How district energy is helping commercial buildings meet Boston’s BERDO 2.0 requirements

Posted on March 14, 2024June 26, 2024 by Scott McBurney

Like many cities nationwide, Boston has set aggressive climate goals to curb the harmful effects of climate change. Boston aims to be carbon-neutral by 2050, meaning the City will only be able to release as much carbon as the environment can safely absorb.

But how does the City plan to make this happen?

In large part, carbon neutrality will come from decarbonizing the energy-intensive buildings that operate in Boston: commercial offices, hospitals, colleges and universities, and many others.

The Building Emissions Reductions and Disclosure Ordinance (BERDO), originally enacted in 2013, required large Boston buildings to report and disclose their emissions.

In 2021, however, the amended ordinance — BERDO 2.0 — was unanimously passed by the Boston City Council and signed into law, officially moving the ordinance beyond reporting and setting enforceable emissions standards for buildings. In 2023, BERDO 2.0 policies and procedures were finalized.

Crucially, the ordinance aims to eliminate the 70% of greenhouse gas emissions that commercial buildings contribute to the City of Boston.

What BERDO 2.0 means for Boston building owners and developers

The 2021 amendment to BERDO gives the City of Boston authority to set emissions standards for large existing buildings. The emissions thresholds will decrease to reach net zero by 2050.

BERDO 2.0 states enforceable minimum building emissions performance standards, measured in kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalent per square foot per year. These emissions standards differ by building use but will begin to apply in 2025 for already-covered buildings and in 2030 for newly-covered buildings. Based on 2022 emissions reporting, several hundred buildings in Boston are projected to exceed their emissions limit in 2025.

BERDO 2.0 also imposes changes in enforcement penalties. The amended ordinance introduced fines for failing to meet the performance standard and inaccurate reporting.

BERDO 2.0 does not just apply to commercial buildings, but also applies to the following:

Non-residential buildings that are 20,000 square feet or larger.
Residential buildings that have 15 or more units.
Any parcel with multiple buildings that sum to at least 20,000 square feet or 15 units.

In addition, the amended ordinance proposes potential ways buildings can achieve their required emissions reductions, including on-site energy efficiency or renewable energy measures, fuel switching, and clean electricity purchasing options like Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard (RPS) Class I eligible Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) generated by non-CO2e emitting sources, and Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) with non-CO2e emitting renewable sources.

To find out whether they are over the emissions limit and get an estimated emission reduction forecast, buildings can use the City of Boston’s BERDO emissions calculator.

How district energy meets BERDO 2.0 requirements

Our team of experts at Vicinity is prepared to help building owners and developers in Boston meet the aggressive emissions reduction requirements posed by BERDO 2.0 and avoid paying alternative compliance payments.

Our clean energy future plan outlines our roadmap to reaching net zero carbon emissions across all our operations by 2050 or sooner. Central to our decarbonization plan is the innovative eSteam™ product.

To generate eSteam™, Vicinity will import carbon-free electrons through co-located substations to power electric boilers, coupled with industrial-scale heat pumps and thermal batteries, to deliver electrified, carbon-free steam, known as eSteam™, for heating, cooling, sterilization, humidification, and other thermal energy needs.

Building upon success stories in European countries like Norway, Finland, and Sweden, Vicinity is electrifying our district energy systems. Our approach is based on our ability to:

Leverage established technologies such as industrial-scale electric boilers and heat pumps to convert electricity into steam;
Capitalize on the flexibility of our existing assets that connect to the electric transmission system today;
Take advantage of the future economics of renewable electricity to introduce green electrons to our fuel mix;
And utilize the agility of fuel-agnostic district energy to decarbonize, easily “flipping the switch” to greener fuels.

By electrifying our central facilities, all our customers can access carbon-free eSteam™ to meet building performance standards and avoid costly building modifications.

Our team is actively working towards our goal of net zero. In November 2022, we kicked off our electrification plans by deconstructing a steam turbine at our Kendall facility. We are installing an electric boiler in its place, which will enter service in 2024.

In April 2023, we took another crucial step in our clean energy future plans by announcing our partnership with MAN Energy Solutions to develop low-temperature source heat pump systems for steam generation. Currently, we are designing the heat pump complex, which will occupy a space of approximately 25,000 sq. ft. and will circulate through 24.5 million to 49 million gallons of water from the Charles River each day, returning the water to the river at a lower temperature and ensuring that the river and its ecosystems remain unharmed.

Meeting BERDO 2.0 requirements with eSteam™

eSteam™ is carbon-free and recognized in the BERDO 2.0 regulations. This thermal product offers a straightforward solution for commercial landlords and developers trying to meet the ordinance’s carbon-reduction goals.

Vicinity’s eSteam™ is recognized as emissions-free by BERDO 2.0 regulations, providing customers with a compliant and cost-effective solution.

The Vicinity team assists customers in Boston with BERDO 2.0 reporting energy usage through Energy Star Portfolio Manager, one of the three reporting requirements set by BERDO 2.0.

Our team sends energy usage data and an annual energy summary to customers every month, making their reporting process more efficient and accurate.

Carbon reduction acts in Boston and beyond

While Boston is undoubtedly leading the country by reimagining the energy industry, many other cities around the U.S. are planning to enact ordinances similar to BERDO 2.0.

The City of Baltimore, for example, is currently in the implementation stages of the Climate Solutions Now Act, or SB 528. The act proposes a greenhouse gas reduction goal of 60% by 2031, with net zero carbon emissions by 2045.

Vicinity’s district energy systems are uniquely poised to help building owners and developers in Boston, Cambridge, Baltimore, Philadelphia, and more to meet building performance standards today and in the future.

Market update: natural gas outlook winter 2024

Posted on January 24, 2024June 14, 2024 by Rohan Sinha

As we continue into the winter season, Vicinity’s team has been evaluating weather patterns and predictions for the natural gas market to prepare our customers for potential price fluctuations.

After peaking in December 2023, the El Niño pattern continues, and February 2024 weather forecasts indicate above-average temperatures in the Northeast and Midwest, induced cooling in the South, and higher precipitation in the Pacific, which experts predict may continue into the remainder of the winter season.

The natural gas markets have reset to similar levels as 2021, before the geopolitical events in 2022 drove prices above average.

By the numbers: what we know and what we can expect

Prior to January 2024’s well freeze-offs, the U.S. lower 48 saw strong natural gas production, primarily due to efficiencies in the Permian Basin of the U.S. that have provided ample supply to the market, mitigating demand risk. However, due to colder weather in the Permian basin in recent weeks, natural gas production has fallen.

Currently, natural gas storage levels are 4% above 2023 levels and 5% above the 5-year average. Europe’s storage facilities were 80% full through the first half of January 2024, slowing European demand for LNG and suppressing pricing.

Colder weather conditions in January 2024 have contributed to well freeze-offs in the Permian natural gas basin, impacting output and potentially providing more upside risk to pricing. However, the January 2024 futures contract settlement was less than levels at this time last year.

Key electrification progress

The adverse effects of natural gas far outweigh the benefits of continuing to invest in this unsustainable fuel source.

In 2023, the U.S. saw an estimated 1.9% decrease in carbon emissions, as measured in research done by the Rhodium Group. Throughout the year, emissions remained below pre-pandemic levels and dropped to 17.2% below 2005 levels.

While this decrease is substantial, an even greater emissions reduction is necessary to limit climate change. In 2023, Earth’s average land and ocean surface temperature was 2.12 degrees F above the 20th century, making it the highest global temperature among all years recorded since 1850, according to the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

The undeniable climate crisis drives Vicinity’s progress towards transitioning away from fossil fuels and eliminating carbon emissions from our operations. By electrifying our operations nationwide, we will be able to offer an affordable, carbon-free path for building owners to meet sustainability goals and join us in limiting climate change.

Our first electric boiler has been delivered to our Kendall facility in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and it will enter service in 2024, immediately allowing our customers to harness carbon-free energy and decarbonize their buildings.

The industrial-scale heat pump complex we are developing in partnership with MAN Energy Solutions is undergoing engineering and will enter service in 2026. These milestones demonstrate our commitment and progress towards a net zero carbon future.

How district energy meets the Federal Building Performance Standard

Posted on January 20, 2024June 26, 2024 by Matt O'Malley

The Biden Administration announced the first-ever Federal Building Performance Standard (BPS), which aims to cut energy use and electrify equipment and appliances in 30% of Federally owned building space by 2030.

This announcement paves the way for Federal buildings to adopt cleaner, more energy-efficient technologies. This transition to green energy is critical to achieving President Biden’s net-zero emissions goal across all Federal buildings by 2045.

Many states and cities around the U.S. are enacting similar fossil fuel bans for existing and new buildings. In Boston, for example, Mayor Michelle Wu recently announced that she intends to file legislation that allows for a ban on the use of fossil fuels for new developments and renovations in Boston.

In Maryland, the Climate Solutions Now Act of 2022 sets a statewide greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction goal of 60% by 2031 and net-zero by 2045. The legislation also includes building performance standards like reporting direct emissions from heating starting in 2025 and achieving a 20% reduction in direct emissions by 2030.

Philadelphia’s Climate Action Playbook outlines strategies to achieve a 50% reduction in emissions from the built environment by 2030. Kansas City outlined key goals for achieving carbon neutrality in municipal operations by 2030 and carbon neutrality citywide by 2040.

Biden’s aggressive Federal standard is poised to reduce emissions for a massive swath of U.S. buildings: the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) owns and leases more than 371 million square feet of space in 8,600 buildings in more than 2,200 communities.

So, what is the impact of this effort? The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that over the next 30 years, this new standard would reduce Federal building carbon emissions by 1.86 million metric tons and methane emissions by 22.8 thousand tons.

What does the new Building Performance Standard mean for Federal buildings?

The Federal BPS requires Federal buildings to phase out on-site fossil fuels for end-uses such as heating buildings or producing hot water.

Buildings must eliminate 30% of Scope 1 emissions, defined as “direct GHG emissions from sources that are owned or controlled by the Federal agency,” by 2030.

Scope 1 emissions are also defined as emissions primarily associated with the following:

Fuel combustion for owned or on-site generation of electricity, heat, cooling, or steam
Fuel combustion for agency-controlled mobile sources
Intentional or unintentional GHG releases, i.e., fugitive emissions
Manufacturing, industrial, and laboratory processes energy

According to the rule, approximately one-third of Federal building-related greenhouse gas emissions are Scope 1 emissions generated from on-site fossil fuel combustion, commonly powered by natural gas-fired equipment.

The rule also defines Scope 2 emissions as “Indirect GHG emissions resulting from the generation of electricity, heat, or steam purchased by a Federal agency.”

In short, Federal buildings currently using on-site natural gas boilers will be required to switch to an alternative option, like connecting to a utility-scale district energy system or installing their own electrification equipment, such as heat pumps.

How can federal buildings meet this 30% reduction requirement by 2030?

The primary pathway to achieve this goal is to electrify all appliances and equipment used for processes like space heating and domestic or service water heating. However, the rule also highlights another option, one that already exists and doesn’t require any upgrades or retrofits to buildings: connecting to district energy.

What does the Federal BPS mean for buildings connected to district energy systems?

The over 600 district systems operating throughout the U.S. power college campuses, commercial buildings, and cities using efficient, reliable, clean steam.

Biden’s standard makes an important distinction for buildings receiving electricity, hot or chilled water, or steam via district energy.

If the district system is agency-owned, the building must include the direct Scope 1 emissions from the district system in determining whether the agency can help the building meet the BPS goal.

However, utility-owned district systems, like Vicinity Energy’s, are categorized as indirect, Scope 2 emissions, and not part of the new Federal BPS.

Federal buildings currently connected to Vicinity’s systems can instantly meet the requirements set by the new standard, and buildings connected in the future can also meet these requirements while benefitting from the efficient, sustainable, and reliable service district energy provides.

Vicinity Energy’s systems will help buildings meet mandates like BERDO 2.0 in Boston, BEUDO in Cambridge, and now the new Federal BPS; however, our systems are moving beyond these requirements as we are taking steps to electrify our operations and decarbonize the cities we serve.

Our progressive climate action plan will allow us to reach net-zero carbon emissions ahead of our 2050 commitment by electrifying all of our central facilities and instantly decarbonizing the buildings we serve. With a combination of proven technologies such as water-source heat pumps, electric boilers, and molten salt thermal storage, we can offer our customers eSteam™, the nation’s first-ever carbon-free energy product powered by renewable energy sources like solar, wind, and hydro power.

In November of 2022, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, along with Vicinity’s customers and partners, celebrated a significant step forward in these plans to electrify with the deconstruction of a steam turbine at our Kendall Green Energy Facility in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

An electric boiler is taking its place and will enter service in 2024 to begin powering Boston and Cambridge-based buildings, like those owned by innovative customers such as IQHQ, with carbon-free eSteam™.

While we commemorated this exciting step in Boston and Cambridge, our other locations in Philadelphia, Baltimore, Kansas City, and more will undergo similar electrification processes in the coming years.

Preparing heating equipment for winter with preventive maintenance

Posted on November 1, 2023June 17, 2024 by Tricia Keegan

As the days grow shorter and temperatures drop, heating systems are finally turned on after a long period of disuse. This time of year signals the important task of evaluating a building’s energy system to ensure it is equipped to deliver heat efficiently and safely.

Building owners must establish a preventive maintenance program with their energy provider to maintain efficient energy delivery, avoid equipment failures, reduce energy costs, and ensure the long-term sustainability of a commercial property.

Why preventive maintenance is critical

The winter season is a key time to evaluate the equipment used in buildings connected to district energy systems. Taking preventive measures with a building’s heating equipment before the winter season and low temperatures begin in earnest can help to:

Improve equipment reliability and function
Reduce energy consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, and operational costs
Prevent unplanned costs, maintenance, and even system downtime
Enhance safety for employees and building occupants

How to prepare heating equipment for cold weather

Partnering with our customers, Vicinity’s team tailors our preventive maintenance approach to the unique needs of each building. Preventive maintenance activities can be done any time but are typically conducted in preparation for the winter and the summer to prepare for peak loads due to temperature changes.

Depending on the building’s system, our team can isolate a maintenance issue or conduct a small shutdown event to repair equipment. Ahead of low temperatures, buildings can also test their heating system during off hours or weekends to identify any problems with climate control or local area flow control.

However, several elements of district energy systems require inspection every year or more. Let’s dive into the most critical components buildings should focus on when preparing for the heating season.

Steam trap inspections

Steam traps collect condensate to prevent corrosion caused by built-up moisture and ensure that high-quality, dry steam flows through the steam system. Steam traps also block the escape of live steam, minimizing energy waste. Typically done between November and March, steam trap surveys help ensure the efficient delivery of district energy.

A Vicinity technician conducts the steam trap inspection using an ultrasonic digital detector. The process involves locating, identifying, tagging, and periodically testing the performance of the steam trap. If it is the first survey, the technician tags and catalogs each trap for future surveys.

Failed traps can allow large amounts of steam to pass through the equipment before giving up its thermal energy content. Failed traps can lead to water hammers, which damage the building’s system and produce undesirable noise.

Pressure Regulating Valves (PRVs)

Pressure regulating valves (PRVs) are designed to reduce incoming steam pressure to ensure safe steam distribution. While typically done in the summer, testing pressure regulating valves can be done at any time to prepare for the winter season.

Vicinity’s team will typically identify the PRV’s make, model, size, and serial number. They will then test the valve for leaks, clean orifices, test the gauging, and set it to the desired system pressure.

Testing PRVs is important because failed PRVs may cause system over-pressurization and relief valves to release steam into the atmosphere. The PRV can also improperly cycle open and closed, both oversupplying and then starving the downstream equipment of steam. The inspection will include inspecting the PRV operating mechanism (pneumatic, hydraulic, or motor operated).

Heat exchanger and water samples

A heat exchanger is a system that transfers heat between a source and a working fluid. District energy systems transfer heat from the hot water in the district heating system to the cold water in an individual building’s heating system.

To ensure that heat exchangers function properly, Vicinity’s team takes water samples from the heat exchanger and tests the water for conductivity. This test helps ensure that tube bundles are not leaking and that city water is not entering the system through such leaks.

Vicinity’s team also drains cooling tower heaters during cold weather. When temperatures are expected to be below 20 degrees F for an extended period, the cooling tower basin heaters are drained below the building roof level, the basin heater is turned off, and space heaters are turned on as applicable. Our team also works to adjust glycol or other antifreeze concentrations throughout the cooling system, as required.

Steam pipe

Before the winter season, it’s standard to visually inspect steam piping. Vicinity’s team typically checks for leaking joints, watermarks, insulation, and corrosion on the pipes.

This ensures safe, reliable steam delivery into the building and reduces the opportunity for steam to leak into the connected building.

Condensate return line

A visual inspection of the building’s condensate return line is done ahead of the winter season to check for leaks and corrosion. A condensate return system collects condensate from different points in the system and returns it to the boiler to save energy. This inspection involves checking the condensate pump seals for leaks and vent pipes for vapor emissions. Proper insulation and plugging penetrations is key to preventing freeze ups.

This inspection is done to avoid condensate water spills and ensure proper evacuation of condensate from system lines, allowing steam-operated equipment to function correctly. The test can also help identify any leaking steam traps in the system.

Mechanical room hot water loop

In the mechanical room of a building, Vicinity’s team inspects all piping, inlet/outlet temperatures, and pressures on heat exchangers and mechanical pumps.

This inspection confirms the adequate operation of key energy transfer equipment, such as heat exchangers, which supply building heat, hot water, and other process loads. The general condition and function testing of space heaters and heat tracing is important to note as well.

Winter preparedness checklist

Vicinity’s facilities take extensive measures to prepare for the winter weather before the month of November to make sure our teams are prepared for any extreme weather or cold-related emergency that comes up.

There are steps that every building should take, however, to ensure winter preparedness:

Designate a ‘weather watcher’ to monitor weather conditions.
Train your team on how to properly remove snow from roofs, roads, and equipment, staff according to needs.
Gather emergency supplies, including steam hoses for thawing frozen lines, portable heaters, antifreeze supplies for cooling systems, shovels, warm clothing and hand protection.
Keep all fire-protection-related equipment free of snow and ice for easy access.
Check wet and dry sprinkler systems and keep them clear of snow and ice.
Prepare snow removal equipment.
Make sure fixed and portable heaters are working and have appropriate fuel levels.
Ensure the building envelope is in good condition and close unnecessary openings like doors, windows, and piping penetrations.

Vicinity’s experts are here to help

Taking proactive steps to maintain your building’s energy systems can lead to significant benefits. From lower energy bills to a reduced carbon footprint, the effort invested in preparing your facility for winter pays off. Vicinity’s energy experts are here to help with all your energy needs. Give our energy experts a call to:

Work on repairs
Submit quotes before the coming heating season
Get help preparing your budgets for next year
Schedule a site visit to get preventive maintenance assessments from our team

Market update: natural gas outlook 2023

Posted on March 14, 2023June 14, 2024 by Rohan Sinha

Last year saw drastic changes in the natural gas market, from the ongoing war in Ukraine to record high energy prices to fluctuating natural gas inventories.

As we reported in our last natural gas outlook, the team at Vicinity is constantly monitoring the state of the fuel markets. United States natural gas spot prices saw lower prices throughout the country during the first two months of 2023, as mild weather patterns brought overall gas use to a five-year low of 110.65 Bcf/d for the two-month period.

U.S. temperatures averaged 42.8°F between January and February this winter, the third-highest average in the last 17 years. At the start of the winter season, the mild weather caused gas prices to reduce significantly, reaching pre-COVID-19 levels with the winter November 2023 through March 2024 time period now trading at an almost 38% decrease compared to highs seen for the corresponding months in 2022.

In this market update, we want to update you on what drove this price reduction, the state of global and domestic gas storage today, and predictions for the rest of the year.

By the numbers: what we know and what we can expect

The start of this winter was very mild: this year saw the seventh warmest January on record in North America, leading to lower-than-expected natural gas consumption. In January 2023, the Henry Hub spot price of natural gas averaged $3.27 per MMBtu, down $2/MMBtu from December 2022.

This shift led the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) to forecast a Henry Hub spot price of $3.00/MMBtu for 2023. As the EIA noted, the largest decline in consumption was related to residential and commercial demand. Natural gas prices remain volatile; extreme weather events and cold temperatures could still pressure prices through March 2023.

An additional factor that could influence natural gas demand in the U.S. is the Freeport LNG export facility coming back online. The 3-train LNG export plant resumed partial operations in February 2023 and received confirmation from regulators on March 8, 2023 that the site has been cleared to resume its full capacity of 2.2 billion cubic feet per day. This incremental LNG Export capacity will create additional demand for natural gas.

In June 2022, a fire at Freeport LNG’s natural gas plant in South Texas caused a full 8-month shutdown of the facility, leading to a decrease in U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) export capacity. During the shutdown, the U.S. reduced its LNG exports by 2.2 BCF/day.

After the partial restart of the plant, LNG demand grew as gas flows to all seven of the big U.S. LNG export plants rose to 13.5 bcf/d in March, up 5.5% from 12.8 bcf/d in February. The top destination for U.S. LNG cargoes are countries in Europe who have decreased delivered pipeline gas supply from Russia.

As a result of the milder weather patterns, steady production (97.5 BCF/d for the two-month period), and the Freeport LNG outage, gas storage inventories now stand at 2.1 TCF, which is a 22% surplus to the 5-year average for the same period. Even more notable is the surplus to year-ago storage levels which is now 32%.

Natural gas and climate change

This winter’s record-low and high temperatures and subsequent natural gas demand fluctuations have sparked conversations on the many impacts of climate change.

As the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) explains, global warming occurs when greenhouse gases like CO2 collect in the atmosphere and absorb sunlight and solar radiation that have bounced off the earth’s surface. These pollutants, which remain in the atmosphere for many years, trap the heat and cause the planet to get hotter in the long term.

In this way, global warming may contribute to more extreme winter weather. As water vapor is trapped in our atmosphere later and later in the year, the resulting precipitation leads to heavier snowfall when temperatures eventually drop.

We are already seeing the impact of global warming with warmer-than-normal winters and extreme heat in the summer months. In fact, since 1896, average winter temperatures across the continental U.S. have increased by nearly 3°F. Spring temperatures have increased by about 2°F, while summer and fall temperatures have increased by about 1.5°F.

How can Vicinity help?

The transition away from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources is leading the charge for the most energy-intensive industries around the world.

Heating, electricity, and energy transportation are consistently the single highest contributor to global carbon emissions. In 2020, it was reported that 76% of global carbon emissions came from the energy sector.

To reduce this staggering amount of carbon emissions, it is essential to transition to renewable energy sources and move away from fossil fuel use.

Here at Vicinity Energy, we are working with our customers, communities, and local government to decarbonize our operations across the country and do our part to reduce the impact of the energy sector on the earth’s warming atmosphere.

Vicinity is currently in the process of electrifying its operations to offer an affordable, carbon-free path for the commercial buildings we serve. Our first electric boiler will enter service in 2024, immediately allowing our customers to harness carbon-free energy and decarbonize their buildings.

Looking ahead

With the many fluctuations in the natural gas market that we’ve seen this year, it’s clear that the benefits of investing in renewables far outweigh those of continuing to utilize natural gas to power our communities.

Now is the time to fuel the transition to an entirely clean energy future and seize every opportunity to encourage the building of green infrastructure and invest in carbon-free energy sources.

White paper: Revolutionizing urban sustainability

Posted on December 16, 2022July 30, 2024 by Vicinity Energy

FREE DOWNLOAD

White paper: Revolutionizing urban sustainability

We’re amid an energy transformation driven by a mounting global crisis: climate change. Across the world, we are experiencing more extreme weather events due to accelerating levels of atmospheric greenhouse gas emissions. Mitigating carbon in the production and distribution of energy is now just as critically important as our society’s ever-growing need for energy itself. It’s clear that we need resilient, reliable and agile energy solutions…now.

District energy systems, like Vicinity’s, are uniquely positioned to take advantage of existing infrastructure in conjunction with critical technological advancements to cost-effectively decarbonize quickly. This white paper highlights the benefits of district energy in a decarbonizing world, specifically how electrifying district energy can help urban centers rapidly and affordably achieve city and state carbon reduction goals.

Learn more about how the electrification of district energy systems can help U.S. cities achieve building decarbonization.

Fill in the details below for immediate access to the white paper.

In this white paper, you'll learn:

Our plan

Details on Vicinity’s multi-pronged strategy and execution plan, including our specific electrification plans and how this strategy will be applied to Vicinity’s systems nationwide.

Leading examples

Examples from other European cities that are leading the way in district energy electrification and driving carbon emissions reductions.

How we can work together

Why public-private partnership is so critical to achieving expeditious and successful decarbonization outcomes.

Electrification progress in action

The electrification of our Kendall Square facility in Cambridge, Massachusetts is well underway, with the installation of our first 42MW electric boiler.

Our customers

We help organizations of all sizes—from hospitals to hotels to municipalities—use and manage energy more efficiently, sustainably, and strategically.

What BERDO 2.0 means for Boston building owners and developers

How district energy meets BERDO 2.0 requirements

Meeting BERDO 2.0 requirements with eSteam™

Carbon reduction acts in Boston and beyond

By the numbers: what we know and what we can expect

Key electrification progress

What does the new Building Performance Standard mean for Federal buildings?

How can federal buildings meet this 30% reduction requirement by 2030?

What does the Federal BPS mean for buildings connected to district energy systems?

Why preventive maintenance is critical

How to prepare heating equipment for cold weather

Steam trap inspections

Pressure Regulating Valves (PRVs)

Heat exchanger and water samples

Steam pipe

Condensate return line

Mechanical room hot water loop

Winter preparedness checklist

Vicinity’s experts are here to help

By the numbers: what we know and what we can expect

Natural gas and climate change

How can Vicinity help?

Looking ahead

FREE DOWNLOAD

White paper: Revolutionizing urban sustainability

Fill in the details below for immediate access to the white paper.

In this white paper, you'll learn:

Electrification progress in action

Our customers

Stay informed

Technologies

Products

Services