The International Code Council Celebrates Earth Day
From green construction to sustainability and resiliency, the Code Council family of solutions is part of the technological transformation to help make our buildings safer and more sustainable.
Since 1970, countries around the world have celebrated Earth Day on April 22 to spread awareness about and gain support for environmental protection.
Over the years, stakeholders within the built environment have recognized the dangers of the changing climate and have implemented initiatives and goals focused on sustainability.
The construction industry has historically been one of the largest consumers of energy and has contributed greatly to carbon dioxide emissions. According to the U.S. Green Building Council, buildings consume about 40 percent of all energy in the United States each year, including the energy utilized during construction.
In recent years, global dialogue has increased awareness of this issue and industry leaders, such as the International Code Council, have responded with action.
Incorporating Green Building Practices into Construction
From green construction to sustainability and resiliency, the Code Council family of solutions is part of the technological transformation to help make our buildings safer and more sustainable.
The International Codes® (I-Codes) are the most widely used and adopted set of building safety codes in the world. Many jurisdictions in the United States and abroad incorporate the I-Codes into their building design and compliance processes to construct safe, sustainable and affordable structures.
The International Green Construction Code® (IgCC) is a part of the Code Council’s suite of comprehensive, coordinated and sustainable-focused model codes – including the International Building Code® (IBC), International Residential Code® (IRC), International Energy Conservation Code® (IECC), International Existing Building Code® (IEBC), and International Plumbing Code® (IPC).
The IgCC provides fundamental criteria for energy efficiency, resource conservation, water safety, land use and site development, indoor environmental quality and building performance. It has wide applicability for incorporating resilient, high-performance green building design strategies into building codes to improve the standard of living for people in communities across the globe.
Adopting and implementing the IgCC can also aid occupant comfort and health, save money and preserve resources during the design, construction and operation of buildings. Many homeowners, businesses and building professionals have voluntarily sought to incorporate green and sustainable building strategies into their projects, and a number of systems have been developed to guide green building practices.
Off-Site Construction: The Future of Green Building
The expanded use of off-site construction (often called modular or prefabrication) is one approach to help solve challenges facing the building industry, including workforce availability, housing affordability, job site safety, building quality and sustainability. Off-site construction addresses the need for more buildings while simultaneously respecting natural resources and keeping a watchful eye on environmental impacts in the future.
SEE RELATED: Download the International Code Council’s Primer on Off-Site Construction, Codes, Standards and Compliance
Today’s modular commercial and residential structures are being designed and built to be more resilient, sustainable and greener than ever before. Thanks to off-site construction taking place in a factory setting, building materials can be stored indoors, resulting in less resource loss from spoilage due to weather conditions. Materials are also used efficiently through replicable fabrication and assembly processes which vastly reduces waste. Resource and material waste can be reduced by up to 90 percent compared to standard on-site construction, resulting in less waste in landfills.
Off-site construction also provides significant climate value. A recent study out of the United Kingdom found that off-site construction projects resulted in a 45 percent reduction in carbon impacts when compared to similar site-built projects.
Modular buildings can also be moved to new locations (if building codes allow), making entire buildings reusable. If modular schools and commercial properties are built to modern and up-to-date codes and standards, they can be re-purposed for generations. Read more on the Code Council’s multiple solutions to support the safe and efficient use of off-site construction.
Code Council HQ Moves to High-Performance Building Complex
The Code Council recently moved its Washing ton, D.C. Headquarters to Capitol Crossing, an ultra-high-performance building near Capitol Hill.
SEE RELATED: International Code Council’s Headquarters Moves to Ultra-High-Performance Building with Additional Capabilities
Capitol Crossing is a LEED Platinum-certified building, the highest designation by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).
LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. LEED is a green building rating system program, run by USGBC, that provides certification for buildings that have a reduced environmental impact and recognized sustainability leadership. A structure can earn a designation of LEED Platinum, Gold, Silver or Certified depending on a building’s sustainability goals and level of achievement.
Capitol Crossing incorporates several sustainable building technologies including:
- District-wide energy cogeneration
- Centralized water collection and reuse system
- Eco-chimneys that employ biofilters to clean exhaust and other toxins from the highway and integrated parking structure
- Reduction in energy and water consumption
- Increased environmental and indoor air quality
- On-site cogeneration plant
- Digitally controlled HVAC system with variable air volume
- High-performance perimeter sun shading system
- Daylight harvesting
Practicing Sustainability Beyond Earth Day
By promoting and implementing green building solutions, sharing data-driven information and engaging in sustainability best practices, the building industry can help contribute more positively this Earth Day and every day.
The Code Council’s Sustainability Membership Council (SMC) advocates for sustainability issues, green and energy code enforcement, and opportunities that are of particular interest to building officials. The SMC Governing Committee serves to actively engage Members in discussions about priorities and opportunities for the direction of the Council. A valuable way to become more engaged with the council and its sustainability goals is to become part of the SMC governing committee.
A seat on the Governing Committee is currently open and applications will be accepted until May 7, 2023. Apply here.
View the Code Council’s sustainability resources here.