BOSTON — The City of Boston has extended the reporting deadline for large buildings subject to its Building Emissions Reduction and Disclosure Ordinance, giving property owners until August 15 to comply with annual energy and emissions requirements.
The extension, approved by the BERDO Review Board, provides an additional three months for building owners to report energy and water usage data. Properties subject to 2025 emissions standards will also have until the new deadline to complete third-party verification and demonstrate compliance.
The Building Emissions Reduction and Disclosure Ordinance, commonly known as BERDO, is a key component of the city’s climate strategy. It targets emissions from large buildings, which account for a significant share of Boston’s carbon footprint. According to city officials, just 5 percent of buildings produce roughly 40 percent of local emissions—more than all transportation sources combined in a given year.
To support compliance, the city’s Environment Department is rolling out a range of free technical assistance programs aimed at helping building owners reduce emissions and meet long-term decarbonization goals. These include one-on-one consultations, access to vetted engineering professionals, and guidance on energy efficiency upgrades and available incentives.
Among the offerings is the Building Decarbonization Advisor Program, which connects eligible property owners with experts to develop customized, long-term emissions reduction plans at no cost. Additional resources include free reporting and verification services for under-resourced owners, as well as technical consulting support for project planning, vendor selection, and design review.
City officials say the expanded support reflects the complexity of the transition to lower-carbon buildings and the need for flexible compliance pathways. New and existing hardship provisions allow owners facing financial or technical challenges to apply for alternative timelines, including a recently approved streamlined short-term hardship plan.
The deadline extension also aligns with a forthcoming public comment period on proposed updates to BERDO regulations, including expanded flexibility for purchasing renewable energy credits as part of compliance strategies.
“Reducing our large buildings’ carbon footprint is our single biggest emissions reduction tool in Boston,” said Oliver Sellers-Garcia. “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.”
Industry groups and sustainability advocates have also voiced support for the ordinance and its implementation. Leaders from organizations such as Green Ribbon Commission and A Better City noted that BERDO can help reduce operating costs while improving environmental outcomes.
Boston joins a growing number of U.S. cities—including New York, Washington, D.C., and Seattle—that have adopted building performance standards as part of broader climate initiatives. This year marks the first time Boston’s largest buildings are required to meet specific emissions limits under BERDO, a step toward the city’s goal of achieving net-zero emissions across covered properties by 2050.
