Net Zero Action Plan 5-Year Update Submitted to City Council 1/24/22
The Net Zero Action Plan, Cambridge’s climate action plan for buildings adopted in 2015, was reviewed to respond to current scientific, policy, technology, and equity considerations. A Task Force of community stakeholders was appointed by the City Manager to inform this review process and recommend potential changes to the Plan. The attached report is the result of this collaborative update process. This update:
• consolidates actions to focus resources on the most effective strategies,
• integrates administrative actions into the implementation plan, and
• adds new actions to address embodied carbon from buildings and off-site renewable energy supply.
The NZAP 2021 Update thus represents a comprehensive and community-based approach to support the City’s commitment to carbon neutrality by 2050.
See the Net Zero Action Plan Update documents below and on the City Council agenda here.
Net Zero Action Plan 5-Year Update Report
Net Zero Action Plan Update Executive Summary
Net Zero Action Plan Update Cover Letter
Net Zero 5-Year Review Task Force Meeting 11/18/21
4:30 PM - 6:00 PM Thursday, November 18, 2021
Zoom Webinar
Neighborhood:
City Wide
Contact:
Seth Federspiel, sfederspiel@cambridgema.gov, 617-349-4674
The Net Zero Action Plan, Cambridge’s climate action plan for buildings adopted in 2015, is being reviewed to respond to current scientific, policy, technology, and equity considerations. A Task Force of community stakeholders has been appointed by the City Manager to inform this review process and recommend potential changes to the Plan. During this meeting, we will work towards consensus on a final Net Zero Action Plan that reflects the appropriate level of ambition.
Draft Update to the Net Zero Action Plan
Net Zero 5-Year Review Task Force Meeting 5
4:00 PM - 6:00 PM Thursday, May 27, 2021
Click here for meeting 5 recording
Neighborhood:
City Wide
Contact:
Seth Federspiel, sfederspiel@cambridgema.gov, 617-349-4674
The Net Zero Action Plan, Cambridge’s climate action plan for buildings adopted in 2015, is being reviewed to respond to current scientific, policy, technology, and equity considerations. A Task Force of community stakeholders has been appointed by the City Manager to inform this review process and recommend potential changes to the Plan. During this fifth of five meetings, we will review the prioritization feedback on the proposed action, discuss additional adjustments as appropriate, and work together to plan for implementation of the updated plan.
Net Zero 5-Year Review Task Force Meeting 4
4:00 PM - 6:00 PM Thursday, April 15, 2021
Click here for meeting 4 recording
Neighborhood:
City Wide
Contact:
Seth Federspiel, sfederspiel@cambridgema.gov, 617-349-4674
The Net Zero Action Plan, Cambridge’s climate action plan for buildings adopted in 2015, is being reviewed to respond to current scientific, policy, technology, and equity considerations. A Task Force of community stakeholders has been appointed by the City Manager to inform this review process and recommend potential changes to the Plan. During this fourth of five meetings, Task Force members will share the action adjustment proposals developed during the working group meetings and the full group will work to consider and prioritize these proposals.
Net Zero 5-Year Review Task Force Meeting 3
4:00 PM - 6:00 PM Thursday, January 21, 2021
Click here for meeting 3 recording
Neighborhood:
City Wide
Contact:
Seth Federspiel, sfederspiel@cambridgema.gov, 617-349-4674
The Net Zero Action Plan, Cambridge’s climate action plan for buildings adopted in 2015, is being reviewed to respond to current scientific, policy, technology, and equity considerations. A Task Force of community stakeholders has been appointed by the City Manager to inform this review process and recommend potential changes to the Plan. During this third of five meetings, city staff and consultants will present initial possibilities for adjustments to the Plan to be considered and supplemented by the Task Force members.
Fiscal Year 2020 Net Zero Action Plan Annual Report
The Community Development Department is committed to reporting annually on progress towards implementation of the Net Zero Action Plan (NZAP). Fiscal Year 2020 (July 2019 - June 2020) is the fifth year of NZAP implementation. Pilots are moving into program implementation and policies are ready to move forward. FY20 included actions in four of the five categories: Action 1 - Energy Efficiency in Existing Buildings, Action 2 - Net Zero New Construction, Action 3 - Energy Supply, and Action 5 - Engagement and Capacity Building. Key accomplishments include establishment of a Building Energy Retrofit Program to support comprehensive energy retrofits in large Cambridge buildings, passage of amendments to Green Building Requirements for new buildings, and the initiation of the Net Zero Action Plan 5-Year Review process. Other actions were delayed by the onset of COVID-19. The Annual Report gives a status update of each action with significant progress in FY20, noting that more comprehensive assessment and planning will occur during the 5-Year Review process to be completed in FY21.
Click here for the FY 2020 Net Zero Action Plan Annual Report
Net Zero 5-Year Review Task Force Meeting 2
4:00 PM - 6:00 PM Thursday, December 10, 2020
Click here for meeting 2 recording
Neighborhood:
City Wide
Contact:
Seth Federspiel, sfederspiel@cambridgema.gov, 617-349-4674
The Net Zero Action Plan, Cambridge’s climate action plan for buildings adopted in 2015, is being reviewed to respond to current scientific, policy, technology, and equity considerations. A Task Force of community stakeholders has been appointed by the City Manager to inform this review process and recommend potential changes to the Plan. During this second of five meetings, city staff and consultants will present an evaluation of NZAP impacts to date and city-wide building emissions trends in order to inform potential adjustments to the Plan and ongoing monitoring approaches.
Net Zero 5-Year Review Task Force Meeting 1
4:00 PM - 6:00 PM Thursday, November 12, 2020
Click here for meeting 1 recording
Neighborhood:
City Wide
Contact:
Seth Federspiel, sfederspiel@cambridgema.gov, 617-349-4674
The Net Zero Action Plan, Cambridge’s climate action plan for buildings adopted in 2015, is being reviewed to respond to current scientific, policy, technology, and equity considerations. A Task Force of community stakeholders has been appointed by the City Manager to inform this review process and recommend potential changes to the Plan. During this first of five meetings, city staff and consultants will provide background on the Net Zero Action Plan (NZAP) and GHG emissions from buildings in Cambridge, explain the framework for NZAP evaluation, and introduce the equity assessment tool that will be used throughout the review process.
Residents/Advocates
- Henrietta Davis (Former Mayor/Cambridgeport)
Henrietta Davis is a former City Councillor and Mayor and a representative of resident interests. Henrietta was a member of the 2013 Net Zero Task Force.
- Peter Crawley (Representative of Cambridge Climate Protection Action Committee/East Cambridge)
Peter Crawley is a Cambridge resident and member of the Climate Protection Action Committee, which was tasked with providing outside oversight of the Net Zero Action Plan and has reviewed each of the Annual Status Reports to date.
- Gaurab Basu (Neighborhood Nine)
Gaurab Basu is a Cambridge resident and physician with expertise in climate health impacts and equity.
- Margery Davies (Representative of Mothers Out Front/Cambridgeport)
Margery Davies is a Cambridge resident and volunteer for Mothers Out Front.
- Jan Devereux (Former Vice Mayor/Representative of Green Cambridge/West Cambridge)
Jan Devereux is a Cambridge resident and member of the Board of Directors for Green Cambridge.
- Adam Gould (Youth Representative/North Cambridge)
Adam Gould is a Cambridge resident and representative of youth climate activists.
- David Adamian (West Cambridge)
David Adamian is a Cambridge resident and the CEO of GreenerU, which helps universities reduce their environmental impacts.
- Kolin Loveless (Neighborhood Nine)
Kolin Loveless is a Cambridge resident and expert in clean energy technology.
Institutions/Property Owners/Developers
- Heather Henriksen (Representative of Harvard University)
Heather Henriksen is the Managing Director of the Harvard Office for Sustainability. Heather was a member of the 2013 Net Zero Task Force.
- Julie Newman (Representative of MIT)
Julie Newman is the Director of the MIT Office for Sustainability. Julie was a member of the 2013 Net Zero Task Force.
- Rick Malmstrom (Representative of Alexandria Real Estate, Equities)
Rick Malmstrom is the Executive Director of Sustainability Operations for Alexandria Real Estate, Equities.
- Jane Carbone (Representative of Homeowners Rehab, Inc.)
Jane Carbone is the Director of Development for Homeowners Rehab, Inc. Jane was a member of the 2013 Net Zero Task Force.
- Ben Myers (Representative of Boston Properties)
Ben Myers is the Vice President of Sustainability for Boston Properties.
- Eli Herman (Representative of Akelius Real Estate)
Eli Herman is the Construction Manager for Akelius, specializing in medium residential and commercial properties.
- Deborah Donovan (Representative of Takeda)
Deborah Donovan is the Vice President of Environment, Health, and Safety at Takeda.
- Tom Evans (Representative of the Cambridge Redevelopment Authority)
Tom Evans is the Executive Director of the Cambridge Redevelopment Authority.
Subject Matter Experts
- Tom Sieniewicz (Representative of the Cambridge Planning Board)
Tom Sieniewicz is a Cambridge resident and member of the Planning Board. Tom was a member of the 2013 Net Zero Task Force.
- Paul Lyons (Zapotec Energy)
Paul Lyons is a Cambridge resident and the CEO of Zapotec Energy, a solar design company. Paul was a member of the 2013 Net Zero Task Force.
- Andrea Love (Payette Architects)
Andrea Love is a Cambridge resident and green building design expert. Andrea was a member of the 2013 Net Zero Task Force.
- Chris Leary (Jacobs Architects/Kendall Square Association)
Chris Leary is the Vice President of Jacobs Architects and a member of the Kendall Square Association.
- Gabe Shapiro (Representative of All-In Energy)
Gabe Shapiro is the Co-Founder of All-in-Energy, which provide energy efficiency services and job training to renters and low-income residents.
- Steven Miller (Representative of Eversource Energy)
Steven Miller is an Energy Efficiency Consultant for Eversource Energy.
- Dave Bisson (Representative of Resonant Energy)
Dave Bisson is the Business Development Manager for Resonant Energy, which increases access to solar for under-served populations.
- Lauren Baumann (Representative of New Ecology)
Lauren Baumann is the Vice President of New Ecology, which provides green building design services for affordable housing.
- Jen Stevenson Zepeda (Representative of Climable)
Jen Stevenson Zepeda is the Director of Research and Operations for Climable, which increases energy security for under-served populations.