The mission of our committee is to encourage the adoption in Connecticut of green building practices for both new construction and existing homes. We are a volunteer committee of sustainable building professionals pursuing our mission via a variety of outreach and educational initiatives.

LEED for Homes
As a chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council, the CTGBC endorses LEED for Homes which is a voluntary rating system that promotes the design and construction of high-performance green homes. The standards for this certification program are stringent which results in new homes that are verified by third parties to offer high levels of efficiency and to consider many other factors that enhance sustainability.

REGREEN
Improving the efficiency and sustainability of existing homes is very important because the vast majority of homes Americans will be occupying for the next 20+ years have already been built. The USGBC has partnered with ASID Foundation to develop best practice guidelines for residential improvement projects. The program is called REGREEN, and it includes a variety of resources to help both homeowners and professionals seeking to utilize green building practices in every kind of renovation project.

Other Green Building Programs
ENERGY STAR is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy which have developed efficiency standards for homes (and many other products). The certification standards set by Energy Star have been incorporated into LEED for Homes and represent an important starting point for homeowners who want green homes.
http://www.energystar.gov/

The Home Builders Association of Connecticut has developed a program called Build Green Connecticut. Based on the National Green Building ProgramTM, it offers guidelines for building a green home, as well as a green certification program.

Case Studies
There is no one best way to build or renovate a green home. The reality is that there are an unlimited number of ways to incorporate green building in to any project. Featured here are examples of such projects in Connecticut. Each case study features pictures and information to help a homeowner or professional use similar strategies themselves. Visit the case studies page.

Contacts