Environmental group targets "Net Zero" for Cambridge buildings
Posted by Brock Parker
August 8, 2013
Environmental activists in Cambridge will hold a public meeting next week
about a proposal seeking to amend local zoning laws and cut back on greenhouse
gas emissions caused by large buildings.
Members of Green
Cambridge and the Cambridge Committee for Net Zero Buildings have filed a "net
zero" zoning amendment with the city that, if approved, would require
large-scale building projects create no net greenhouse gas emissions.
The zoning proposal, known as the “Connolly Petition” goes before Cambridge’s
Planning Board on Aug. 20, and seeks to address climate change by steering new
buildings away from using fossil fuels and toward renewable sources of
energy.
Green Cambridge will hold a meeting about the measure next Wednesday, Aug.
14, at 7 p.m. in Spaulding Hospital on Cambridge Street, and is inviting
developers and the public to attend.
While developers may have concerns about the cost of building a net zero
structure, Mike Connolly, the namesake of the petition who is working with Green
Cambridge and the committee on the proposal.said he believes it is economically
viable.
“We feel like Cambridge is in a wonderful position to innovate and be a
leader in this area,” said Connolly.
The zoning amendment would apply to large new construction or major
renovations to large buildings of 25,000 square feet or larger, Connolly
said.
The petition would encourage energy efficient buildings and the on-site
generation of energy, such as solar power and geothermal wells. All energy
consumed by the building beyond the renewable energy generated on site must be
from approved renewable energy sources, such as solar or wind-generated power,
or offset by verifiable renewable energy credits, according to the petition.
“The real key is going beyond efficiency and on-site generation and requiring
the use of renewable energy over the grid,” Connolly said.
The new Martin Luther King Jr. School and Putnam Avenue Upper School being
built by the city is already being designed to be a “net zero” facility.
Quinton Zondervan, who lives in Kendall Square and is the president of Green
Cambridge, said a central motivation with the zoning proposal is to start a
conversation about building emissions.
“We’re not trying to push something through that makes people feel bad, or
feel like we pulled a fast one on them,” Zondervan said. “We absolutely want
everyone in the conversation.”
Cambridge adopted a “Stretch Energy Code” in 2009 requiring higher standards
for energy efficiency in building projects, but Zondervan said even if every
building is more energy efficient they can still add to the greenhouse emissions
in the city.
“Energy efficiency is important, but it is not enough,” said Zondervan, who
drafted the zoning petition with Cambridge resident John Pitkin.
Connolly said Cambridge can take action and address climate change now and
does not have to wait for Washington DC to develop policies for more sustainable
buildings.
The zoning proposal filed with the city can be found on the Cambridge Community Development Department website.
http://www.boston.com/yourtown/news/cambridge/2013/08/environmental_group_targets_net_zero_for_cambridge_buildings.html
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