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Building committee warned CHIPS certification will be absorbed by USGBC, projects can finish CHIPS only through mid‑2027
Summary
Architects told Middletown’s building committee that the CHIPS green-building certification program is being absorbed by the U.S. Green Building Council, giving projects the option to finish CHIPS by June 30, 2027, or convert to LEED; the move may require substantive work and could affect schedules and contractor bids.
Justin, an HMFH presenter, told the Middletown Building Committee on July 16 that the CHIPS green‑building certification program is being absorbed into the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED program.
The change means “CHIPS is gonna go away, and, LEED will be the only option for certifying projects,” Justin said. He said projects already registered under CHIPS may continue under CHIPS until June 30, 2027, or may switch to LEED at no additional registration fee. Justin added that the credit structures differ and “every credit is written differently, and credits don't necessarily line up apples to apples.”
The committee was told that switching midstream would be a substantial undertaking because much documentation and design work on Middletown projects to date was built to CHIPS credits. Justin said the team asked the CHIPS organization for flexibility and was offered an extension to the end of 2027. He added that demolition of the existing building on the project is scheduled to be complete in November and that final site work could extend into early spring 2028, which may complicate meeting CHIPS deadlines.
Committee members urged the project team to contact other affected parties and trade groups. A committee member noted that the Rhode Island Department of Education had previously encouraged CHIPS for some projects and asked whether the agency had a position on the change; Justin said he had not received feedback from RIDE at the meeting. Several members asked that HMFH and Middletown coordinate with regional stakeholders and the Rhode Island AIA chapter where appropriate.
Justin said the specifications and many subcontractor bids had been written around CHIPS credits and warned that a switch to LEED could prompt contractor change‑order requests.
The committee asked staff to follow up with HMFH, the other two large local projects that might be affected, and regional stakeholders and to report back to the committee when they have more concrete scheduling and cost implications.
