Connecticut's GreenerGov Awards Highlight State Agencies' Significant Strides in Energy Efficiency and Sustainability
Key Insights
Connecticut's GreenerGov Awards celebrated state agencies for achieving substantial reductions in environmental impact and operational costs during FY24.
The initiative, guided by Executive Orders, has already decreased executive branch emissions by over 14% and significantly boosted solar and EV adoption.
Key awardees demonstrated measurable progress in greenhouse gas reductions, water conservation, electric vehicle infrastructure, and utility cost savings.
State leadership through the 'Lead by Example' program is catalyzing broader market transformations in clean energy and green building construction across Connecticut.
Connecticut's state government celebrated significant strides in its sustainability and clean energy initiatives at the annual GreenerGov Awards Ceremony held on July 31, 2025, at the State Capitol. Hosted by the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), the Office of Policy and Management (OPM), and the Department of Administrative Services (DAS), the event recognized state agencies and staff for their exceptional contributions to reducing environmental impact and advancing the state's climate goals. This 'Lead By Example' program, stemming from Governor Lamont’s Executive Order No. 1 (2019) and Executive Order No. 21-3, aims to lower operating costs while enhancing sustainability across state facilities.
The GreenerGov initiative has already yielded substantial results, with Executive Branch emissions decreasing by over 14% since FY2019, including an 8% reduction in annual building emissions. The program has also seen reductions in water usage, increased solar capacity, and expanded electric vehicle (EV) deployment and composting services. "This progress has positioned the state to achieve many of our targets, including lowering government operational costs, reducing state emissions, and improving state facility resilience," stated DEEP Commissioner and GreenerGov Co-Chair Katie Dykes.
The awards recognized achievements across four key categories for Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) projects. In the Sustainability Achievement category, the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) led in greenhouse gas reductions with a 3.3% decrease. The Connecticut Housing Finance Authority (CHFA) was honored for its food waste composting initiative and a remarkable 348,568-gallon reduction in water consumption. The University of Connecticut (UCONN) and Connecticut State Colleges & Universities (CSCU) were recognized for leading EV charger installations, with 58 and 56 chargers respectively. CSCU also received an award for total solar capacity, having installed 8400 kW of direct current solar, while DEEP was recognized for its new Western District Headquarters' solar capacity relative to electricity usage.
The Environmental and Fiscal Steward Award highlighted agencies achieving significant utility savings. The Department of Labor (DOL) realized the greatest utility cost reductions, saving $184,890, while the Department of Insurance (DOI) achieved substantial savings by decommissioning energy-intensive servers. The Energy Efficiency Award acknowledged the Department of Agriculture (DoAg) for a 4% overall energy reduction and CSCU for a 15% reduction in electricity use. The Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) reduced natural gas use by 11%. The Trailblazer Award recognized UCONN Health for eliminating volatile anesthesia gases, and the Eco Champion award celebrated individuals driving behavioral changes, such as UCONN's EcoMadness competition.
OPM Secretary and GreenerGov Co-Chair Jeffrey Beckham emphasized the broader impact, noting, "State government’s work to lead by example is helping to catalyze market transformations such as solar installations and green building construction that will benefit all of Connecticut’s current and future residents." This ongoing collaborative effort, led by OPM, DAS, and DEEP, continues to drive Connecticut towards a more sustainable and fiscally responsible future.