Top LEED critic endorses ICC’s green code development

Sources: American High-Performance Buildings Coalition (AHPBC), New York; CP staff

A group of associations representing a wide range of building and construction industry stakeholders—and frequent critic of methods behind the development of the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED rating system—AHPBC issued a statement in support of the International Codes Council (ICC) transparent process for developing the 2015 International green Construction Code (IgCC) as it convened for its expert committee hearings in Memphis.

The AHPBC sees the ICC’s commitment to an open public hearing process for developing the IgCC as highly valuable in achieving more balanced green building objectives. Jurisdictions, code officials, owners, managers and other users know the IgCC has gone through a formal development process in which all affected stakeholders have been given open and public access to provide expert input.

“The green building industry is broad and reaches deep into value chains, so green codes have a significant impact on the marketplace, those who design and produce green building materials, and a diverse group of stakeholders,” the Coalition contends. “Green building codes, standards, ratings systems and credits must be grounded in sound science and developed through voluntary consensus processes in order to see a lasting green building future.

“The International Code Council’s public hearings format—that openly and publically includes leading experts representing all impacted stakeholders, and allows the public to witness the proceedings—serves as an example of how green building standards can be developed in a more open, transparent environment.” — www.betterbuildingstandards.com