Building Energy Code (Connecticut)

Last modified on February 12, 2015.

Rules Regulations Policies Program

Place	Connecticut
Name	Building Energy Code
Incentive Type	Building Energy Code
Applicable Sector	Commercial, Residential
Eligible Technologies	Comprehensive Measures/Whole Building, Biomass, Daylighting, Fuel Cells using Renewable Fuels, Passive Solar Space Heat, Photovoltaics, Small Hydroelectric, Solar Space Heat, Solar Water Heat, Wind
Active Incentive	Yes
Implementing Sector	State/Territory
Energy Category	Energy Efficiency Incentive Programs, Renewable Energy Incentive Programs
Code Change Cycle	Not more than every four years. Most recent change effective October 7, 2011.
Commercial Code	2005 Connecticut State Building Code with 2011 Amendments; includes 2009 IECC
Residential Code	2005 Connecticut State Building Code and 2009 Amendment; includes 2006 IECC
Website	http://bcap-ocean.org/state-country/connecticut
Date added to DSIRE	2007-06-20
Last DSIRE Review	2012-09-28
Last Substantive Modification to Summary by DSIRE	2011-09-30
References	DSIRE

Summary

Much of the information presented in this summary is drawn from the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Building Energy Codes Program and the Building Codes Assistance Project (BCAP). For more detailed information about building energy codes, visit the DOE and BCAP websites.

The Connecticut Office of the State Building Inspector establishes and enforces building, electrical, mechanical, plumbing and energy code requirements by reviewing, developing, adopting and administering the state building code. Compliance is determined through construction documents submitted to the relevant local building official showing detailed building data and features, and equipment systems governed under the code. Variances and interpretations of the code are granted through the Connecticut Department of Public Safety.

HB 7432, enacted in June 2007, added provisions to strengthen the state's building code, and required the state building inspector and the Codes and Standards Committee to revise the state building code by January 1, 2008. The new code applies to all buildings (including residential buildings) and is designed to provide optimum cost-effective energy efficiency over the useful life of the building. HB 6284 of 2009 further required the state building inspector and the Codes and Standards Committee to adopt the 2012 version of the IECC within 18 months of its publication.

HB 7432 also created a requirement for certain building projects (not including residential buildings with less than four units) to follow approved green building guidelines. The provision applies to buildings constructed after January 1, 2009, that are projected to cost at least $5 million, and building renovation projects started after January 1, 2010, that are projected to cost at least $2 million. The bill required building projects which meet this criteria to achieve a silver rating from LEED, a two-globe rating in the Green Globes USA design program, or an equivalent standard. After enforcement difficulties for this provision were identified, HB 6284 of 2009 revised the requirement so that the affected buildings do not have to be certified under these green building programs, but must simply be designed to adhere to their specifications. The state building inspector and the Codes and Standards Committee will adopt provisions within the state building code specific to these building types that reference these green building certification programs, but allow building owners to demonstrate compliance through means other than certification under those specific certification programs.

Incentive Contact

Contact Name	John Ruckes
Department	Connecticut Office of Policy and Management
Address 2	450 Capitol Avenue, MS 52ENR
Place	Hartford, Connecticut
Zip/Postal Code	06106
Phone	(860) 418-6384
Email	john.ruckes@ct.gov
Website	http://www.ct.gov/opm

Authorities (Please contact the if there are any file problems.)

Authority 1:	HB 7432 (Sec. 78)
Date Effective	2008-01-01
Date Enacted	2007-06-04

Authority 2:	HB 6284
Date Effective	2009-07-08
Date Enacted	2009-07-08

• Incentive and policy data are reviewed and approved by the N.C. Solar Center's DSIRE project staff.