In January 2025, New York State released the “Decarbonization and Climate Resiliency Design Guide: Interim Guidance for New Buildings and Major Renovations” (“Design Guide”) which applies to agencies and authorities as outlined in Executive Order 22. This Design Guide provides necessary guidance to meet existing commitments to design sustainable, resilient, and cost-effective State capital projects.

The Design Guide is the critical first step to support design teams in meeting existing New York State requirements for buildings in Executive Order 22, the Climate Action Council Scoping Plan, and the 2023 Budget Bill (Part RR). It details recommended design standards drawing from industry best practices, international and national standards, and precedent state efforts.
 

Decarbonization and Climate Resiliency Design Guide: Interim Guidance

The Design Guide outlines how NYS Affected Entities designing new or majorly renovated state buildings, at a minimum should:

• Increase energy efficiency by using the NY Stretch energy code (supporting decarbonization and BuildSmart requirements),  
• Design for Zero Emissions by installing all-electric equipment (E.O. #22 Section VII.B), and
• Design for climate resilience by incorporating the climate conditions the building will experience during its full useful life into design criteria (E.O. #22 Section XI.C.1-2) 

The Design Guide also offers “enhanced” recommendations for agencies that aim to showcase innovative, emerging design alternatives for sustainable and resilient projects.

Download the Decarbonization and Climate Resiliency Design Guide: Interim Guidance for New Buildings and Major Renovations here:
 

decarbonization and resiliency design guide

Applicability

The Design Guide is applicable to all New York State Affected Entities, which are “any agency or department over which the Governor has executive authority...as well as public authorities... except for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. This shall include the State University of New York and the City University of New York.” It also applies to entities under jurisdiction of the Scoping Plan and/or budget bill above. Exhibit A of Executive Order 22 (E.O.#22) contains the full list of 75 Affected Entities.

Affected Entities designing new or majorly renovated state buildings that meet thresholds stated below should refer to the Design Guide to inform scoping and design contracts authorized on or after April 1, 2025. Affected Entities are also encouraged to refer to this Guide during their capital planning or budgeting process and are expected to incorporate the minimum requirements into new projects.

“New Construction” owned/operated by State Affected Entities refers to the construction of a new building that is occupied during all four seasons and is 5,000 square feet or larger.

“Major Renovations” include any project in which either:

• the renovated area includes 10,000 square feet or more, and/or
• the cost of renovation is expected to exceed $2 million.
   

Implementation Support

To support implementation of the Design Guide requirements, GreenNY Council members launched the Sustainable and Resilient Design Network in January 2025 for State Affected Entities. This network provides a forum for state agency design and construction staff to share knowledge, best practices, and feedback on implementation of the Guide, as well as contribute to developing future expanded guidance. 

FOR STATE EMPLOYEES ONLY: Sign up for the Sustainable Resilient Design Network.