Boston school building tour showcases fossil-fuel-free HVAC and 52 percent energy savings

BOSTON — July 22, 2026 — Federal and city officials tour a newly renovated Boston school building showcasing fossil-fuel-free heating and cooling. A speaker identified as the U.S. Secretary of Energy joined city representatives Tuesday for a walkthrough of a school building equipped with variable refrigerant flow heat pumps, triple-pane glazing with frit coating, and rooftop solar capacity reserved for future panels. A building systems presenter cited a 52 percent reduction in energy costs compared to the prior building, amounting to roughly $150,000 annually and an estimated $7.5 million over a 50-year lifespan. The Secretary connected the project to the federal Build Back Better initiative and praised Mayor Michelle Wu by name, calling Boston a "Green New Deal city." Of Boston's approximately 125 school buildings, only about 30 currently have modern HVAC systems, and officials described the toured building as a replicable model for the broader school portfolio.