Cambridge

The Building Energy Use Disclosure Ordinance (No. 1360) was enacted by the Cambridge City Council on July 28, 2014. The ordinance is a key step in efforts to reduce Cambridge's greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
Energy use in buildings accounts for about 80% of GHG emissions in Cambridge, with two-thirds of the total related to commercial, institutional, and large multifamily buildings. Efforts to improve the energy performance of the building stock is hampered by the invisible nature of energy use.
The ordinance is intended to address this problem by requiring owners of larger buildings to track and report annual energy use to the City and publicly disclose the data. Disclosure places the information in the marketplace, where various users such as potential property buyers, tenants, realtors, energy service providers, and others can use the data to help create value for higher energy performing properties. The data will also aid the City and others in planning for higher energy performance in the building stock.
The ordinance is a foundational strategy for various community sustainability initiatives including the Community Compact for a Sustainable Future, Kendall Square Ecodistrict, and efforts to move the community toward net zero emissions.
Building Types Affected | Size | Compliance Deadline |
---|---|---|
Public/Government | Greater Than or Equal To 10,000 Sq. Feet | 2014-12-31 |
Non-Residential | Greater Than or Equal To 50,000 Sq. Feet | 2015-05-01 |
Non-Residential | Greater Than or Equal To 25,000 Sq. Feet | 2016-05-01 |
Multi-Family | Greater Than or Equal To 50 Dwellings | 2015-05-01 |