Green Building Code Reinforces Sustainability Trend

Sustainability is hot these days. The trend toward both adopting more energy-efficient and eco-friendly practices at home, and tackling more substantial green building and green retro-fits in business continues to rise across the country. These efforts will now be supported and regulated by the newly developed International Green Construction Code (IGCC). Establishing such a code reflects the interest in and prominence of green building, as the population becomes more aware of vital environmental and health issues.

Consumer awareness of such issues has risen, and in challenging economic times, people are choosing carefully where to spend their dollars. A growing percentage of consumers are more likely to buy from businesses they perceive as being eco-friendly. The general population is becoming more knowledgeable about concepts like "carbon footprint" and consumers are looking to alternative energy sources, hybrid vehicles and responsibly produced food products. Consumers are buying fewer cheap, disposable products and are re-using and recycling more items.

Whether at home or at the office, state and federal tax refunds for upgrading to energy-efficient appliances and systems are providing incentives for many to make the switch to a greener lifestyle. Tax benefits available to businesses through the Energy Policy Act of 2005 have been extended through 2013. A growing number of businesses are working toward LEED certification to make a positive contribution to the health of their employees and the environment, as well as benefitting from the improved financial health of their business.

The newest significant development in green construction is the launch of the IGCC on March 15, 2010. The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) continues to actively promote green building, and most recently joined with the International Code Council (ICC), the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), and the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IES) to create the International Green Construction Code (IGCC). The IGCC builds on the LEED certification system, and provides a set of standards and enforceable green building codes intended to facilitate the construction of green buildings in the U.S. The IGCC is designed to be continuously evolving, resulting in increased performance as new technologies are developed.

The ICC and ASHRAE have a long history of establishing codes and standards governing the design, construction, operations and maintenance of residential and commercial buildings. By joining forces with the USGBC and IES, each organization's strengths can be leveraged in a partnership that will establish enforceable green building codes reaching all 50 states and over 22,000 local jurisdictions.

Additionally, ANSI/ASHRAE/USGBC/IES Standard 189.1 provides an alternative set of standards covering indoor environmental air quality, energy and water-use efficiency, materials and resource use, and impact on the building site and surrounding community. Standard 189.1 was written by building industry experts over a three year period, in which it underwent four public reviews, receiving thousands of comments.

As the sustainability trend continues to evolve and green building codes become the standard, it's important for businesses to be aware of available programs and incentives, stay up to date on code requirements as they continue to be refined, as well as understanding the potential impact of these factors on their bottom line. The experts at Capital Review Group assist businesses in targeting the maximum savings and developing a strategy for successfully riding the "green" wave.

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Capital Review Group