BOSTON – Gov. Deval L. Patrick today issued an executive order setting higher standards for energy efficiency and mandating greater use of renewable energy throughout state government.
State agencies are responsible for consuming more than 1 billion kilowatt hours of electricity, 22 million gallons of heating oil and 46 million therms of natural gas per year, resulting in emission of 1 million tons of carbon dioxide – equivalent to that produced by 200,000 automobiles.
Patrick’s order, titled “Leading By Example,” requires state agencies to reduce their overall energy consumption, achieving cuts of at least 20 percent by 2012 and 35 percent by 2020.
His order also requires them to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 25 percent over the next five years, 40 percent by 2020 and 80 percent by 2050. To achieve those goals, agencies must obtain 15 percent of their electricity from clean renewable sources by 2012 and 30 percent by 2020, use biofuels for 3 percent of heating oil next winter and 5 percent in 2008-09, and meet Massachusetts’ LEED-Plus green building standards for all new construction and major renovations, Patrick said.
In addition, the order requires state agencies to cut their use of potable water by 10 percent over the next five years and 15 percent by 2020.
“In my administration, we intend to practice what we preach,” Patrick said in a statement. “This Executive Order supersedes all previous administrative actions on energy conservation and sets the clean energy bar far higher than ever before.”
About 170 light bulbs were changed in the governor’s office over the April 14-15 weekend, officials said, and a total of 1,000 bulbs will be changed in the State House, for projected savings of $15,000 per year and a reduction in carbon emissions of 56 tons per year.
Patrick was joined for today’s announcement by House Speaker Sal DiMasi and Senate President Therese Murray.
Also today, a consortium of electric utilities including NSTAR Electric, National Grid, Cape Light Compact and Western Massachusetts Electric Co. launched a year-long energy efficiency campaign aimed at households throughout New England.
The campaign – featuring the slogan “Start Small, Save Big” – asks consumers to take small steps to reduce their energy consumption and cut the emission of greenhouse gases.
“Our commitment to cost and energy savings starts right here – quite literally – in my office,” Patrick said. “We will be making these changes in offices throughout the State House. It’s a small start, but such small starts add up to big savings – in our pocketbooks and for our environment.”
Additional information is available at www.mass.gov.
