Sec. 29-256a. Revision of code. Energy efficiency.

      Sec. 29-256a. Revision of code. Energy efficiency. (a) On and after January 1, 2008, the State Building Inspector and the Codes and Standards Committee shall revise the State Building Code to require that buildings and building elements, including residential, be designed to provide optimum cost-effective energy efficiency over the useful life of the building. Such revision shall meet the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers Standard 90.1 for new construction.

      (b) Notwithstanding subsection (a) of this section, the State Building Inspector and the Codes and Standards Committee shall revise the State Building Code to require that any (1) building, except a residential building with no more than four units, constructed after January 1, 2009, that is projected to cost not less than five million dollars, and (2) renovation to any building, except a residential building with no more than four units, started after January 1, 2010, that is projected to cost not less than two million dollars shall be built or renovated using building construction standards consistent with or exceeding 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. The inspector and the committee shall provide for an exemption for any building if the Institute for Sustainable Energy finds, in a written analysis, that the cost of such compliance significantly outweighs the benefits.

      (P.A. 90-219, S. 3; P.A. 07-242, S. 78.)

      History: P.A. 07-242 designated existing provisions as Subsec. (a), amended same to specify that on and after January 1, 2008, requirements for buildings and building elements include residential buildings and building elements and added Subsec. (b) re building construction standards.