
Following a review process, four projects were selected to receive funding in the last funding round:
- Allston Brighton Community Development Corporation ($250,000): grant money will support a deep energy retrofit at Hano Homes, an affordable housing complex, improving air quality and tenant comfort
- Boston Medical Centre ($227,000): award will support the expansion of solar panels used for BMC’s ‘Clean Power Prescription’ programme, which reduces electricity costs for low-income, chronically ill patients by transferring solar credits to their electricity accounts
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- Boys and Girls Club of Dorchester ($123,000): funds will support an HVAC renovation in the Colonel Daniel Marr Clubhouse to improve the facility’s air quality and energy efficiency
- Roxbury Tenants of Harvard ($150,000): award will support replacing old exhaust fans with an exhaust heat recovery and heat pump system at Mission Park, an affordable housing complex for elderly tenants, resulting in improved energy efficiency and reduced gas costs.
“These projects highlight the City’s dedication to innovative and inclusive climate solutions,” said Oliver Sellers-Garcia, environment commissioner and Green New Deal director. “The Equitable Emissions Investment Fund proves that climate action and quality of life go hand-in-hand, investing in projects that will deliver huge benefits to our communities.”
“Investing in building efficiency and clean energy improvements helps residents save money and protects all of us from the impacts of climate change”
Berdo is a local law that aims to reduce air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions from Boston’s largest buildings, which account for 40 per cent of the city’s carbon emissions.
Building owners subject to Berdo are required to report their buildings’ annual energy consumption and comply with building emissions standards. These emissions standards decrease over time, with all Berdo buildings expected to reach net-zero emissions by 2050. Property owners can choose to make Alternative Compliance Payments in years that upgrades are not feasible for their buildings, creating a funding stream for the EEIF.
All awardees were selected by the Berdo Review Board, a first-of-its kind, community-driven governing body that oversees the implementation of this law. This public board ensures that building decarbonisation benefits all communities in Boston, particularly low income communities and communities of colour. The Berdo Review Board is made up of nine members, six of which must be nominated by a qualified community-based organisation.
The next round of applications to receive funding through the Equitable Emissions Investment Fund is currently open until 1 June 2026.
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How does the Equitable Emissions Investment Fund select awardees?How can retrofit projects measurably reduce building greenhouse gas emissions?What mechanisms convert Berdo fines into sustained EEIF funding?How do heat pump and exhaust heat recovery systems improve efficiency?Which metrics evaluate air quality improvements from building HVAC retrofits?air qualityBostonclimate actionClimate change/ResilienceCommercial buildingsEnergy & EnvironmentMunicipal buildingsurban space
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