Policy Memo: Bostons Green Buildings Standard (Article 37)

Boston’s Green Buildings Standard (Article 37)
Student’s Name
Course
Instructor
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MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor Walsh
FROM: Student’s Name
DATE: March 5, 2015
SUBJECT: Review of a sustainability policy in the Boston area under Article 37.
Overview and History of Article 37
After recognizing the need of addressing energy consumption in buildings as one of the major efforts of meeting the City’s climate and greenhouse goals, the then Mayor of Boston City Mayor Menino in 2003 convened the Green Building Task Force (GBTF) (Menino, 2007). The main task of the Task Force was to (explore the subject of green building and to recommend actions through which the City of Boston can most effectively foster an increase in green building and become a national leader in this field". In helping the City to achieve this goal, the members Task Force consisted of all the aspects of building industry such as experts form architecture, property management, real estate, community and economic development, public health, affordable housing, finance, and climate and energy law. The Task Force worked closely with advisors from The Green Roundtable and other relevant stakeholders of the City to guide them on the key issues and assist in the development and implementation of their recommendations.[Conway, J., Aikens, M., Carroon, J., Davis, M. R., Donahue, P. E., Fenton, W., Fichman, E., et al. Green Building Task Force Report Executive Summary. Boston. 2004. Retrieved from /Images_Documents/GBTF_Exec_Summary_tcm3- 16409.pdf]
After carrying out several meetings, the Task Force came up with several recommendations that were to help the City achieve its goals. Before the recommendations could be implemented they were reviewed and narrowed down to ten which were later proposed to change the Boston Zoning Code by Mayor Menino in a meeting that was held by Boston Redevelopment Authority (BRA) agency that is responsible for planning and development activities in the City (City of Boston, 2006). The Mayor proposed for the amendment of the Boston Zoning Code to include Article (Green Buildings). The Article was to require all approved projects under Article 80B (Large Project Review) be designed and built in a manner that will meet the United States Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (USGBC LEED) certification.
The amendments received large support from all the sectors of the economy including the Boston Society of Architects. The amendments were later voted by the Zoning Commission which is a subsidiary of BRA after holding two public hearings. These changes to the Zoning Code were major recommendations that were offered by the Task Force. It also recommended that the City to be more involved in state policies to realize its goals. Article 37 requires that new projects exceeding 50,000 square feet that has been approved for construction should earn 26 LEED-New Construction points. Also, the projects had to earn further four points that were to reflect city priorities in energy, transport, groundwater recharge, and historic preservation (Inside Green Business).
Boston City is using Article 37 to develop green affordable housing to all residents....