Comprehensive Policy Support for City of Newton’s Building Performance Standard
Since 2022, Synapse has been supporting the City of Newton in developing and implementing a building performance standard—Building Emissions Reduction and Disclosure Ordinance (BERDO)—that aligns with the City’s Climate Action Plan and charts a path to net-zero building emissions by 2050. Synapse has provided end-to-end technical, policy, and stakeholder support, from early-stage ordinance design through ongoing implementation and performance tracking. The project focuses on creating a practical, equitable framework that reduces emissions from Newton’s largest buildings while offering flexible compliance options and clear guidance for owners and operators.
Working closely with Newton’s Climate and Sustainability Team, Synapse has:
- Conducted detailed building energy and emissions analysis to establish greenhouse gas intensity targets by building type and implementation tier. For this analysis, Synapse used EMBER, its purpose-built tool for setting building performance standards.
- Recommended BERDO policy design features and drafted ordinance language that reflect the local building stock, climate goals, and community priorities.
- Developed case studies of locally recognizable buildings and training materials for owners to demonstrate feasible decarbonization pathways and build confidence among stakeholders.
Synapse continues to assist Newton as it implements BERDO, including preparing comprehensive regulations, supporting compliance and reporting, and advising on performance tracking for both private and City-owned buildings. This support includes technical assistance to building owners on benchmarking and emissions reduction strategies, methods for accounting for complex systems such as district energy, and planning for upgrades in municipal facilities. As a result of this collaborative work, Newton’s BERDO ordinance passed unanimously through the City Council and is now moving into a structured implementation phase designed to deliver measurable, long-term emissions reductions.