Boston eyes energy-generating homes

The City of Boston plans to launch a new "green building" demonstration program that will involve the construction of 10 new homes that produce more energy than they use.

The homes are expected to be built on three city-owned parcels, located in the Roxbury and Jamaica Plain neighborhoods. The Boston Redevelopment Authority has issued a request-for-proposals for the development and sale of the homes, according to the announcement from Boston Mayor Thomas Menino.

Dubbed the Energy Positive (or E+) Green Building Demonstration Program, the project seeks to "demonstrate that energy positive housing can be constructed sustainably and cost-effectively, while enhancing the livability of Boston’s neighborhoods now and into the future," Menino said in the announcement.

The homes would be "ultra-efficient" and generate excess clean energy for the grid, though the announcement doesn’t mention any specific types of clean energy technologies.

A single development team can seek to develop more than one parcel but must submit separate proposals for each site, according to the city. Submissions are due by May 31.

Read the full story in Mass High Tech.