The new PeoplesBank office in East Springfield is the first building to receive the city of Springfield’s GreenSeal.

The new office was built on the site of a former restaurant, which was deconstructed, and will operate in an environmentally friendly manner. The city and GreenSpringfield created the GreenSeal initiative to foster a greener, sustainable and livable city.

Companies receiving the designation have committed to reducing their energy baseline and environmental impact, according to John Judge, chief development officer for the city of Springfield.

"We developed the GreenSeal to encourage organizations and individuals to help foster a greener, sustainable and livable city. It is a great pleasure to award the first GreenSeal to PeoplesBank in honor of its LEED registered building at 1051 St. James Ave. – the first building of its type in our city," Judge said.

"This green office is a logical extension of the direction we have been heading in for several years," said Douglas A. Bowen, PeoplesBank president and CEO. "We have financed approximately $35 million in wind, hydroelectric, and solar energy projects. Some of our older buildings have been retrofitted to increase their efficiency, and our employees – through our environmental committee – are focused on making us more environmentally friendly – at home and at work. For PeoplesBank, this is one way we define community service."

"Environmentally sound and aesthetically pleasing buildings like this are highly desirable assets in any community," said John Vetere, president of Strategic DesignWorks, a Reading-based design consultancy firm. "They are healthier buildings to be in and reduce the impact on the environment and burden on municipal services in comparison with the former use of the site."