We envision a healthy, resilient, and equitable built environment that supports the ability for people, communities, and our planet to thrive.

When the organization first started, twenty-three years ago, we were just learning how to do this. Today, we have the knowledge and skills to construct new buildings and retrofit existing ones to drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions and create buildings that are healthier, more comfortable, and less of a burden to heat and cool; a burden that is disproportionally suffered by those who can least afford it.

Energy costs in Connecticut are among the highest in the nation which creates a crippling burden on low- and moderate-income households.

This is an all-hands-on-deck moment. The planet is growing warmer and too many buildings are still built and renovated with conventional methods, are not as energy efficient as they can be, or rely on fossil fuels for heating and cooling.  We can’t keep building this way.

At nearly 47%, buildings are the largest contributor of greenhouse gas emissions in Connecticut. Reducing the amount of energy used and transitioning away from fossil fuels is vital to reducing the worse impacts of climate change.

The quality of the air we breathe inside our buildings has a huge impact on  our health. Studies show that most of us spend 90% of our time indoors. In Connecticut, studies estimate that burning fossil fuels in our homes and buildings resulted in $3.6 billion in health costs (2017) and children living in homes with gas stoves are 42% more likely to develop asthma than homes without. Buildings dramatically impact our health.

Reducing the amount of energy used and transitioning away from fossil fuels is vital to reducing the worse impacts of climate change. Our organization is committed to being the voice for better built buildings. We work to spread awareness, build knowledge, and advocate for responsible and equitable practices in building and legislation.

We rely on donations to help us:

• Provide subject matter expertise and advocate for better built buildings to state agencies and decision-makers who have the potential to enact programs at scale that stand to have the widest impact.
• Provide educational programs at a nominal cost to ensure broad access.
• Mentor students and emerging professionals who represent the next generation of practitioners, professionals and skilled workers committed to creating sustainable, healthier and more resilient buildings.