High Performance Building Standards in New State Construction

July 26, 2023

Summary

In January 2008, New Jersey enacted legislation mandating the use of high performance green building standards in new state construction. The standard requires that new buildings larger than 15,000 square feet constructed for the sole use of state entities should be designed and managed to meet high performance green building standards. The law allows for exceptions from specific requirements in cases of practical difficulty. These exceptions only apply to the specific requirement in question and do not extend to all requirements. With some exceptions the state is also required to purchase Energy Star products when available, a provision adopted in 2007.

Program Overview

Implementing Sector: State
Category: Regulatory Policy
State: New Jersey
Incentive Type: Energy Standards for Public Buildings
Web Site:
Administrator:
Start Date:
Eligible Renewable/Other Technologies:
  • Solar - Passive
  • Solar Water Heat
  • Solar Space Heat
  • Solar Photovoltaics
  • Wind (All)
  • Biomass
  • Geothermal Heat Pumps
  • Combined Heat & Power
  • Daylighting
  • Comprehensive Measures/Whole Building
  • Custom/Others pending approval
  • Wind (Small)
  • Hydroelectric (Small)
Green Building Requirement: New buildings larger than 15,000 square feet constructed for the sole use of state entities should be designed and managed to meet high performance green building standards. A "high performance green building" must be either attain either a LEED Silver rating, a 2 globe rating from Green Globes, or a comparable rating designated by the Board of Public Utilites.
Equipment Efficiency Requirement: State agencies must use state funds to acquire products bearing the federal Environmental Protection Agency's Energy Star label.

Authorities

Name: N.J. Stat. § 52:32-5.4 et seq.
Date Enacted: 01/13/2008
Effective Date: 01/13/2008
Name: N.J. Stat. § 52:34-6.4
Date Enacted: 08/06/2007
Effective Date: 08/06/2007

This information is sourced from DSIRE; the most comprehensive source of information on incentives and policies that support renewables and energy efficiency in the United States. Established in 1995, DSIRE is operated by the N.C. Clean Energy Technology Center at N.C. State University.