Cambridge Net Zero Action Plan

Client: City of Cambridge

Authors: Bryndis Woods and Liz Stanton, PhD

December 2021

Together with DNV GL and Sorensen Partners, AEC led the City of Cambridge's stakeholder engagement process to provide equity input on the City's 2021 update to its 2015 Net Zero Action Plan.

The Net Zero Task Force held five public, remote meetings between November 2020 and June 2021.
AEC provided equity guidance and input throughout the process as the Task Force worked to propose and evaluate adjustments to the Net Zero Action Plan.

• Meeting 1, November 2020: 
  AEC presented on its Climate and Social Equity Framework and baseline equity considerations for the City of Cambridge.

• Meeting 2, December 2020: 
  AEC provided guidance regarding the potential co-benefits of Net Zero Actions, including equity co-benefits.

• Meeting 3, January 2021: 
  AEC answered stakeholders’ questions regarding equity.

• Meeting 4, April 2021: 
  AEC presented on the equity implications of the proposed Net Zero Action Plan adjustments, including equitable action design and implementation.

• Meeting 5, May 2021: 
  AEC presented on the “equity rating” assigned to each proposed Net Zero Action—equity ratings indicate whether each Action, as it currently stands, is likely to have equity impacts that are positive, neutral, or need to be addressed with additional action (“flagged”).

In January 2022, the City of Cambridge received City Council approval on its final Net Zero Action Plan.

Link to Final Cambridge Net Zero Action Plan

Benefits of Net Zero Buildings for the Town of Bedford

Client:
Facilities Department of the Town of Bedford, MA

Authors:
Bryndis Woods, PhD and Joshua R. Castigliego

June 2021

On behalf of the Facilities Department of the Town of Bedford, Massachusetts, Senior Researcher Bryndis Woods, PhD and Researcher Joshua R. Castigliego prepared a report outlining the Town’s climate and energy goals and how investments in Net Zero and Net Zero Ready buildings can contribute to these goals and provide additional health, comfort, cost savings, resiliency, and safety benefits. Achieving the Town’s goal of net-zero energy use in all municipal buildings by 2030 will require investments in “Net Zero” buildings—which generate at least as much renewable energy in a year as they consume—and “Net Zero Ready” buildings—which reduce building energy and fossil fuel use to the point that any remaining emissions could be offset with purchases of carbon offset credits. In this report, AEC analyzes proposed Net Zero Ready investments in Bedford High School’s heating and cooling system. We find that Net Zero Ready investments are $2.9 million more expensive than a gas-fired alternative over 20 years; every “extra” thousand dollars invested in Net Zero Ready would provide the Town with a reduction benefit of 2 metric tons of carbon dioxide over the equipment lifetime. A Net Zero Ready Bedford High School would reduce average annual emissions from the High School by 64 percent and the Town’s municipal buildings by 21 percent.

Link to Report

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Benefits of Net Zero Buildings: Comfort, Safety, Value, Climate

Client: Massachusetts Climate Action Network (MCAN)

Authors: Bryndis Woods and Eliandro Tavares

January 2020

On behalf of the Massachusetts Climate Action Network (MCAN), AEC has prepared a policy brief that presents a summary of the benefits of Net Zero buildings, such as enhanced health and comfort, home durability and safety, better value, and positive climate effects. A Net Zero building produces at least as much renewable energy in a year as it consumes, and the technology is currently ready for implementation.

Link to Policy Brief

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