Governor Patrick forms zero net energy task force

Last month, Governor Deval Patrick held his first meeting with the new Massachusetts Zero Net Energy Buildings Task Force. This group was "appointed at Governor Deval Patrick's direction to help the state's public and private sectors design and construct super-efficient 'green' buildings." With leaders from the green building and other relevant industries on the Task Force, the group will be developing "specifications for the first state-owned zero net energy building by January 1, 2010 and statewide adoption of the standard for new construction by 2030." Zero net energy building design has been mainly focused at the residential level but Massachusetts is looking beyond that to investigate what it would take for commercial properties of all scales to meet zero net energy status.