International Green Construction Code: Game-Changer in Sustainable Building

by George H. Miller, FAIA

For the last decade, green building rating systems have been the top standard for designing sustainable buildings, but at the end of the day, they are non-enforceable guidelines. Because buildings are the largest contributors of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, it's become clear in recent years that a more rigorous and complete set of rules are needed for green and sustainable building. The work needed to formalize a code to address sustainability has been a major industry challenge - that is, until now.

A new proposal - currently being developed by the International Code Council (ICC) with involvement from the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and a group of partner organizations - called the International Green Construction Code (IGCC) could bring the required sea change to the design and construction industry when it comes to sustainable design. The code, which will provide a set of rules and policies by which buildings and their designs must abide, is the first actionable step in making "going green" a requirement and not simply an owner's choice. The AIA is spearheading the effort as part of its mission to help architects take an active role in lowering the nation's overall energy consumption.

Nicknamed the "Green Code," the IGCC, which has been endorsed by the U.S. Conference of Mayors, mandates that a building achieve specific and strict sustainable design goals, set by states or municipalities as well as offering options for design of additional measures toward higher levels of performance. This is the first time in the architectural profession that a group has taken on the challenge of codifying the concept of sustainable design. While previous systems were a great start, the groups involved in the Green Code believe that this codification will finally combine the expertise required for green building with model building codes for safety and health.

As with any change, however, there are challenges which the AIA believes can - and will - be overcome over time. The most important of these challenges is the fact that, as opposed to other sustainability systems, the IGCC code will be enforceable - meaning code violations could be issued by a governing body for failure to comply.

This issue is at the heart of AIA's current work on the code and will be discussed at length over the coming months to ensure that the profession understands the new requirements and is ready to apply them. Though the change will be significant for architects that haven't yet worked on sustainable design projects, ultimately, the AIA believes the Green Code will make the role of the profession in design and construction stronger.

To help educate the architectural profession and prepare for the changes, the AIA has taken an especially large role in spearheading these efforts, educating professionals about the process of code writing and making sure that comments, concerns and ideas are shared with the policy drafters. The AIA is actively and aggressively asking its members to participate to ensure that their voices are heard by participating in code development. The second code development round is currently just beginning for the second public version (PV 2.0). This new version includes changes heard at public hearings on hundreds of proposed changes involving hundreds of interested parties - not just architects - such as building product manufacturers and building owners to ensure a 360-degree perspective. The deadline for submitting changes is January 3, 2011, after which a code development hearing will take place in Dallas in May 2011. Final comments on the proposed changes are due August 12, 2011, and public hearings will take place in Phoenix, November 2-6, 2011 with the expectation that the new code will be finalized and published by March 2012. AIA staff and members will be active participants at these code hearings, testifying on behalf of the code changes submitted by AIA members as well as commenting on the hundreds of other proposals that will be submitted by other stakeholders in the code development process.

The AIA sees this code as perhaps the biggest practice development to hit the profession in the last 50 years. This is why the AIA is encouraging all those with a stake in the codes to become involved in the discussion and crafting of policy, to ensure their views and ideas are heard. In the fight against climate change, the loudest and most influential voices may just come from architects.

George H. Miller is president of the American Institute of Architects.

International Green Construction Code: Game-Changer in Sustainable Building

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