Municipal Best Practices

Municipalities are saving energy, reducing GHG emissions, affecting local behavioral changes, and promoting clean energy.

Municipal Awardees of Leading By Example Awards

2023 LBE Municipal Awardees (PDF)

• The Town of Windsor, a Berkshire County town with fewer than 1,000 residents, has successfully reduced greenhouse gas emissions from Town operations by 25% since becoming a Green Community in 2015. An active volunteer Energy Committee has spearheaded this effort, securing state and federal funds to deploy renewable energy systems, implement energy efficiency projects, and replace heating oil systems with air-source heat pumps. The Town has truly led by example, educating and empowering residents to deploy solar PV and heat pumps at their own houses after the successful installation at Town offices.
• The City of Lowell was designated one of 35 inaugural Green Communities in 2010 and has maintained its position as a leader in clean energy and sustainability since. The City has reduced greenhouse gas emissions from city operations by 45% and energy use by 17% from 2010. In recent years, the City has led by example through its deployment of publicly-accessible EV charging stations, construction of highly efficient buildings, and completion of extensive energy projects to make existing buildings ‘decarbonization-ready.’ Coupled with strategic partnerships with community-based organizations, the City is working to ensure the benefits of the clean energy transition reach the diverse population of the City.

2022 LBE Awardees (PDF)

• The City of Beverly installed over 4.3 MW of solar capacity across the city, installed ground-source heat pump for the heating and cooling of their new police station and conducted an outreach campaign increased resident and business energy assessments 400%  in 2022.
• The Ashburnham Municipal Light Plant supplied more than 50% of their electricity from renewable energy courses, installed a 3MW batter to reduce peak demand as well as allow for more solar PV adoption, and installed air-source heat pumps at their newly weatherize Operations Center.
• Shawn Luz at the City of Framingham was recognized for his work overseeing the designation of Framingham as a SolSmart Community, led the City's coordination with Eversource's Geothermal District Pilot, and secured MAPC climate equity grant to better reach underserved communities in Framingham.