An Act relative to better buildings

This bill establishes a new Better Buildings Act to set energy efficiency and greenhouse gas emission limits for large buildings in Massachusetts, defined as structures with at least 20,000 square feet. The Department of Energy Resources will create performance standards for different building types that require owners to report annual energy use, with interim targets set every five years starting in 2025 and a final goal by 2050. These standards will measure either the maximum energy use per square foot or the maximum emissions per square foot, adjusted for weather conditions, and must be at least as strict as the current median performance of large buildings. The law also allows for special campus-wide standards for universities and hospitals with multiple buildings on the same site.