The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has released a first-of-its-kind guide highlighting the steps states can take to lead the country in the adoption of clean energy in their buildings, facilities, operations and fleets. Energy efficiency can save money and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, while growing jobs.

States spend about 10 percent of their operating budgets on energy bills, and EPA says those costs can be greatly reduced through adoption of well-designed state energy management and greenhouse gas reduction programs.

The Clean Energy Lead by Example (LBE) Guide highlights key strategies, resources, and tools
to help states identify the suite of options best suited to their needs. Each of the strategies promoted in the guide, which include facility-level energy efficiency, green power purchases, clean distributed generation, is road-tested and cost-effective.

The LBE guide is provided through EPA’s State Climate and Clean Energy Program, which assists states in developing and implementing clean energy policies and solutions to climate change.