Sustainable & Green Building Codes

Genesis of Green Codes:  The advent of green building codes and standards is a direct result of the wide-sweeping impacts of green building rating systems like LEED demonstrating that buildings really can be designed and built to lower operating costs, increase value, and reduce their overall impacts.

What is LEED?:  LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is a Green Building Rating System that assess the environmental performance of built projects across a spectrum of key criteria. From water and energy use efficiency to location, the impact of materials used, and more, LEED is intentionally designed to recognize buildings that go beyond minimum code compliance. While these minimums will vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, they should at the very least include the most current version of the model energy code as a mandatory minimum for all buildings.

LEED Certification:  LEED points are awarded on a 100-point scale, and credits are weighted to reflect their potential environmental impacts. Additionally, 10 bonus credits are available, four of which address regionally specific environmental issues. A project must satisfy all prerequisites and earn a minimum number of points to be certified.

 

The Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI) administers LEED certification for all commercial and institutional projects registered under any LEED Rating System. The United States Green Building Council (USGBC) administers the development and ongoing improvement of the LEED rating systems. USGBC is also the primary source for LEED and green building education and resources for project teams, such as reference guides, rating system addenda, workshops, online trainings and other tools to help you achieve success on your LEED project.

International Green Construction Code (IgCC): The IgCC is the first model code that includes sustainability measures for the entire construction project and its site — from design through construction, certificate of occupancy and beyond. The new code is expected to make buildings more efficient, reduce waste, and have a positive impact on health, safety and community welfare.  The IgCC creates a regulatory framework for new and existing buildings, establishing minimum green requirements for buildings and complementing voluntary rating systems which may extend beyond the customizable baseline of the IgCC. The code acts as an overlay to the existing set of International Codes, including provisions of the International Energy Conservation Code and ICC-700, the National Green Building Standard, and incorporates ASHRAE Standard 189.1 as an alternate path to compliance.