Connecticut: June 2008 Archives

PA 07-242 requires the state building inspector and the Codes and Standards Committee to amend the State Building Code to require (1) buildings costing $ 5 million or more built after January 1, 2009 and (2) renovations costing $ 2 million or more starting January 1, 2010 to meet the LEED silver standard or its equivalent. The requirements apply to private and public sector projects, other than residential buildings with up to four units. The act requires the inspector and the committee to waive these requirements if the Institute for Sustainable Energy finds that the cost of compliance significantly outweighs the benefits.

The act has additional provisions for state-funded buildings. Prior law required new state facilities costing $ 5 million or more, funded on or after January 1, 2007 (with exceptions for schools and structures such as maintenance garages) to meet the LEED silver standard or its equivalent. Starting January 1, 2008, PA 07-242 extends the requirements to the following types of projects with at least $ 2 million in state funding: (1) renovations to state facilities approved and funded on or after January 1, 2008, (2) new school construction projects authorized by the legislature on or after January 1, 2009 that cost $ 5 million or more, and (3) school renovation projects authorized by the legislature on or after January 1, 2009 costing at least $ 2 million. The act also requires all of these facilities to exceed the current building code energy efficiency standards by at least 20%.

The State Building Code requires that buildings and building elements be designed to provide optimum cost-effective energy efficiency over a building's life. The act requires the state building inspector and the committee to revise the code starting January 1, 2008, and specifically includes residential buildings in this mandate.

Read the entire memorandum to include financial assistance for Green Building