The Greater Boston Real Estate Board says it is disappointed by Mayor Martin J. Walsh’s push to keep the heat on landlords on one of former Mayor Thomas Menino’s green initiatives — requiring property owners to report how much energy their buildings use or face annual fines of up to $3,000.
The board, which represents some 5,000 property owners, lobbied for a one-year delay of the May 15 reporting requirement — which the City Council approved. On Friday, Walsh asked the council to instead consider a 120-day delay.
“I don’t think we have to delay it for a year,” Walsh said. The city claims energy audits could help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. “There’s no new real cost to the business owners, the building owners. I can see where their concerns are because any type of change like this, an audit, is going to be a change in philosophy for them.”
Gregory Vasil of the Greater Boston Real Estate Board said the demands are difficult for smaller property owners, and are only reasonable for larger corporate owners who can assign staff to collect data.