FIND A CONTRACTOR BUYER'S GUIDE
BECOME AN INDUSTRY PARTNER
MCAA Logo
MEMBER LOGIN JOIN
NEWS
2026 Midyear Meeting Registration is OPEN ↗

States powering new, innovative green building policy

Words: Jeremy Adkins/Public/News/20110903115500-1.jpg" width="600" height="338" border="0" alt="A bill in Connecticut established the nation's first state-managed "green bank"." />
A bill in Connecticut established the nation's first state-managed "green bank".
The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) released a report highlighting positive green building policy advancements being made in all 50 states. The report, "Advancing Green Building Policy in the States: 2011 Victories from Alabama to Wyoming," showcases actions that states are taking to transform the market, despite a struggling economy.

"This report is a goldmine of creative approaches to driving a green economy where super efficient buildings become the norm rather than the exception," said Roger Platt, Senior Vice President of Global Policy and Law, USGBC.

"Given the public's demand that government do more with less, well targeted investments at the state level can actually inspire innovation, unlock efficiency and promote public health all while creating and maintaining jobs," added Platt.

Among the hundreds of strong ideas that have been initiated by state legislatures and regulatory authorities this year, 25 states have taken another step forward. The newly adopted policies are wide ranging, covering energy efficiency finance, investments in high-performance schools and incentives for green homes and manufacturing facilities, in addition to new minimum codes.

Highlights include:
  • A "cool schools" bill was adopted in Oregon, which would allow the state to repair and retrofit aging schools to reduce operational costs and create jobs. This will also promote human and environmental health in the buildings where 20 percent of America spends its time.

  • A bill in Connecticut established the nation's first state-managed "green bank" - also known as the Clean Energy Finance and Investment Authority - which leverages government dollars to provide financing for clean energy and efficiency projects across the state.

  • A new law in Colorado now provides incentives for homeowners to improve both the energy efficiency of their existing home and also to purchase a "highly efficient new home," such as one that is LEED certified.

  • In New York, a new law establishes a revolving loan fund that enables property owners to access financing for retrofits and energy efficiency upgrades and to repay the loan with savings earned on utility bills.

  • A Maryland act now enables the adoption of a national model green building code by all local governments across the state.
The full report can be viewed here. Visit USGBC's blog for more details.

For more information on USGBC's advocacy and public policy work, visit www.usgbc.org/government.
 0
Chairman’s Message: When Things Don’t Go as Planned
June 2026

Not every day in this business goes the way we planned. Some days, everything lines up. The crew is moving well. Materials are on time. The job is flowing the way you hoped it would. And then there are the other days. The ones where something breaks. T

Kent Huntley
Chairman’s Message
Read More
Fechino Files: Trust Your Subs, Just Document!
June 2026

When I was working for a large masonry contractor, we typically performed masonry work with our own employees. When we would construct large Segmental Retaining Walls, often we would require a subcontractor who had larger equipment for different portions

Steve Fechino
Fechino Files
Read More
Marvelous Masonry: Borobudur
June 2026

For masonry contractors and suppliers, few structures offer as much practical insight as Borobudur. Built in the 9th century in Central Java, this massive stone monument remains as one of the most advanced examples of large-scale masonry construction ever

Cassandra Stern
Marvelous Masonry
Read More
Wrapping Up Our Year And A Look Ahead
June 2026

It is amazing another year has gone by and what a year it has been. We have seen a lot of progress on so many fronts. All of this happens specifically due to the support of our members. Your support this past year is positioning our industry to make huge

Jeff B
President's Message
Read More