The Green Buildings Act and Green Buildings Advisory Committee (GBAC)

About the Rhode Island Green Buildings Act

On November 9, 2009, the Green Buildings Act (RIGL §37-24) was signed into law and was further updated on June 27, 2022. The Act requires that all new construction and renovation projects over 10,000 gross square feet, constructed by a public agency be designed and constructed to a LEED Certified or an equivalent high performance green building standard.

 A public agency includes all State departments, municipalities, public institutions of education, and any subdivisions of these agencies.

About the Rhode Island Green Buildings Advisory Committee

The Rhode Island Green Buildings Advisory Committee (GBAC) was formed in 2010 to help implement the Green Buildings Act. The Committee, which consists of volunteers from State agencies and the general public, works with the Department of Administration and the Rhode Island Building Code Commission to help ensure compliance with the law and to provide education on green building practices for Rhode Islanders.

Green Buildings Advisory Committee Members

  • Christopher Armstrong – Representing: At-Large
  • Justine Brown – Representing: Rhode Island Department of Administration, Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance
  • Rachel Calabro – Representing: Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management
  • Jim Cambio – Representing: Rhode Island Office of the Building Code Commissioner
  • Tim Carroll – Representing: Rhode Island Department of Transportation
  • Patrick Crowley – Representing: Labor
  • Dr. Joseph da Silva – Representing: Rhode Island Department of Education, School Building Authority
  • Jeffrey Diehl – Representing: Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank
  • Kenneth Filarski – Representing: Architecture
  • Michael O’Brien Crayne – Representing: Energy
  • Stephen Turner – Representing: Engineering
  • John Willumsen – Representing: Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training
  • Mark Winslow – Representing: General Construction Contracting

Public Meetings

All GBAC meetings are open to the public. Below is a list of scheduled meetings. Click on the meeting date to access meeting materials. For inquiries about previous meetings, please email DOA.RIGBAC@doa.ri.gov.

All meetings are scheduled to begin at 9:00 am.

Meeting dates, times, and locations are subject to change. All meetings will be officially noticed via the Secretary of State’s website in compliance with Open Meetings Act.

 

Sign up for the GBAC Distribution List

Public Comments

Submit a Public Comment to Rhode Island’s Green Buildings Advisory Committee (GBAC)

There are multiple ways you can submit a public comment to the Committee. No matter which method you use, your comment(s) will be shared with the Committee during the next public meeting and will become part of the publicly available meeting minutes.

 

Submit a Comment Online

Email the GBAC:

Email your public comment to DOA.RIGBAC@doa.ri.gov. Please be sure to include your full name, who you represent (it may be yourself or your organization), your contact information, and your public comment in the body of your email.

Attend a Meeting:

All GBAC meetings are open to the public and offer time for public comment. Click here to access the Secretary of State’s website with more information about upcoming GBAC meetings.

Resources

Forms

RIGBAC Preconstruction Certification
RIGBAC Post Construction Certification
Appeal Application
Reporting Form
 

Helpful Information

AIA Presentation
RIGBAC Presentation
LEED v4 and IGCC 2015 Comparison
Recommended RFP Language
 

Green Building Program Links

RI Stretch Codes/IGCC
NE-CHPS
USGBC LEED
USGBC LEED for Neighborhood Development
Sustainable SITES
Green Globes
 

Committee Documents

Rules & Regulations
 

Annual Reports

2021 GBAC Annual Report
2020 GBAC Annual Report