A nonprofit in Boston with 8 large buildings didn’t yet have a plan to comply with the city of Boston’s BERDO (net zero by 2050) requirements. Over the course of four months, we met with leadership and key stakeholders (facilities team, accounting, field leadership, board members and staff) to assess the organization’s priorities and find opportunities where investments in energy savings would pay off.

Result: Provided a clear business case for the payoff of solar implementation, calculations of future fines of noncompliance, assessment of how this work ties in with the organization’s existing mission, as well as the value of hedging against continued electrical and gas cost increases, while delivering a plan to fully get in compliance with BERDO and avoid penalties. Continuing work with them on implementation, with a planned solar project on one building and continued engagement on capital investment planning with their real estate portfolio.

Reviewed policies, work to date and gaps in the sustainability plan for a 1.2 million square foot corporate office on a large campus to build on their progress and provide input on prioritization of the next energy savings opportunities. This organization already had significant progress with their real estates portfolio and years of reporting under their belt.

Result - we performed a regulatory overview, a detailed analysis of opportunities to further improve scope 1 and 2 emissions, including payback period, and made some recommendations on the largest scope 3 items and were able to share it with the sustainability leadership team for them to consider as ongoing captial improvements are made

Researched state, regional and federal incentives as well as identified cultural and logistical barriers to energy savings plans. Calculations to determine viability and payoff of adding solar in the neighborhood were completed, where many of the units were still on oil heat. Solar payback periods were 6.6 years with incentives for year round residents and 10 years for seasonal.

Result - individual unit owners can determine for themselves whether to move forward. If all units were to implement, there would be a 87.7% reduction greenhouse gasses, an 88.4% reduction in ecosystem damages, and a 72.1% reduction in human health damages

Started this engagement with the director of a nonprofit organization who had already single-handedly created some substantive improvements in the organization’s sustainability efforts. Worked with her to do a regulatory and environmental assessment, stakeholder engagement, as well as to summarize energy use and solar potential on the site. Provided clear data and payoff on LED light replacements and solar payoff period and partnered with her to engage leadership and some formerly reluctant staff members to move the work forward.

Result: recommendations included a roadmap for organizational alignment and culture, energy recommendations with a strong ROI, resources for funding, and strategies for procurement and campter/staff engagement. We were able to present recommendations to the senior team who were receptive and engaged about moving forward.