University of Massachusetts Amherst
PAE-19: Community Sustainability Partnerships

The Leading by Example Program (LBE) was established in April 2007 by Governor Deval Patrick’s Executive Order No. 484, "Leading by Example - Clean Energy and Efficient Buildings". The program is overseen by the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) and the Executive Office for Administration and Finance (A&F). Within these two offices, various divisions and departments manage specific aspects of the program, including the Department of Energy Resources, Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Capital Asset Management, and the Operational Services Division. The LBE Program encompasses all of Massachusetts’ executive agencies and public institutions of higher education. These agencies and institutions own 70 million square feet of buildings and 8,000 vehicles, employ over 65,000 people, and include 29 college campuses. Through various initiatives, LBE works to reduce the overall environmental impacts of state government operations, particularly climate and energy impacts. Executive Order 484 establishes higher energy efficiency standards in the operation of state buildings, setting short- and long-term targets and goals to advance clean energy and efficiency, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global warming. In addition, the LBE Program promotes sustainability activities within state government including waste reduction, water conservation, green buildings, alternative fuels, efficient transportation, and recycling. UMass is also involved with the Pioneer Valley Planning Association. Together they have created a dialogue for sustainable change in the area. topic of planning and discussion include clean energy and land use and development. Sage Sluter, a graduate student in landscape architecture and regional planning, has submitted a proposal to create an eco-industrial park at a former factory site in Greenfield. Her 67-page plan, which calls for rain gardens, small buildings with solar panels and open space, drew praise from Greenfield Mayor William Martin. UMass is also involved in organizing a Western MA Branch of the US Green Building Council's Massachusetts Chapter and forging relationships between the university's green building committee, the USGBC MA Chapter, Wesetern MA AIA, North East Sustainable Energy Association (NESEA), and Western MA Green Consortium.

The full link to the cite is: http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=eoeeamodulechunk&L=1&L0=Home&sid=Eoeea&b=terminalcontent&f=eea_lbe_lbe_program&csid=Eoeea