Press Releases
04/21/2026
State Agencies Continue to Make Sustainability Gains and Operating Savings Through GreenerGovCT Initiative
(HARTFORD) — GreenerGovCT, Governor Lamont’s government sustainability and cost-savings program, has helped reduce state agency greenhouse gas emissions by nearly 30% since 2019, GreenerGovCT Chairs shared at the annual Steering Committee Meeting Tuesday. GreenerGov CT provides guidance and assistance to agencies to be more sustainable in an effort to reduce waste and lower operating costs. Since 2012, state agencies have completed over 100 projects to reduce energy and water use in state facilities, which will save taxpayers over $20 million in lower operating costs over the next 20 years.
Governor Lamont’s Executive Order No. 1 (E.O.1), signed in 2019, directed state agencies to recommit to – and expand – the state’s Lead by Example program to reduce energy use, water, waste, and greenhouse gas emissions while lowering operating costs in state government facilities and operations. In 2021, Governor Lamont established additional sub-targets for state agencies via Executive Order No. 21-3 (E.O.21-3). These sub-targets impact state agency solar deployment, organics and food waste diversion, electric vehicle deployment, and more. Projects helping to achieve these targets can be viewed on the GreenerGov interactive map. GreenerGovCT is co-chaired by the Department of Energy & Environmental Protection (DEEP), the Department of Administrative Services (DAS), and the Office of Policy and Management (OPM).
The reduction in state agency greenhouse gas emissions by 28.3% since 2019 have been achieved through a large variety of building and solar-related projects, including the installation of over 24 MW of solar on state properties and over 130 energy efficiency retrofits. Beyond projects, the GreenerGov Initiative has centralized utility bill data across 40 agencies, which allows facility managers and Senior Sustainability Officers to more closely monitor electricity use, fuel consumption, and cost trends. Since 2023, this systematic review of utility bills has saved the state over $400,000 by proactively catching and resolving billing errors as they arise.
During the meeting, key takeaways from the forthcoming Fiscal Year 24 Annual GreenerGov Report were presented, including:
- An overall greenhouse gas reduction of over 28% since FY2019;
- 64% of electricity purchased and generated by the Executive Branch being zero carbon;
- A reduction in water consumption of over 5% since FY2020;
- Lower usage of natural gas and electricity since FY2019;
- Implementation of projects in FY24 with expected lifetime savings of over $1.9 million - helping reduce the impact of higher energy prices
- Small, but incremental increases in solar installations, electric vehicle leases, and composting across state agencies.
The meeting featured a keynote address by Bruce Becker, President of Becker + Becker, a Westport-based integrated sustainable architecture and development firm. Mr. Becker shared his experiences designing and retrofitting buildings to the highest levels of efficiency and sustainability and offered observations on how the State can more effectively facilitate similar efforts.
Two State agencies also highlighted their recent achievements: the Department of Labor (DOL) on reducing energy use and costs, and the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority (CHFA) on reducing water usage. DAS also presented on a building HVAC decarbonization study, which will provide a detailed blueprint for all state agencies on ways to potentially decarbonize their heating and cooling systems.
“Connecticut’s progress under the GreenerGovCT initiative demonstrates what’s possible when we align strong policy direction with day-to-day operational action,” said DEEP Commissioner Katie Dykes. “The nearly 30% reduction in state agency greenhouse gas emissions since 2019 reflects over a hundred efficiency projects, expanded solar deployment, better data management, and the sustained dedication of our agency partners. State facilities are leading the way in saving money and building a cleaner, more resilient future for Connecticut.”
“The results we’re seeing today are the product of careful planning, smart investments, and the hard work of facility teams across the state,” said DAS Commissioner Michelle Gilman. “DAS is proud to help modernize the state’s building portfolio in ways that reduce both emissions and operating costs. The savings we’ve achieved through centralized utility bill review—more than $400,000 since 2023—show that sustainability and fiscal responsibility go hand in hand. We look forward to expanding this work as we help agencies transition to cleaner, more efficient systems in every corner of state government.”
“GreenerGovCT continues to prove that environmental leadership is also sound government management. By bringing together data, policy, and strategic planning, we are equipping state agencies with the tools they need to reduce waste, conserve resources, and make long-term cost-effective decisions,” said OPM Secretary Joshua Wojcik. “The progress reflected in this year’s forthcoming report—including expanded solar installations, reductions in water and energy use, and improved agency data dashboard—shows the value of sustained cross-agency collaboration. OPM is proud to support this initiative and will continue working across state government to ensure Connecticut meets its climate commitments while strengthening the efficiency of state operations.”
About GreenerGovCT
GreenerGov CT is a collaborative effort led by co-chaired by the Office of Policy and Management (OPM), the Department of Administrative Services (DAS), and the Department of Energy & Environmental Protection (DEEP), with Senior Sustainability Officers (SSOs) in each executive branch agency leading sustainability initiatives within their departments. For more information on the GreenerGov Initiative, visit Connecticut GreenerGov, or email DEEP LeadByExample at leadbyexample@ct.gov.
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Contact
DEEP Communications
DEEP.Communications@ct.gov
860-424-3110