Building Requirements for State-Funded Buildings
This program does not directly affect individual homeowners—it applies only to state-owned buildings and facilities receiving state funding for major construction or renovation projects over 25,000 square feet. If you are a New Hampshire resident, you may indirectly benefit through reduced energy consumption and operational costs at state facilities you use.
Your firm can bid on state-funded building projects that must meet high-performance energy and design standards set by the Department of Environmental Services and Department of Administrative Services. Projects over 25,000 square feet and exceeding $1 million in renovation costs must comply; the standard allows 10 years for projects to recoup incremental costs through energy savings, so design and specification excellence directly supports the client's financial case.
New Hampshire law (S.B. 409, effective July 1, 2011) mandates energy-efficiency standards for state-funded major construction and renovation projects exceeding 25,000 square feet and $1 million in cost. Exemptions include smaller buildings, non-HVAC facilities, school buildings, university system projects, experimental technology pilots, and historic structures. Executive Order 2016-03 targets 30% fossil-fuel reduction by 2020, 40% by 2025, and 50% by 2030 relative to 2005 baselines across all state-owned facilities, with the 10-year cost-recovery threshold ensuring fiscal responsibility in capital planning.
Program details
- Program ID
- 1893
- Last updated
- 7/5/2024
Eligibility
- Sectors
- state government
- Technologies
- comprehensive measures/whole building yes; specific technologies not identified
Program summary
Signed in 2011, Executive Order 2011-1 requires that new construction or renovations in excess of 25,000 square feet meet or exceed current IECC energy code. The order established a goal of reducing fossil-fuel use in state facilities by 25 percent over 2005 levels by 2025. This was superseded by Executive Order 2016-03, which set updated goals of reducing fossil fuel use at state-owned facilities by 30 percent by 2020, 40 percent by 2025 and 50 percent by 2030, compared to a 2005 baseline.
New Hampshire enacted legislation (S.B. 409) in July 2010 stipulating that major construction and maintenance projects that receive state funding must meet a high-performance energy and design standard determined by the Department of Environmental Services and the Department of Administrative Services, in consultation with the Division of Historic Resources and the state's community college system. The standard, effective July 1, 2011, specifies that the building or structure can recoup the incremental costs of this requirement through reduced energy costs over 10 years.
This requirement does not apply to buildings or structures less than 25,000 square feet; buildings and structures that do not consume energy for heating, ventilating, or air conditioning; renovations or modifications estimated to cost less than $1 million; temporary structures; certain public school facilities; the state's university system; projects employing new, innovative, or experimental energy-efficient technology that might not recoup their incremental costs within 10 years; or historic buildings.
Contact & resources
- Contact email
- office@nh.gov
- Additional resources
Please verify current program details with the administering agency before making any financial decisions.
