Connecticut General Statutes
Chapter 298 - Energy Utilization and Conservation
Section 16a-38k. - Building construction standards for new construction or renovation of certain state facilities. Regulations. Exemptions.

(a) Notwithstanding any provision of the general statutes, any (1) new construction of a state facility that is projected to cost five million dollars, or more, and for which all budgeted project bond funds are allocated by the State Bond Commission on or after January 1, 2008, (2) renovation of a state facility that is projected to cost two million dollars or more, of which two million dollars or more is state funding, approved and funded on or after January 1, 2008, (3) new construction of a facility that is projected to cost five million dollars, or more, of which two million dollars or more is state funding, and is authorized by the General Assembly pursuant to chapter 173 on or after January 1, 2009, and (4) renovation of a public school facility as defined in subdivision (18) of section 10-282 that is projected to cost two million dollars or more, of which two million dollars or more is state funding, and is authorized by the General Assembly pursuant to chapter 173 on or after January 1, 2009, shall comply with the regulations described in subsection (b) of this section, provided any regulations adopted pursuant to this section before the effective date of this section shall remain in effect until the regulations described in subsection (b) of this section are adopted. The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection, in consultation with the Commissioner of Administrative Services and the Institute for Sustainable Energy, shall exempt any facility from complying with the regulations adopted pursuant to subsection (b) of this section if the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection, in consultation with the Commissioner of Administrative Services and the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, finds, in a written analysis, that the measures needed to comply with the building construction standards are not cost effective, as defined in subdivision (8) of subsection (a) of section 16a-38. Nothing in this section shall be construed to require the redesign of any new construction of a state facility that is designed in accordance with the silver building rating of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design's rating system for new commercial construction and major renovation projects, as established by the United States Green Building Council, or an equivalent standard, including, but not limited to, a two-globe rating in the Green Globes USA design program, provided the design for such facility was initiated or completed prior to the adoption of the regulations described in subsection (b) of this section. For purposes of subdivisions (1) and (2) of this subsection, a state facility shall not include a salt shed, parking garage or any type of maintenance facility, provided such shed, garage or facility has incorporated best energy efficiency standards to the extent economically feasible.

(b) Not later than January 1, 2022, the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection, in consultation with the Commissioner of Administrative Services, shall adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, to adopt state building construction standards that (1) adopt by reference a nationally recognized model for sustainable construction codes that promotes the construction of high performance green buildings that have reduced emissions, have enhanced building occupant health and comfort, are designed to conserve water resources, are designed to promote sustainable and regenerative materials cycles and provide enhanced resilience to natural, technological and human-caused hazards, and (2) include a standard for inclusion of electric vehicle charging stations, and thereafter update such regulations as the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection deems necessary. Said regulations shall adopt by reference the nationally recognized model for sustainable construction codes referenced in this subsection. Any amendment to said state building construction standards shall be limited to administrative matters, geotechnical and weather-related portions of said state building construction standards, amendments to said state building construction standards necessitated by a provision of the general statutes and any other matter which, based on substantial evidence, necessitates an amendment to said state building construction standards.
(P.A. 06-187, S. 70; P.A. 07-213, S. 5; 07-242, S. 10; 07-249, S. 15; P.A. 11-51, S. 112; 11-80, S. 1, 46; P.A. 13-247, S. 200; P.A. 14-94, S. 19; 14-199, S. 5; P.A. 19-35, S. 11; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 21-2, S. 193.)
History: P.A. 07-213 amended Subsec. (a) to replace “is approved and funded” with “for which all budgeted project bond funds are allocated by the State Bond Commissioner”, add provisions re compliance with silver building rating of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design's rating system for new commercial construction and major renovation projects and revise provisions re regulations, and amended Subsec. (b) to replace “building construction standards” with “state building construction standards”, effective July 10, 2007; P.A. 07-242 amended Subsec. (a) to delete exception for salt sheds, parking garages, maintenance facilities or school construction, provide that $2,000,000 or more be state funding and change date of approval and funding from on or after January 1, 2007, to on or after January 1, 2008, in newly designated Subdiv. (1), add Subdivs. (2) to (4), and charge Institute for Sustainable Energy with task of determining whether compliance cost outweighs the benefits, and amended Subsec. (b) to include energy standards that exceed the ASHRAE standard by at least 20%, effective January 1, 2008; P.A. 07-249 amended Subsec. (a) to delete provision in Subdiv. (1) re projects that use $2,000,000 or more in state funding, to require Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management to consult with Institute for Sustainable Energy re exemptions for facilities from regulations and to require that exemption be based on written cost analysis by the secretary, instead of the institute, effective January 1, 2008; P.A. 11-51 changed “Commissioner of Public Works” to “Commissioner of Construction Services” and amended Subsec. (b) to delete requirement to consult with Commissioner of Public Safety re regulations, effective July 1, 2011; P.A. 11-80 amended Subsec. (b) to change references to Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management to “Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection” and to delete “Commissioner of Environmental Protection”, effective July 1, 2011; pursuant to P.A. 11-80, “Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management” was changed editorially by the Revisors to “Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection” in Subsec. (a), effective July 1, 2011; pursuant to P.A. 13-247, “Commissioner of Construction Services” was changed editorially by the Revisors to “Commissioner of Administrative Services”, effective July 1, 2013; P.A. 14-94 amended Subsec. (a) by adding provisions requiring Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection to consult with Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management re cost effectiveness of complying with building construction standards, added Subsecs. (c) and (d) re state building construction standards and exemptions, respectively, and made technical and conforming changes; P.A. 14-199 amended Subsec. (a) to add provision excluding salt sheds, parking garages and maintenance facilities from provisions of Subdivs. (1) and (2), effective June 12, 2014; P.A. 19-35 amended Subsec. (a) by deleting provision re regulations described in Subsec. (c), adding provision re regulations remaining in effect, deleting reference to Subsec. (c) and adding provision re Commissioner of Administrative Services to be consulted re exemption of facilities, amended Subsec. (b) by replacing “2007” with “2020” re adoption of regulations, deleting provisions re regulations to be consistent with certain design ratings including certain energy standards and adding Subdivs. (1) and (2) re sustainable construction codes and standard for electric vehicle charging stations, deleted former Subsecs. (c) and (d) re adoption of regulations and exemption from complying with regulations, respectively, and made conforming changes, effective June 28, 2019; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 21-2 amended Subsec. (b) by replacing “January 1, 2020” with “January 1, 2022” and adding provisions re regulations adopting by reference nationally recognized model for sustainable construction codes, effective July 1, 2021.

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