Making Policy Accountable to Community: Lessons from Boston and Seattle
This paper, written for ACEEE Summer Study 2026, explores Community Accountablity Boards as a governance tool, using examples from Seattle and Boston.
James Burton
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Get the key details of West Hollywood’s Building Performance Standard
2026 Building Policies Outlook: Local & State Leadership in a Federal Vacuum
James Burton forecasts building performance policies for 2026
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How New Orleans finally passed a law requiring buildings to track energy use, and what it means for residents
2025 Building Policies Outlook: More and Smaller Cities Still Passing Building Performance Standards
Smaller cities are leading the charge to expand building performance policies nationwide.
Transforming Climate Governance With Community Accountability Boards
This toolkit explores the concept of a community accountability board (CAB) including its framework, core principles as a model for community empowerment, and its challenges.
Cambridge Adopts Bold Building Emissions Reduction Targets
Rajiv and James walk through the ambitious net-zero targets and equity considerations for the amended policy.
How Does New York’s Climate Building Roadmap Address Equity?
James Burton breaks down the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority’s new building decarbonization plan with a focus on climate justice.
Working with a Community Accountability Board to Co-Design Equitable Building Performance Standards
When implementing a building performance standard (BPS), jurisdictions must prioritize community collaboration and ownership. A Community Accountability Board (CAB) works with policymakers and administrators to review a BPS’ impact on frontline and fenceline communities. These are communities that experience the most immediate and worst impacts of climate change and are most often communities of color, … Continued