Skip to main content

New Connecticut Construction Must Meet Green Standards

Law requires $5 million or more construction and $2 million or more renovation projects be in line with LEED silver requirements.

New large construction projects in the state will have to be built green, due to legislation that goes into effect this month.

Eventually all public and private construction projects costing over $5 million and renovation projects costing over $2 million will have to meet state standards that will be consistent with or more demanding than LEED silver certification.

The Connecticut state legislature last year passed An Act Concerning Electricity and Energy Efficiency, which includes the new requirements.

Starting this month, the green building mandate applies to new state facilities that cost at least $5 million with at least $2 million in state funding, and renovations to state facilities that cost at least $2 million with at least $2 million in state funding

The requirement will be extended even further over the coming years. Any buildings, except residential facilities with four units or less, constructed after Jan. 1, 2009 that cost at least $5 million, must meet the green building standards. And any renovations costing more than $2 million at the same types of buildings after Jan. 1, 2010 must meet the standards.

Also starting in January 2009, renovations to public school facilities that cost at least $2 million with at least $2 million in state funding must be built green.

Recently, the Connecticut Green Building Council and the United States Green Building Council reached an agreement naming the Connecticut Green Building Council the official state chapter of the USGBC.

The Connecticut council provides educational programs, workshops, forums, seminars and resources, including a directory of products and services, on green building practices.

More on this topic