Sec. 16a-38k. Building construction standards for new construction of certain state facilities. - Connecticut Statutes

      Sec. 16a-38k. Building construction standards for new construction of certain state facilities. (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 or exceed compliance 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 until the regulations described in subsection (b) of this section are adopted. The Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, in consultation with the Commissioner of Public Works and the Institute for Sustainable Energy, shall exempt any facility from complying with said regulations if said secretary finds, in a written analysis, that the cost of such compliance significantly outweighs the benefits. 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.

      (b) Not later than January 1, 2007, the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, in consultation with the Commissioner of Public Works, the Commissioner of Environmental Protection and the Commissioner of Public Safety, shall adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, to adopt state building construction standards that are consistent with or exceed 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, including energy standards that exceed those set forth in the 2004 edition of the American Society of Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) Standard 90.1 by no less than twenty per cent, or an equivalent standard, including, but not limited to, a two-globe rating in the Green Globes USA design program, and thereafter update such regulations as the secretary deems necessary.

      (P.A. 06-187, S. 70; P.A. 07-213, S. 5; 07-242, S. 10; 07-249, S. 15.)

      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.