Massachusetts LEED Plus 2.0 Standard for New Construction

In April 2021, Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker signed Executive Order 594, titled “Leading By Example: Decarbonizing and Minimizing Environmental Impacts of State Government.” This order establishes numerous energy targets and mandates for all executive branch agencies and all public institutions of higher education. 

These include the following:

• Reduce overall site energy use intensity (EUI), defined as weather-normalized Btu per square foot, from a 2004 baseline at state owned buildings by 20% in 2025, and by 25% in 2030.
• Reduce state government unadjusted greenhouse gas emissions from buildings and vehicles from the 2004 baseline by 25% by 2025, 35% by 2030, by 60% by 2040, and by 95% by 2050.
• Increase the amount of zero emissions vehicles in the state fleet to 5% by 2025, 20% by 2030, 75% by 2040, and 100% by 2050.
• Increase the total number of electric vehicle charging stations on state properties to 350 in 2025 and 500 in 2030.
• Reduce non-vehicle, petroleum-based oil consumption used to satisfy thermal loads for building and non-building uses from a 2004 baseline at state-owned facilities by 90% in 2025 and by 95% in 2030.

Massachusetts LEED Plus 2.0 Standard for New Construction:

All new construction and renovations of buildings over 20,000 sq. ft. for use by state agencies or on state lands that have not yet initiated a study as of July 1, 2021, the Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance (DCAMM) and any other agency covered by this Order shall ensure that all projects adhere to the following standards:

• Certify buildings to the Silver Level or higher of the most recent version of the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Standard, buildings under 20,000 sq. ft. must meet this standard whenever possible.
• Reduce proposed building EUI by at least 20% lower than an equivalent building that meets the Massachusetts Energy Code.
• Use only efficient electric or renewable thermal technologies (LBE Guidelines, PG 5) for all space heating and cooling.
• Use only efficient electric or renewable thermal technologies (LBE Guidelines, PG 6) for service water heating to the greatest extent possible.
• Establish and design to an EUI target that meets or exceeds best-in-class EUI for newly constructed buildings by type and climate zone.
• Maximize installation of onsite renewable energy and, when not possible, ensure that the project is solar-ready.
• Ensure parking areas with 25 spaces  install at least one electric vehicle supply equipment and at least two EVSE charging ports in parking areas greater than 25 spaces, In parking areas with more than 10 spaces, at least 20% of the spaces must be “EV Ready” as defined by the latest edition of the Massachusetts Building Energy Code.