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Renew Boston Trust Phase I

Renew Boston Trust is a self-financing model to make City buildings more energy efficient and cost effective

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Renew Boston Trust (RBT) Phase I created a new approach to finance investments in City buildings to cut greenhouse gas emissions and increase energy efficiency. The project first established a portfolio of City-owned buildings that were eligible for investments.

About

Through a contracted energy audit, the City chose 14 buildings from that portfolio for the first round of upgrades:

  • four libraries
  • two fire stations
  • three police facilities
  • one parks facility, and
  • four community centers.

The City installed Energy Conservation Measures (ECMs) in the selected buildings. This involved:

  • the installation of newer high efficiency equipment
  • upgrading current equipment, and
  • retro-commissioning.

This phase was guaranteed to produce $613,044 in savings the first year after it was completed. Every year since the phase was completed the City has achieved greater savings than anticipated. The annual savings ultimately pays for the cost of installation and implementation of the ECMs.

Interactive Map

Check out RBT's project locations and energy-saving measures

Launch map

Dollar Savings

Bar graph of guaranteed versus verified savings.
This chart shows the total guaranteed savings for the first year of Phase 1 by building. The facilities with the highest savings were the Boston Police Department (BPD) Headquarters and the Copley Branch of the Boston Public Library (BPL). View an accessible version of this chart.

Guaranteed vs verified savings Phase 1
The Energy Savings Performance Contractor (ESPC) is contractually obligated to deliver the guaranteed annual savings (blue bars). The ESPC reports the verified annual savings (red bars) once per year based on industry-standard measurement and verification strategies. If the verified energy savings is below the guaranteed savings for a given year, the ESPC is required to pay the City the difference. The guaranteed savings escalate from one year to the next based on anticipated inflation and increases in utility rates. View an accessible version of this chart.

Energy Savings

Energy savings Phase 1
Phase 1 projects generate 15,756 MMBtu per year of guaranteed energy savings. One MMBTu is equivalent to a million British thermal units. A Btu is the amount of energy necessary to increase the temperature of one pound of water one degree Fahrenheit at standard atmospheric pressure. The highest energy savings are achieved at the BPD Headquarters and the Copley Library. View an accessible version of this chart.

Pre vs post emissions Phase 1

Pre vs post energy usage Phase 1
These bar graphs depict the calculated and guaranteed energy use prior-to and post ECM installation. View an accessible version of these charts.

Emissions Savings

Building-equivalent emission savings for Phase 1




Phase 1 projects save approximately 1,300 MTCO2e per year. MTCO2e/yr signifies metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent released per year and is a unit that represents the global warming potential of all greenhouse gasses emitted by combustion in buildings. The unit is standardized to CO2: the most common greenhouse gas. The highest greenhouse gas emissions savings were achieved at BPD Headquarters and the Copley Library.

Pre vs Post Project Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Pre vs post emissions Phase 1 Figure 2
These bar graphs show the emissions prior-to and post- ECM installation. Post-project emissions are lower as a result of lower energy consumption in these facilities. View an accessible version of these charts.

Phase I Timeline

RBT Phase I Timeline

Timeline details

  • The City of Boston and Honeywell reached an agreement in April 2017 to perform an investment grade audit (IGAA) on nearly 266 facilities.  
  • The IGAA is the first step in developing a plan to reduce energy cost and emissions throughout City-owned facilities.

The Preliminary Audit Analysis (PAA) was the first task of the IGAA. The goal of the PAA was to:

  • provide a list of potential Energy Conservation Measures (ECM)
  • identify the most cost-effective ECMs for further analysis, and
  • present a preliminary estimate of typical simple payback ranges for the ECMs to the City for review and guidance. 

The PAA highlighted the opportunity to self-fund over $100 million in energy and infrastructure improvements that will reduce energy costs and carbon emissions.  Following the review of the PAA (on July 13, 2017), the City selected the first group of facilities to be evaluated as part of this Draft Technical Energy Audit Report (DTEAR).

The DTEAR recommended over 240 ECMs. These include comprehensive energy and infrastructure renewal solutions that drive both energy demand and supply savings in the 38 facilities included in this phase. 

Suggested ECMs featured energy and water cost savings solutions, including:

  • renewable energy solutions
  • lighting upgrades
  • building weatherization
  • water conservation, and
  • computer and plug load management.

Other evaluated measures included boiler and chiller upgrades, fresh air ventilation improvements, and smart controls. All of these measures are critical to providing healthy, safe, comfortable, and resilient building.

The Optimized IGA report further developed the cost and savings associated with the ECMs identified in the DTEAR.

Final IGA included guaranteed energy savings and guaranteed maximum pricing associated with the ECMs to be installed. 

The final IGA is the result of a collaborative effort between Honeywell and multiple City departments and representatives who contributed time and energy throughout the IGA development effort.

Building-Level Upgrades

Building Upgrades
  • Lighting and Lighting Controls Upgrades
  • Building Envelope Improvements
  • Window Replacement
  • Cap Abandoned Exhaust Openings and Ventilation Shafts
  • Install Pipe Installation
  • Steam Trap Retrofits
  • Install High Efficiency Motors and VFDs
  • Install High Efficiency Transformers
  • Water Conservation Upgrades
  • Retro-Commissioning
  • Computer Power Management
  • Plug Load Power Management
  • Lighting and Lighting Controls Upgrades
  • Water Conservation Upgrades
  • Lighting and Lighting Controls Upgrades
  • Water Conservation Upgrades
  • Lighting and Lighting Controls Upgrades
  • Water Conservation Upgrades
  • Lighting and Lighting Controls Upgrades
  • Water Conservation Upgrades
  • Lighting and Lighting Controls Upgrades
  • Building Envelope Upgrades
  • Water Conservation Upgrades
  • Boiler Replacements
  • Building Management System Upgrades
  • Lighting and Lighting Controls Upgrades
  • Building Envelope Improvements
  • Install Photovoltaic Systems
  • Install High Efficiency Transformers
  • Water Conservation Upgrades
  • Retro-Commissioning
  • Computer Power Management
  • Lighting and Lighting Controls Upgrades
  • Building Envelope Upgrades
  • Water Conservation Upgrades
  • Lighting and Lighting Controls Upgrades
  • Water Conservation Upgrades
  • Chiller Replacement
  • Building Management System Upgrades
  • AHU, RTU, Unit Ventilator, Fans Replacement
  • De-stratification Fans
  • Building Lighting and Lighting Controls Upgrades
  • Building Envelope Improvements
  • Install Pipe Installation
  • Steam Trap Retrofits
  • Install High Efficiency Motors and VFDs
  • Install Photovoltaic Systems
  • Water Conservation Upgrades
  • Plug Load Power Management
  • Lighting and Lighting Controls Upgrades
  • Water Conservation Upgrades
  • De-Stratification Fans
  • Lighting and Lighting Controls Upgrades
  • Building Envelope Improvements
  • Water Conservation Upgrades
  • De-Stratification Fans
  • Lighting and Lighting Controls Upgrades
  • Building Envelope Improvements
  • Install Photovoltaic Systems
  • Water Conservation Upgrades
  • Boiler Replacements
  • Domestic Hot Water System Upgrades
  • Chiller Replacement
  • Cooling Tower Replacement
  • Building Management System Upgrades
  • Building Lighting and Lighting Controls Upgrades
  • Building Envelope Improvements
  • Install High Efficiency Motors and VFDs
  • Water Conservation Upgrades

Glossary

Reference the Glossary page for detailed descriptions of the building-level upgrades:

Glossary of ECMs

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