This GRCx will explore the dramatic story of how expert volunteers with the sustainability advocacy group Green Newton persuaded and worked with housing developer Northland Investment Corp. to adopt and commit to rigorous, all-electric, Passive House certification for an 800-unit, mixed-use community called the Pattern District. The resulting residential buildings will be so efficient that Northland will pay their tenants’ heating and cooling bills. Along the way, the project encountered considerable local opposition, and was only narrowly approved by the Newton City Council. When opponents put the project on the ballot, a coalition of environmentalists, housing advocates, and business and civic organizations successfully advocated for it.
Northland Investment Corp. has since become a sustainability leader in the construction industry and intends to build more all-electric, Passive House developments around the country. The Pattern District and other new Northland developments will be well-positioned to meet any sustainable building requirement, including net zero.
Green Newton has worked with many developers and the City of Newton to incorporate all-electric Passive House construction, use low-embodied carbon building materials, and minimize tenants’ transportation emissions.
Please join us for this GRCx webinar, which will present a panel discussion with the developer, Northland, a leader of Green Newton, a Passive House standards expert, and a key Newton City Councilor. The program will finish with an audience Q&A.
Speakers
- Dan Ruben, Chair of Green Newton – Moderator
- Kent Gonzales, Vice President, Northland Investment Corp.
- Beverly Craig, Program Director, Massachusetts Clean Energy Center
- Deborah Crossley, Newton City Councilor, Chair of Zoning and Planning Committee
Register Here >> Webinar Registration – Zoom
About GRCx:
GRCx is an interactive program series from the Boston Green Ribbon Commission designed to accelerate the implementation of the City’s Climate Action Plan by providing high-quality, useful content on climate resilience and carbon mitigation to the Boston community.