For the first time, the U.S. has a national green building code. The International Green Construction Code (IGCC), approved last fall after two years of development, applies to all new and renovated commercial buildings, and residential buildings over three stories high. The historic code sets mandatory baseline standards for all aspects of building design and construction, including energy and water efficiency, site impacts, building waste, and materials. Although the final code won’t be published until March 2012, many local and state governments have begun to officially adopt it.

The IGCC codes differs from LEED certification, which is voluntary. Although many buildings now strive for LEED, there are more that don’t. The new code will thus raise the standards for all buildings. Also to qualify for LEED, designers choose from a menu of options. They may choose to address certain aspects of energy efficiency, such as lighting for example, while leaving others out. Setting a “floor” through the code, creates the opportunity for LEED-certifications to push toward higher “ceilings,” where buildings are awarded for truly reaching greater levels of performance, rather than receiving awards for what are increasingly expected standards.

Local governments and states have the choice of adopting the code, but once they do, it’s enforceable. They can add their own requirements on top of the code, that address local concerns, such as stormwater management or lighting pollution control.

To help implement the code, IGCC includes a “cookbook” approach for smaller buildings to follow, and a more flexible approach for large buildings. To develop the code, the International Code Council worked with many stakeholders, with the American Institute of Architects, U.S. Green Building Council, and the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), foremost among them.

Source: SustainableBusiness.com News