NJ Green Building Manual

 What is the NJ Green Building Manual?

The New Jersey Green Building Manual (NJGBM) is a resource tailored for New Jersey that provides economic and environmental best practices across the spectrum of green building categories including energy, emissions, water, waste, siting, transportation, and human health. The Manual comprises Commercial and Residential sections with best practices strategies applicable to new and existing buildings.

The Manual introduces a “resiliency lens” with an overall focus on green building strategies that jointly benefit energy efficiency and resiliency. The Manual captures advances in smart infrastructure, healthy buildings, and features New Jersey specific case studies including those on Solar Islanding, Heatwave Resiliency, and Load Shedding.

How We Organize the Manual

Design

Integrates planning and decision-making process with operational tools to achieve synergies across building systems, performance targets, and costs.

Build

Utilizes best practices and sustainable materials that limit the impact of the built environment on the natural environment and support community resilience.

Operate

Optimizes building performance and occupant health through education and training in sustainable practices and the integration of smart infrastructure.

Evaluate

Establishes a critical feedback loop for assessing and improving building efficiency and functionality and the occupant experience.

 Focus Areas

Energy

  • Energy Conservation
  • Clean Energy Sources
  • Energy-Efficient Design
  • Carbon Footprint
  • Smart Infrastructure

Resilience

  • Climate Adaptability
  • Storm & Emergency Planning
  • Back-Up Systems
  • Passive Design
  • Green Infrastructure
  • Sustainable Materials

Health

  • Toxin-Free Environment
  • Comfortable & Inspiring
  • Active Living & Well-Being
  • Creative & Productive
  • Connection to Nature

Performance

  • Building Optimization
  • Monitoring & Evaluation
  • Efficiency & Functionality
  • Occupant Experience

Site

  • Location Sensitivity
  • Flood Prevention
  • Ecosystem Enhancement
  • Natural Resource Preservation
  • Connected & Shared Mobility

Water

  • Water Conservation
  • Water Harvesting
  • Alternative Water Reuse
  • Stormwater Management

Waste

  • Construction & Demolition Waste
  • Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
  • Composting

Materials

  • Life-Cycle Accounting
  • Environmental Footprint
  • Human Health Impact
  • Material Durability
  • Low Maintenance

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