TRENTON – A measure sponsored by Senators Fred H. Madden and Loretta Weinberg that would require all new State buildings to be designed in to meet national Green Building energy conservation performance standards was unanimously approved today by the Senate Economic Growth Committee.
Buildings are considered “green” if they meet enhanced standards in the areas of sustainable site planning; safeguarding water quality and increasing water efficiency; energy efficiency and renewable energy; conservation of materials and resources; and indoor environmental quality.
“This legislation would allow the State of New Jersey to set a positive example for residents by ensuring that State buildings are environmentally-friendly,” said Senator Madden, D-Camden and Gloucester. “It’s time we took responsibility for helping to protect our water and other energy supplies – they won’t be around forever and we need to conserve as much as we can for as long as possible.”
“If we expect our residents to have respect for the environment, we have to set the standard at the State level,” said Senator Weinberg, D-Bergen.
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is the nationally accepted standard for regulating green buildings.
The Senators’ measure, S-843/2146, would require that any State building that is 15,000 square feet or larger to be designed and managed in accordance with LEED Green Building guidelines.
This bill now heads to the Budget and Appropriations Committee for consideration.