Navigating BERDO Compliance and Decarbonization

For the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, sustainability is both a responsibility and a necessity. As a historic institution in Boston, the Museum must comply with the city’s Building Emissions Reduction and Disclosure Ordinance (BERDO), which requires large buildings to track, report, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Meeting these requirements involves complex data management and long-term planning.

Since 2022, the Museum has relied on PowerOptions to simplify compliance, ensure accurate reporting, and develop a clear strategy for emissions reduction.

A Strategic Approach to Compliance

PowerOptions began by conducting a penalty risk analysis, helping the Museum understand the long-term financial implications of different compliance paths. The results highlighted the importance of proactive action:

• No Action Taken – If the Museum did not pursue emissions reductions, it would face an estimated $1.1 million in penalties by 2050.
• Portfolio Standard Strategy – By opting into BERDO’s “portfolio standard,” which allows organizations to aggregate emissions across multiple buildings, the projected penalties would be reduced to $1 million, even with no further action – though the Museum is committed to taking action.

Recognizing this opportunity, PowerOptions guided the Museum through the portfolio standard application process, which was successfully approved in 2024 following a public meeting. This strategic decision positioned the Museum well for BERDO’s next phase in 2025, when reporting requirements transition into mandatory emissions reductions with benchmarks set every five years through 2050. As of today, the Museum is on track to remain in compliance until at least 2030.

Simplifying the Reporting Process

Beyond compliance strategy, PowerOptions’ expertise and tools alleviate the burden of BERDO reporting for the Museum:

• Automated Utility Data Management – Using PowerOptions’ Energy Information System (EIS), the Museum’s utility invoices (electricity, gas, and water) are automatically pulled and seamlessly uploaded to Energy Star Portfolio Manager, ensuring BERDO compliance with minimal effort.
• End-to-End Compliance Support – From annual filings to long-term strategy, PowerOptions helps the Museum stay ahead of regulatory changes.
• Building Decarbonization Roadmap – Beyond reporting, PowerOptions developed a customized emissions reduction strategy to ensure the Museum remains in compliance as emissions thresholds tighten over time.

A Longstanding Partnership

A PowerOptions member since 1998, the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum also benefits from PowerOptions’ electricity and natural gas supply services. As sustainability regulations evolve, PowerOptions continues to provide the expertise, resources, and strategic guidance to help the Museum achieve both compliance and long-term carbon reduction goals.