Policy
Policies are the most significant way The Green Roundtable / NEXUS creates comprehensive, far reaching changes that are high-impact and accelerate market transformation. NEXUS works with the private sector and with building owners to create rapid change, while simultaneously working on longer-term public policy initiatives to make sweeping, higher-leverage requirements. NEXUS affects change by working with governing bodies (including city, state, academic, healthcare and other institutions) to establish guidelines, standards, incentives, regulations and green building programs that mainstream green building.
NEXUS Sustainable Policy & Planning Program
Cities and towns across Massachusetts are going green and through NEXUS public policy services, we are providing educational, technical and design support for your community! The NEXUS Sustainable Policy & Planning (SPP) Program is grant funded and allows us to provide FREE technical support to any Massachusetts community that is implementing a policy or initiative related to green planning, zoning, building or more. The SPP Program provides targeted support to local municipalities to accelerate the adoption and implementation of transformative green policies.
What are the Program Initiatives?
NEXUS’ SPP Program is free and available to all communities across the Commonwealth. The three key areas of the program are: 1) Free Technical Assistance, 2) Massachusetts Policy Summits and 3) NEXUS Tools and Resources.
Download the two-page SPP Program Summary.
FREE Sustainable Community Technical Assistance
Through the Sustainable Policy & Planning Program, NEXUS is able to offer a range of technical assistance to a limited number of communities who are looking to advance their sustainability efforts. Recognizing that each jurisdiction has different needs, we will work with each community to customize our offerings.
What Type of Assistance is offered?
We would love to be able to offer extensive assistance to all communities, but because of program funding limitations, the communities we work with will be limited to specific, high-leverage assistance. We will work with communities to determine a match and identify an appropriate scope that will provide value. Below is a list of some of the services we can provide.
Strategic:
Help identify key goals and components of sustainable master plans.
Support the formulation of plans for developing and approving green building and sustainable policies.
Tactical:
Help create work plans and roadmap for successful policy creation and implementation.
Facilitate zoning, ordinances and permitting revisions.
Coach on how to effectively frame issues to achieve success with stakeholders such as developers and constituents.
Education:
Outreach to municipal stakeholders at town meetings, internal planning sessions, etc.
Capacity building for municipal policy makers and staff around sustainability concepts.
Regional Policy Summits
The Massachusetts Regional Policy Summits are intensive one-day educational and working group sessions. The goal of the Summit is to empower participants through education and resource sharing to facilitate their communities’ efforts in green building planning and creation of sustainable policies.
Who should attend? The summit targets a diverse group of local government officials and staff who are involved in their city or towns zoning, code, permitting, planning, building, environment and development activities.
What will it provide? Participants will leave with a foundation in green building knowledge and an understanding of how to frame issues, focus on long-term desired outcomes, and design a process that will create a successful initiative, from inception through implementation. Peer networks will also be created to foster relationship building between municipalities.
Some of the key building blocks that will be covered in the Summit are:
NEXUS Tools and Resources
NEXUS Green Building Resource Center, a project of The Green Roundtable, is located in Downtown Boston and is a free resource for planners, builders, policy makers and the community in general. At NEXUS you can take advantage of tools and resources such as energy modeling software, green building reports and publications, effective green policy examples, green building reference guides such as LEED, MA-CHPS, Advanced Buildings Core Performance, networking and educational events and much more.
Through the SPP Program, NEXUS is compiling many local, regional and national resources applicable to municipality’s green policy creation. These resources will be available via the NEXUS website over the next few months. Sign up for our mailing list or contact us today to find out about NEXUS’ upcoming program opportunities, events and trainings.
Who is Eligible?
The SPP Program is seeking participation from a diverse group of communities in Massachusetts, both in terms of size and geographic reach. Any community is welcome to apply on a rolling basis for our free Technical Assistance services by completing a short Program Application. NEXUS staff will review all applications and respond to applicants within two weeks about our ability to provide services. Again, every community throughout Massachusetts is eligible to attend the NEXUS Policy Summits happening across the State in May/June this year. Please contact us if you are interested in learning more.
How Do I Get Involved?
Communities that are interested in working with us should contact us today. To formally apply for free Technical Assistance, the community will be asked to complete a brief Program Application which will then be reviewed by Program staff. Forms and general inquiries can be submitted to Phoebe Beierle – Special Projects Coordinator at phoebe@greenroundtable.org or 617-374-3740 x113.
