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          BIMA
          BIMA: Diversifying Your Media Spend 

          In this panel discussion, digital media experts will dive into how brands can position themselves for success with a diversified strategy.

          06/06/2023

          5:30pm - 7:30pm

          Digitas

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          City Awake
          City Awake: 2023 Words of Wisdom ft. Corey Thomas

          Join us as we hear from Corey Thomas, Chairman & CEO of Rapid7, and Andrew Farrington, an advisory board member City Awake.

          06/22/2023

          5:00pm - 7:00pm

          Rapid7

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          F.U.N. Lives On
          F.U.N. Lives On: Live Like A Local Tours Boston

          Join us to celebrate the history, culture, food, and local businesses of Nubian Square, the heart of Black culture in Boston.

          06/28/2023

          3:45pm - 6:00pm

          Tropical Foods - Roxbury

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  • Learning & Development
        • Learning & Development

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        • EQ to Elevate Workplace Well-being

          Designed for mid-level managers and supervisors, this new certificate program addresses workplace well-being through unique, innovative, and actionable methods.

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          Transformational DEI Certificate

          Join our Transformational DEI Certificate! Our comprehensive learning & development offerings are designed to connect and grow strong leaders who lead both inside and out of the office.

          Read More
          Women’s Leadership Program

          Our Women’s Leadership Program enables you to take your leadership to the next level by arming you with the most in-demand leadership toolkit.

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          How to Be an LGBTQIA+ Ally in the Workplace

          Expand your DEI professional development with a virtual workshop focused specifically on LGBTQIA+ identities and inclusion.

          Read More
  • Economic Inclusion
        • Economic Inclusion

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          Economic Inclusion
          Economic Inclusion

          Our Economic Inclusion Committee provides strategic support around research, policies, and programs that are focused on building equal opportunity.

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          Economic Inclusion
          Pacesetters

          We are developing an ecosystem of corporations and partners with the influence and buying power to transform economic inclusion for minority business enterprises (MBEs).

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          Fierce Urgency of Now Festival
          2023 Fierce Urgency of Now Festival

          The Fierce Urgency of Now Festival brings Boston’s diverse young professionals together with business leaders, organizations and their peers to build connection, advance careers and ignite positive change.

          09/12/2023 -

          09/15/2023

          Greater Boston

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          City Awake

          City Awake empowers young professionals in a variety of ways that encourages these rising leaders to stay invested in the region’s future success.

          Read More
          BIMA

          BIMA (the Boston Interactive Media Association) serves a vibrant community of like-minded professionals from agencies, brands, publishers, and ad-tech companies with business interests in the New England market.

          Read More
          Women’s Network

          For more than 25 years, the Chamber’s Women’s Network has connected female professionals of all background and career levels. Today, our Women’s Network is the largest in New England, strengthening the professional networks of women each year.

          Read More
          Massachusetts Apprentice Network

          The Massachusetts Apprentice Network convenes employers, training providers, and talent sources interested in developing and implementing apprenticeship programs in occupations across industries and statewide in fields such as tech, advanced manufacturing, healthcare, financial services, and more.

          Read More
          Pacesetters

          We are developing an ecosystem of corporations and partners with the influence and buying power to transform economic inclusion for minority business enterprises (MBEs).

          Read More
          Small Business

          We support small business through public policy initiatives, events designed to connect small businesses in Greater Boston to their peers and established business leaders, professional development offerings, and free small business advising.

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Boston Chamber
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          BIMA
          BIMA: Diversifying Your Media Spend 

          In this panel discussion, digital media experts will dive into how brands can position themselves for success with a diversified strategy.

          06/06/2023

          5:30pm - 7:30pm

          Digitas

          arrow-go
          Read More
        • ...
          City Awake
          City Awake: 2023 Words of Wisdom ft. Corey Thomas

          Join us as we hear from Corey Thomas, Chairman & CEO of Rapid7, and Andrew Farrington, an advisory board member City Awake.

          06/22/2023

          5:00pm - 7:00pm

          Rapid7

          arrow-go
          Read More
        • ...
          F.U.N. Lives On
          F.U.N. Lives On: Live Like A Local Tours Boston

          Join us to celebrate the history, culture, food, and local businesses of Nubian Square, the heart of Black culture in Boston.

          06/28/2023

          3:45pm - 6:00pm

          Tropical Foods - Roxbury

          arrow-go
          Read More
  • Learning & Development
        • Learning & Development

          • Overview
          • Call for Nominations
          • Resources
        • EQ to Elevate Workplace Well-being

          Designed for mid-level managers and supervisors, this new certificate program addresses workplace well-being through unique, innovative, and actionable methods.

          Read More
          Transformational DEI Certificate

          Join our Transformational DEI Certificate! Our comprehensive learning & development offerings are designed to connect and grow strong leaders who lead both inside and out of the office.

          Read More
          Women’s Leadership Program

          Our Women’s Leadership Program enables you to take your leadership to the next level by arming you with the most in-demand leadership toolkit.

          Read More
          How to Be an LGBTQIA+ Ally in the Workplace

          Expand your DEI professional development with a virtual workshop focused specifically on LGBTQIA+ identities and inclusion.

          Read More
  • Economic Inclusion
        • Economic Inclusion

          • Overview
          • Economic Inclusion Committee
          • Fierce Urgency of Now Festival
          • Pacesetters
          • Resources
        • ...
          Economic Inclusion
          Economic Inclusion

          Our Economic Inclusion Committee provides strategic support around research, policies, and programs that are focused on building equal opportunity.

          arrow-go
          Read More
        • ...
          Economic Inclusion
          Pacesetters

          We are developing an ecosystem of corporations and partners with the influence and buying power to transform economic inclusion for minority business enterprises (MBEs).

          arrow-go
          Read More
        • ...
          Fierce Urgency of Now Festival
          2023 Fierce Urgency of Now Festival

          The Fierce Urgency of Now Festival brings Boston’s diverse young professionals together with business leaders, organizations and their peers to build connection, advance careers and ignite positive change.

          09/12/2023 -

          09/15/2023

          Greater Boston

          arrow-go
          Read More
  • Policy & Impact
        • Policy & Impact

          • Overview
          • Leadership Councils
          • Amicus Advisory Board
        • GET INVOLVED IN OUR POLICY FOCUS AREAS

          Business Climate
          Read More
          Climate & Energy
          Read More
          Health Care
          Read More
          Housing & Development
          Read More
          Talent
          Read More
          Transportation
          Read More
  • Our Networks
        • GBCC’s Networks

          • Overview
        • OUR NETWORKS

          City Awake

          City Awake empowers young professionals in a variety of ways that encourages these rising leaders to stay invested in the region’s future success.

          Read More
          BIMA

          BIMA (the Boston Interactive Media Association) serves a vibrant community of like-minded professionals from agencies, brands, publishers, and ad-tech companies with business interests in the New England market.

          Read More
          Women’s Network

          For more than 25 years, the Chamber’s Women’s Network has connected female professionals of all background and career levels. Today, our Women’s Network is the largest in New England, strengthening the professional networks of women each year.

          Read More
          Massachusetts Apprentice Network

          The Massachusetts Apprentice Network convenes employers, training providers, and talent sources interested in developing and implementing apprenticeship programs in occupations across industries and statewide in fields such as tech, advanced manufacturing, healthcare, financial services, and more.

          Read More
          Pacesetters

          We are developing an ecosystem of corporations and partners with the influence and buying power to transform economic inclusion for minority business enterprises (MBEs).

          Read More
          Small Business

          We support small business through public policy initiatives, events designed to connect small businesses in Greater Boston to their peers and established business leaders, professional development offerings, and free small business advising.

          Read More
  • Membership
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          • Request a Meeting
          • Join Today
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        • About Us
          Our Impact

          Explore our mission and values to better understand how we are leading the business community forward.

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          Not sure if you’re a member?

          Our member directory is your resource to discover, connect, and engage with Boston’s businesses from every industry and sector.

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Balanced Building Energy Code Straw Proposal

Chamber Supports the Balanced Building Energy Code Straw Proposal to Help Progress Climate Goals

The Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce submitted testimony expressing gratitude to the Department of Energy Resources for developing a balanced Building Energy Code Straw Proposal that makes progress towards our climate goals.

Using in-depth building code analysis developed since 2019, the approach taken by the Department considers the outcomes of building code updates, the needs of different building types, and lifecycle costs for building ownership. Importantly, the straw proposal notes that the goal of the energy code analysis is to achieve least-cost decarbonization.

With that goal in place, the Department’s Energy Efficiency Analysis conducted in tandem with the development of the straw proposal identifies a feasible path for our built environment to reduce emissions. Through this well-researched process, the Department offers three building code options that will drive emissions reductions from the building sector, use incentives to encourage a shift to electric, and recognize the current capabilities of New England’s power grid.

The Chamber supports many aspects of the straw proposal and urges the Department to maintain its balanced approach in the final regulations.

Residential Low-Rise Proposal

The straw proposal’s plan to update the residential stretch code for one and two family homes, town homes, and low-rise multi-family up to three stories largely strikes the correct balance between reducing emissions, feasibility, and cost factors. Under the proposal, builders and homeowners will meaningfully reduce emissions and be protected from broad, one-size-fits-all mandates or prohibitions.

Specifically, both the stretch and opt-in proposals will reduce emissions by adjusting the Home Energy Rating System (HERS) standard and providing incentives to influence homeowners’ choices. Importantly, nearly 300 of the state’s 351 municipalities already adopted the stretch code, so changes to the stretch code will impact a large swath of the state.

  • The proposed stretch code would lower the Home Energy Rating System (HERS) standard, creating a stricter standard for fossil fuel heating (HERS 42) compared to electric heating (HERS 45). To meet the new standards, developers may choose an electric heat pump and minimal other steps or gas heat with a combination of other steps like air sealing, ventilation systems, and heating materials. The opt-in code goes further by requiring that fossil fuel heated homes meet the HERS standard and also install pre-wiring for electrification, rooftop solar, and electric heating systems. Both codes rightly would significantly reduce emissions over time and incorporate a practicality that is critical in the context of high housing and construction costs and electric grid limitations.
  • Both the stretch and opt-in code approaches make use of new Mass Save financial incentives for homes meeting the HERS standard and federal tax incentives for the adoption of electric heating sources. These incentives are critical for defraying costs and encouraging builders and homeowners to adopt electric sources of heating and to reduce their building emissions.

In developing the proposal specifics, we urge the Department also to recognize current limitations, particularly on the power grid’s capabilities and in different living environments.

  • The Department, in promoting electrification and distributed renewable energy, should consider the additional load that more electric consumption will place on the regional grid. Higher electricity demand and infrastructure upgrades necessary to accommodate increased use of renewables will impact our emissions reduction efforts and change the way our economy is powered over time. That transition and its costs should be part of the analysis when developing building standards.
  • The department should also consider different housing environments in developing the stretch and opt-in codes. In particular, the specialized opt-in code requires electric vehicle charging capabilities at residences. In urban areas, housing is dense and often relies on public streets for parking which makes this infeasible. We urge the Department to consider an alternative for these areas that will allow residents to access vehicle chargers.

Commercial Proposal

Like the residential changes, the proposed updates to the commercial building code also will result in demonstrable emissions reductions while maintaining flexibility for builders. The proposal achieves this balance by emphasizing demand reduction, requiring adaptability for an electric future, and recognizing the nuances of building use.

  • The Department’s commercial stretch code proposal will reduce commercial building emissions by reducing the demand for energy. For example, by implementing Thermal Energy Demand Intensity, or TEDI, limits, the stretch code would reduce the demand for heating and cooling by as much as 90 percent. Other steps, like elevated levels of window glazing and controlling air infiltration, will also contribute to lowering emissions. Like the residential proposal, the commercial opt-in code goes further by requiring all buildings be wired for full electrification and rightly recognizes that an immediate switch to all-electric would strain the region’s grid.
  • The straw proposal also appropriately creates multiple pathways for commercial code compliance based on a building’s use. This approach considers unique needs of energy-intense buildings, such as labs and hospitals, by adjusting code requirements to meet the dual goals of reducing emissions and maintaining functionality.

The Department’s proposal does acknowledge that the proposed codes would increase costs for small office buildings. Given the pressures on small businesses right now, and potential additional pressures from policies like the tax on income over $1 million, anything that raises the costs of production – and therefore occupancy costs – should be carefully reviewed.

Context and Impact

Worth noting, the update to our building codes is only one piece of the overall effort to achieve our emissions reductions. The Commonwealth continues its aggressive procurement of renewable energy to ensure our electric grid provides cleaner energy to our future electrified buildings. This necessary clean energy faces years of development and construction and will require further upgrades to the distribution system. We must be mindful that the transition of our electric grid and built environment to net-zero emissions will take time and the Department should continue to carefully consider real-world costs and limitations while formulating any new requirements on buildings.

The Chamber also recognizes that the move towards own-source energy has a new urgency and significance given global events and the U.S. decision to discontinue Russian oil imports. We believe that reducing and eliminating reliance on foreign energy sources is necessary, but our infrastructure cannot handle an immediate transition. The proposed code changes move Massachusetts towards these goals, while also recognizing the reality of our system’s capabilities and cost impacts.

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