- In 2007 Ed Mazria, of Architecture 2030, established the 2030 Challenge with an initial target of reducing the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with buildings by 50% initially, and eventually phasing out the GHG emissions entirely by 2030. To-date, the Challenge has been adopted by:• The US Conference of Mayors
• National Association of Counties
• American Institute of Architects
• US Green Building Council
• American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers
• International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives>
• Congress for the New Urbanism
• The federal government for all new and renovated federal buildings
• States of Illinois, Minnesota, California and New Mexico
• Numerous counties and cities - Architecture 2030 has now developed a system based on “code equivalents”which shows the additional reductions needed beyond the requirements of common codes, standards or rating systems, to meet or exceed the 2030 Challenge. That report was issued in June 2008, titled ‘Meeting the 2030 Challenge Through Building Codes.’ http://www.architecture2030.org/pdfs/2030Challenge_Codes_WP.pdfThe International Code Council has increased their activity in the green building market. The Code Council has formed a Sustainable Building Technology Committee to support its efforts in green, sustainable building construction. They developed a certification exam for a code official to become an Inspector of Green Building Technologies. The new certification will provide assurances that green and sustainable buildings are also safe. The exam will test the ability to understand the International Energy Conservation Code, the NAHB’s National Green Building Standard, LEED and Green Globes.
In addition, the ICC-Evaluation Service developed a program for supplemental verification reports on the sustainable attributes off products. The program is called “SAVE: Sustainable Attributes Verification and Evaluation ™”. The first phase of the program is limited to “cradle-to-gate” aspects of a product. The reports will verify the claimed environmental attributes that fall into the following categories:• Solar reflectance index and thermal emittance of metal roofing materials
• Recycled content
• Extracted raw materials
• Biobased materials
• Certified wood products
• Volatile organic compound content of adhesives and sealants
• Volatile organic compound content of paints and coatings
• Urea formaldehyde resin content in composite wood products o Low-emission floor coverings
The SAVE program launched in October 2008. Subsequent phases will evaluate life cycle attributes related to cradle-to-gate, and cradle-to-grave stages of products.The ICC partnered with NAHB Research to develop the new National Green Building Standards for residential construction. That standard is in the final stages of ANSI approval and will be ready for release shortly.
The ICC signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the USGBC to form a strong relationship aimed at working together on joint educational, business and policy initiatives to further green building practices.
At the ICC code hearings in Minneapolis in September, a proposal from the Energy Efficient Codes Coalition was presented that would boost building energy efficiency by 30%. That proposal is supported by the Sierra Club and the US Conference of Mayors. The “30% Solution” as it is known, uses proven readily available technologies to reduce energy use in homes. The Sierra Club estimates that by 2030 the “30% Solution” would save $88 billion in energy costs while reducing CO2 emissions by 464 million metric tons. The proposed code would apply to all single family homes, duplexes, townhouses, condominiums and apartment buildings with three or fewer stories. The ICC did not approve the proposal, but it does signal the growing importance of groups that are calling for improved building energy efficiency.
In early August 2008, San Francisco’s Mayor Gavin Newsom signed into law what he calls the nation’s strictest “green” building codes. The ordinance requires that all new construction, including homes, and the renovations of large commercial spaces meet standards for conserving energy and water. The city requires LEED certification for commercial buildings and also requires the private sector of residential buildings to meet the GreenPoint standard. Similar requirements are in place in Palo Alto, CA.
In Albuquerque, NM, a new code went into effect in January 2009 that requires all new and re-roof homes to have an ENERGY STAR labeled roof on them.
In Dallas, TX, effective October 2009, new buildings less than 50,000 ft2 must use 15% less energy and 20% less water than the current code calls for. Roofs must also be more energy efficient. For larger buildings the code is less stringent. As of October 2011, all new buildings must be LEED “certifiable”, and become carbon neutral by 2030.
Florida, Indiana, Maryland, New Jersey, Oklahoma and South Dakota enacted laws in 2008 that require new large state buildings meet LEED standards. Specific levels of LEED certification are now required by law in 28 states, 77 cities, 24 counties, 19 towns, 12 federal agencies, 12 public school jurisdictions, and 36 universities. (www.usgbc.org/LEED).
California became the first state in the nation to approve a green building standard that will cut energy and water use. The plan requires that all new construction reduce energy use by 15% , water use by 20% and water for landscaping by 50%. The new requirements will take effect in phases over the next three years. The California Energy Commission’s Residential Energy Efficiency Standard will become 20% more stringent starting on July 1, 2009. Moisture control, indoor air quality, and waste recycling rules will become effective in January 2011. Rules that mandate a 20% reduction in building potable water use will take effect in July 2011.
In 2008 Florida adopted a new energy and economic development package aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The new legislation calls for all newly constructed and renovated buildings owned by the state or local government must meet either the requirements of the GBI’s Green Globes assessment and rating system, the Florida Green Building Coalition’s green building program, the LEED rating system or an equivalent nationally recognized certification or rating system.
Indiana’s governor Mitch Daniels issued an executive order during 2008 establishing an energy-efficient building initiative that calls for all new state buildings to be designed, constructed, operated and maintained to achieve maximum energy efficiency. The efficiency standard must be demonstrated by either a two globe rating under the Green Globes system, a silver certification rating in the LEED program, or an equivalent ANSI accredited rating system.
Florida and Indiana join other states that have formally recognized the Green Globes rating system in their legislation. Those other states are Arkansas, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Kentucky, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia and Wisconsin.