A Climate of Progress
Given the inextricable ties between energy conservation, transportation, energy generation, waste management, greenhouse gas emissions, and climate adaptation, Boston has ongoing initiatives in all of these areas for its own municipal operations and its residents, businesses, and institutions. “A Climate of Progress” is Boston’s comprehensive plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 25% by the year 2020. Its major components include:
- Specific measures and policies to reduce community greenhouse gas emissions from all sources 25% by 2020 and 80% by 2050
- Steps for integrating expected climate changes into all planning and project review processes
- A framework for engaging all segments of the community in sustainability action and leadership
- Guidelines to ensure that Boston’s innovative businesses and workforce can take advantage of sustainability opportunities
Green Buildings
The City of Boston was the first in the nation to adopt a Green Building Zoning, which places Boston as one of the top cities in the nation with green buildings. Boston implemented a new “Stretch” Energy Code that requires new residential and commercial buildings to achieve approximately 20% better energy efficiency than the state’s base energy code.
Renew Boston
The Renew Boston energy efficiency program was launched in 2010 seeking to catalyze clean energy solutions across all sectors of Boston innovative network of energy efficiency and alternative energy service providers is helping Boston save energy and money for residents and businesses while creating jobs.
Since January 2011, Renew Boston:
- Conducted over 7,000 comprehensive energy assessments and over 1,500 insulation improvements in Boston homes, saving residents over $2 million a year in energy costs
- Completed 700 energy upgrades for small businesses, saving over $650,000 a year.
Innovation District
Mayor Menino established the Innovation District on the South Boston waterfront as geographical area for clean tech and biotech companies to grow their businesses in Boston. Since January 2010, 100 companies and 3,000 jobs have set up in Boston’s Innovation District, from startups like FastCAP Systems, Oasis Water, and Next Step Living to the headquarters if Vertex Pharmaceuticals.
Complete Streets
Boston Complete Streets launched in 2009 aims to put pedestrians, bicyclists, and transit users on equal footing with drivers, and promote a vision of streets that are safe, attractive, and conducive to healthy, active transportation. By ensuring that “the car is no longer the king in Boston,” the program has installed 50 miles of bicycle lanes, reduced storm water runoff through “green” infrasctructure, 15,000 smart LED streetlight fixtures and installe more than 40 electric vehicle charging stations
Hubway Bike Share
Boston launched the New Balance Hubway last summer, the new bicycling sharing to immediate success. In just four months the 61-station, 600-bike Hubway system recorded 140,000 trips. The New Balance Hubway is open for the season in 2012 and is expected to add more stations in Boston and expand into neighboring towns of Cambridge and Somerville.
Grow Boston Greener
The Grow Boston Greener program is underway with the goal of planting 100,000 new trees in Boston by 2020 . Over 4,000 new trees, public and private, have been planted in Boston in the past few years in partnership with corporate support and NGOs like the Boston Natural Areas Network..