Standards Groups Collaborate on Green Building Codes
Memorandum Outlines Plan to Work Together to Develop Codes
ATLANTA — ASHRAE, the International Code Council (ICC), the American Institute of Architects (AIA), the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IES), and the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) announced the signing of a memorandum to collaborate on the development of Standard 189.1, the International Green Construction Code (IgCC), and the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) green building program.
The goal is to create a comprehensive framework for jurisdictions looking to implement and adopt green building regulations and codes and/or provide incentives for voluntary leadership programs such as LEED.
The agreement outlines the development, maintenance, and implementation of new versions of ANSI/ASHRAE/IES/USGBC Standard 189.1, “Standard for the Design of High-Performance, Green Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings,” and the IgCC, which will be combined into one regulatory tool. This agreement also endeavors to align the LEED program with the new code to ensure a streamlined, effective set of regulatory and above-code options for jurisdictions across the country.
“Architects have become the leaders in employing green building techniques, and the IgCC, a valuable regulatory tool, provides support leading to the creation of a sustainable, resilient built environment,” said Robert Ivy, CEO, AIA. “This agreement, which underscores the AIA’s dedication to sustainable design and construction, should lead to more rapid adoption of responsible approaches by designers, builders, developers, and a host of other building industry groups.”
“ASHRAE sees this as a move forward in green building, reducing fragmentation of compliance documents for users who are pressing toward a more sustainable environment,” said Tom Phoenix, president, ASHRAE.
“This landmark agreement will leverage the unique strengths of each of the five partner organizations to deliver a coordinated, integrated suite of green building tools. An ANSI standard as the basis of a regulatory code will push the market and a rating system will pull the market higher” said Brendan Owens, vice president, LEED and USGBC. “We are collectively dedicated to advancing green building practices and to advancing the broader industry’s understanding of the importance of green building goals and how to achieve them.”
Publication date: 9/8/2014
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