In a city known for leading the pack, one new building is pushing what is possible by doing more with less.office building in the world.Amid climate change, a new building in Boston is looking to be a part of the solution."It is truly innovative," said Brad Mahoney, director of sustainability for Millennium Partners."It is a simple approach, but it is innovative because it is forward-thinking.
By integrating low-energy and carbon-free building practices into public housing, the BHA hopes to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Mahoney estimates meeting the Passive House Institute's levels added $12-$15 million in construction costs — money that the building will recoup fast in lower energy costs.
In addition to the windows, which are three layers, the building has energy-efficient climate zones, and a plan to harness heat from workers and computers to cut down on utility use."This is a new dawn. We need solutions like this, and it shows that it can be done on a very large scale," Mahoney said."People that come into this building, work in this building, they have that agency to be part of a climate solution.