ICC News
Consensus Committee Appointed For National
Green Building Standard
April 9, 2007 - The National Association of Home Builders
(NAHB) and the International Code Council (ICC) announced
today that the members to the Consensus Committee on the National
Green Building Standard have been appointed by the NAHB Research
Center Executive Standards Committee. This Consensus Committee
represents the industry in its efforts to develop and publish
an American National Standards Institute (ANSI)-approved standard
on residential green building. The collaboration between the
two groups, announced at the International Builders’
Show in Orlando, Fla., in February, reinforced the commitment
of the organizations to bring uniformity to sustainable building
practices.
The Consensus Committee is made up of more than forty groups
representing a broad spectrum of the industry. Its purpose
is to review the working draft of the national standard based
on NAHB’s Model Green Home Building Guidelines and to
develop ICC/NAHB National Green Building Standard. Unlike
the Guidelines, which are intended to be used in the construction
of one- and two-family homes, the new standard will be applicable
to all new home construction, including multifamily units.
“The creation of the National Green Building Standard
is a huge step forward for the industry,” said Ray Tonjes,
chairman of the NAHB Green Building Subcommittee and an Austin,
Texas, home builder. “We are proud to work with ICC to
produce a voluntary national standard that will take into
account regional differences and allow for flexibility, while
increasing the efficiency and quality of homes in America.”
Both organizations have been actively involved in efforts
to advance green building practices within the industry. In
response to its members’ requests for clearer guidance
on green building practices, NAHB developed the Model Green
Home Building Guidelines in 2005, now a nationally recognized
certification tool. The Guidelines currently form the basis
for more than 15 state and local voluntary green building
programs around the country. ICC has been promoting green
building practices through its family of International Codes,
which set minimum standards for energy efficiency for the
construction industry.
"ICC member participation on the National Green Building
Standard committee will ensure that green homes of the future
are also safe homes," said Code Council Board President
Wally Bailey. "ICC is committed to green building and
participating in activities that will assure green building
practices are sustainable and safe."
“The collaboration between our two organizations demonstrates
our strong commitment to sustainable building practices and
the creation of a national standard for green building,”
said Eric Borsting, chairman of the NAHB Construction Codes
and Standards Committee. “We look forward to the publication
of a strong ANSI standard that represents the needs of the
industry and the growth of green building initiatives.”
The NAHB Research Center, which oversaw the development of
NAHB’s Guidelines and is an ANSI-accredited standards
developer, will serve as the secretariat for the new standard.
"The Code Council's support for green building, especially
teaming with NAHB to develop a standard for green homes, demonstrates
our corporate commitment to respect the environment,"
said ICC CEO Rick Weiland. "Green technology plays an
important role in our collective future, not just in the United
States but around the world."
The full list of members of the Consensus Committee can be
found at www.nahbrc.org/gbstandard.
ABOUT ICC: The International Code Council, a membership association
dedicated to building safety and fire prevention, develops
the codes used to construct residential and commercial buildings,
including homes and schools. Most U.S. cities, counties and
states that adopt codes choose the International Codes developed
by the International Code Council.
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