The Large Building Green Energy Retrofits Program (“Retrofits Program”) has been created to support Deep Energy Retrofits (DERs), measures that will significantly reduce the energy consumption and the carbon emissions footprint of Boston’s existing affordable housing. The program will help enable the owners of affordable housing buildings across the city to improve health, safety, and comfort for those residents, while also helping to move Boston closer to its goal of achieving carbon neutrality by the year 2050. The Retrofits Program is funded by American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) dollars that were allocated for this purpose under the leadership of Mayor Michelle Wu and authorized by the City Council in July 2022.

For the purposes of this Request for Proposals, a Deep Energy Retrofit is defined as a scope of work that combines envelope improvements, energy efficiency measures, systems upgrades, and/or the incorporation of on-site renewable energy generation to successfully reduce energy consumption by at least 50% relative to a baseline established prior to any alterations being made. While the elimination of embodied and operational carbon emissions, or decarbonization, is not a requirement of this program, this is a vitally important long-term goal. It is expected that the DER will include improvements to (or the addition of) ventilation systems to ensure appropriate indoor air quality.

The City of Boston acting by and through its Public Facilities Commission by the Director of the Mayor’s Office of Housing (MOH), Director’s Office Division, is seeking proposals for its Grassroots Open Space Program FY23 Funding Awards. The Grassroots Open Space Program makes land and funding available specifically for the development of open space projects such as community gardens, urban farms, food forests, and passive open space. These awards are intended to assist nonprofit neighborhood initiatives with development of such projects, as well as capital improvements to existing open space projects, which are located on land that is not in MOH’s inventory.

Interpretation and translation services are available to you at no cost. If you need them, please contact theresa.strachila@boston.gov or 617-635-0267.

The City of Boston acting by and through its Public Facilities Commission by the Director of the Mayor’s Office of Housing (MOH), Director’s Office Division, is seeking proposals for its Grassroots Open Space Program’s Youth Lead the Change Spring 2023 Funding Awards.  The Grassroots Open Space Program makes land and funding available specifically for the development of open space projects such as community gardens, urban farms, food forests, and passive open space. These awards are intended to assist nonprofit neighborhood initiatives to create more access to locally sourced food and increase community education on urban farming.