Boston-Cambridge District
For over 90 years, the Boston-Cambridge district system has distributed reliable, resilient and sustainable district energy to some of the area’s premier hospitals, biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, universities, hotel and entertainment venues, commercial space, and government facilities. Vicinity Energy’s robust, underground district energy network distributes 99.99% reliable cogenerated thermal energy—or green steam—to over 230 facilities that use it for heating, making hot and chilled water, steam-driven cooling and processes like sterilization and humidification.
In the Boston-Cambridge district alone, Vicinity has invested over $110 million in a series of infrastructure projects to improve efficiencies and reduce environmental impacts. By implementing a cleaner energy mix and continuously investing in the city’s infrastructure to reduce carbon impacts, we are committed to meeting our goal of net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
$110 million
Green steam project investment in Boston and Cambridge
165,000 tons
36,000 cars
Investing in Boston and Cambridge
In Boston and Cambridge, Vicinity has invested over $110 million in a series of green steam projects to improve efficiencies and reduce environmental impacts. These projects include incorporating the interconnection of the two previously separated district energy systems, a new 7,000-foot steam pipeline extension, acquisition and reconfiguration of the Kendall Station Cogeneration facility and the integration of renewable energy. The new pipeline from Kendall captures and leverages the facility’s excess heat for use in Vicinity’s district networks, thereby recycling thermal energy that was previously discarded. These combined efforts have dramatically reduced the city’s carbon footprint.
How District Energy Works
District energy is an innovative and resilient energy solution that uses a centrally located facility, or facilities, to generate thermal energy—heat, hot water or chilled water—which is then transported through highly insulated underground pipes directly to nearby buildings, avoiding the need for boilers, chillers and cooling towers in individual buildings. Watch the video to learn more about how district energy works.
Boston-Cambridge District:
15 Elkins Street
Boston, MA 02127
165 Kneeland Street
Boston, MA 02111
Main: +1 617 839 0226
24/hr: +1 617 482 8232
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