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Buildings and Energy

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Watertown has long been a leader on energy issues, from our strong rooftop solar ordinance to being the first municipality in the state to adopt the Specialized Stretch Code. We have also built some of the state’s first net-zero school buildings. Learn more below about these projects and others that are meaningfully reducing the City’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

Net Zero Schools: In 2017, Watertown embarked on a major planning effort to renovate or replace all three existing elementary schools. As discussions evolved, the community decided to make a statement by creating some of the state’s first net-zero elementary schools (Hosmer and Cuniff), while also substantially improving the energy performance of the Lowell School through renovations and additions. Now that those groundbreaking schools are complete, the City has begun a full reconstruction of Watertown High School into another net-zero school building. These facilities all utilize sustainability elements like solar arrays, electric vehicle charging, high-performance building materials, green stormwater infrastructure, and more to maximize their environmental performance. Learn more about the projects at the links below:

Municipal rooftop solar projects: Over the past several years, Watertown has invested in rooftop solar on our municipal buildings as feasibility allows, including at the police station, middle school, and Department of Public Works (DPW).
Rooftop solar ordinance: Our zoning code requires that most new development that are equal or greater than 10,000 square feet or containing 10 or more residential units shall include a solar system that is equal or greater than 50% of its roof area. If a solar installation is determined to be feasible, the plan must be approved by the DCDP before installation. Solar is also required to cover 90% of new parking garages. The ordinance was adopted in 2018.

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Building Emission Reduction and Disclosure Ordinance (BERDO): To encourage efficient use of energy and to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases (GHG), BERDO would require owners of large properties to annually measure and disclose energy usage to the City of Watertown and to achieve Greenhouse Gas Emissions (GHG) reduction targets consistent with the commitments of the Watertown Climate and Energy Plan. Watertown’s Ordinance will set requirements for new and existing large buildings to reduce their GHG emissions. The goal is to reduce emissions gradually to net zero by 2050 and to understand the efficiency and GHG emissions of our citywide existing building stock.
Specialized Stretch Code: Watertown became the first community in Massachusetts to adopt the new Specialized Stretch Code in January 2023. A stretch code sets higher energy efficiency standards than the baseline requirements mandated by traditional building codes. Stretch codes aim to “stretch” those standards by promoting more sustainable and energy-efficient building practices. Buildings using stretch codes have a higher upfront cost and more complicated planning, but benefit from long-term savings, better comfort and health for occupants, enhanced market value and demonstrate a commitment to sustainability. They can typically go beyond the basic requirements for insulation, heating, cooling, lighting, and may include provisions for renewable energy systems, advanced insulation techniques, efficient HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) systems, energy-efficient lighting, and other measures designed to reduce energy consumption and minimize environmental impact.
Municipal energy retrofits: The City is implementing an energy efficiency retrofit program covering 14 Municipal and School facilities. The $7+ million project was funded through an Energy Savings Performance Contract. By law the Performance Contract must be funded by the savings accrued from the efficiency improvements, and the energy savings are guaranteed by the contracting company. Bottom line, at no net cost to tax payers Watertown was able to upgrade and improve mechanical systems, lighting and building envelopes, all which will save a significant amount of energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Over the life of the Performance Contract the City is expected to save over $1.8 million in energy, maintenance and operational costs. The City has also undertaken extensive retrofits of our street lights. The Department of Energy Resources awarded Watertown a $207,505 Green Community Competitive Grant to replace all remaining energy inefficient streetlights with highly efficient LED's that will provide equivalent lighting while consuming 62% less energy. The $314,000 project will be fully funded by the DOER award along with an incentive from Eversource. The City will save over $105,000 per year in electricity and maintenance over the 20+ year life of the LED lights. The lighting retrofit will reduce Watertown's CO2e Green House Gas emissions by 332 tons per year.
Sustainable design guidelines: Watertown has created Design Guidelines and Standards for commercial and mixed use projects. The design standards apply to development and redevelopment and strongly encourage a sustainable design where environmental responsibility is an integral part of the design. This includes state of the art building systems and envelope, LEED certifiability, renewable energy sources, and landscape strategies to promote garden spaces and healthy tree growth.
Green Communities/Climate Leader Communities designation:Watertown has been a Green Community for over 10 years. Becoming a Green Community has allowed the City to be eligible for state grants for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. Recently, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts has pivoted this effort from energy reduction to greenhouse gas reduction, and has introduced the Climate Leader Communities certification program. This new program creates a voluntary framework for meeting these goals by providing tools and resources to help municipalities reduce emissions by electrifying non-electric energy uses and maximizing the efficiency of buildings and transportation. Becoming certified as a Climate Leader Community provides access to grant funding to a municipality to support all or a portion of the cost of:

Watertown is now eligible for Climate Leader Community certification, having achieved the following commitments:

Be a Green Community in good standing
Have a local body (sustainability committee, energy committee, etc.) that advises the municipality on clean energy/climate initiatives
Commit to eliminate on-site fossil fuel use by 2050 (municipal buildings/operations)
Create a municipal decarbonization roadmap
Adopt a Zero-Emission Vehicle first policy
Adopt the Specialized Opt-In building code

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