ICC, ASHRAE, LEED developers aim to streamline green building codes

The International Code Council, ASHRAE, American Institute of Architects, Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IES) and U.S. Green Building Council will collaborate on development of Standard 189.1, International Green Construction Code and the LEED green building program.

“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 to push the market and a rating system to pull the market higher,” says USGBC Vice President, LEED Brendan Owens. “We are collectively dedicated to advancing green building practices and the broader industry’s understanding about the importance of green building goals and how to achieve them.”

The organizations target a comprehensive framework for jurisdictions looking to implement and adopt green building regulations and codes and/or provide incentives for voluntary leadership programs. Their agreement a) 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; and, b) 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,” notes AIA CEO Robert Ivy, FAIA. “This agreement should lead to more rapid adoption of responsible approaches by designers, builders, developers and a host of other building industry groups.”