BEUDO Regulations Updates

Upcoming: Building Resource Hub

The Building Performance Exchange is an upcoming state-funded resource led by Built Environment Plus, in partnership with and funded by MassCEC. This will be a centralized resource for people and organizations statewide seeking to reduce emissions and improve energy efficiency in larger existing buildings.

Help inform the educational offerings of the Massachusetts Building Performance Exchange by sharing your knowledge, gaps, challenges, and successes in an industry survey.

Focus groups are being held over the next three weeks, and are an exciting opportunity to ensure your voice is heard as this important resource is developed. Featured stakeholder groups include small portfolio owners, energy consultants, utilities, designers, non-profits, institutions, and contractors.

BEUDO Policy and Regulatory Updates

Phase 2 Regulations Published

The Building Energy Use Disclosure Ordinance (BEUDO) Amendments set steps and deadlines for large non-residential properties to reach Net Zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. The largest of these buildings are expected to reach zero by 2035.

The City is in the process of creating regulations in multiple phases, which will further explain how to comply with BEUDO.

The first phase of regulations contained information on how building owners will calculate their carbon emissions and the ways in which owners may purchase renewable energy - these were published in December 2024.

Phase 2 of the Regulations focused on configuration of a property for compliance, third party verification, ownership designation, and baseline selections. After presenting the draft regulations in a public webinar in June, the regulations entered an official Public Comment period from June 1 - July 2.

We appreciate the input many of you provided. We took this feedback into consideration as we developed the final regulations, and we have published the final Phase 2 regulations. They can be found on the BEUDO website, signed into effect on August 4, 2025 by Melissa Peters, Assistant City Manager for CDD.

Next Phases of Regulation Development

The third phase of regulations development is underway, and is intended to contain clarification on the following aspects of the Ordinance:

Review Board Appoinments
Hardship and Deferral Plans
Campus Compliance

The goal for presenting a draft to building owners and stakeholders, and opening a comment period, is November 2025. Information regarding public meetings and opportunities for public comment will be posted on the website and sent to this email list.

Building Data Backup

It is best practice to back up all energy and water data that is currently saved in Energy Star Portfolio Manager (ESPM). Please visit this link for more information on how to back up your Portfolio Manager data.

Companies may reach out to BEUDO owners looking to sell their data back-up services. These services are often unnecessarily expensive. We urge you to visit the above link for instructions on how to back up your Portfolio Manager data.

Financing and Incentives

Interested in funding for energy-saving measures in your Cambridge building?

BETA (Building Electrification and Transformation Accelerator) is accepting applications to develop and pilot a decarbonization assessment process for commercial buildings and multifamily residential buildings with 15 or more units.

Additionally, PACE (Property Assessed Clean Energy) is a financing mechanism to allow commercial property owners to finance energy improvements for new construction and existing buildings.

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Cambridge Office of Sustainability