american society of civil engineers internatıonal commıttee, los angeles sectıon

8/14/2019 American Society of Civil Engineers Internatonal Commttee, Los Angeles Secton

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AMERICAN SOCIETY OF CIVIL ENGINEERSInternatonal Commttee, Los Angeles Secton5th International Engineering and Construction

Conference (IECC5), August 27-29, 2008

THE CURRENT STATUS OF GREEN AND SUSTAINABLE

BUILDING PROGRAM, STANDARD AND CODE

DEVELOPMENT IN THE UNITED STATES

By Allan M. Bilka, R.A., Senior Staff Architect, International Code

Council, [email protected]

Abstract

Green, sustainable and high performance building programs and standards are relativelynew to the building industry, especially when compared to building codes. They are in

their early phases of development, with much scientific research still needed in many

fundamental areas. Their evolution is continuing at a brisk pace, however, spurred byincreased adoptions by government bodies and increased voluntary compliance by private

parties for both commercial and residential applications. In addition, new programs and

standards have appeared and existing programs continue to evolve. Environmentalconcerns appear to be becoming a priority for many individuals and policy makers around

the globe, and these concerns continue to receive an ever increasing level of mediaattention. This paper intends to describe the current status, application and scope of various

national green and sustainable building programs and standards in the United States, theimpact of the green and sustainable movement on existing building codes, and how green

and sustainable building programs and standards have the potential to impact infrastructure.

Keywords: Green Building, Sustainable Building, High Performance Building, Program

Development, Standard Development, Code Development.

Introduction

Green, sustainable and high performance building programs and standards typically

encourage increased energy efficiency, reduced fossil fuel use, reduced water consumption,

on-site storm water management, the use of public transportation or low impact

transportation (such as bicycles), and the recycling and efficient use of material resources,etc. As a result, the implementation of green and sustainable building practices has the

potential to reduce the load placed on existing infrastructure. More specifically, increased

energy efficiency has the potential to reduce current loads on power plants and delay or


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eliminate expansion plans. Reduced water consumption means less load on water treatment

plants and municipal water supply systems. On-site storm water management translatesinto less load on municipal storm water systems. Increases in the use of public transit and a

decrease in the use of personal modes of transportation translate into reduced loads on

roadways.

Austin, Texas is often cited as the birthplace of green building in the United States. The

city developed its own green building program in the early 90s, as a direct result of theneed for the city to manage various components of its publicly owned infrastructure, which

included the local electric utility. Austin, as well as its residents, quickly learned that there

were direct economic benefits to promoting and implementing energy conservation

measures. By encouraging end users to practice conservation, the burden of maintainingand limiting the growth of the energy infrastructure became much more manageable. In

addition, individuals who implemented green building principles saved not only by using

less energy, but also because their electric rates did not escalate as rapidly as they did inmost other areas.

Following Austins lead, many other communities, numerous states and even the U.S.federal government began to realize the potential economic and environmental benefits of

green building. They have also begun to realize that there may be significant consequences

if action is not taken to control the effects of the built environment on the natural

environment in a timely manner. Green and sustainable building programs and standardsare potentially powerful tools which can be effectively used to manage and evaluate the

effects of buildings on the environment.

The Relationship of Green and Sustainable Building Programs and Standards to

Current Building Codes

In some cases, the effects of the green movement have been felt directly in the codes. Forexample, a standard is now referenced in the International Plumbing Code which addresses

waterless urinals and language in the code which had inadvertently prevented waterless

urinals has been revised. An appendix for Gray Water Recycling Systems has been addedto the International Plumbing Code and many changes have been proposed to the

International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) which are intended to increase baseline

energy efficiency requirements. Note that the IECC, as its very name states, is a

conservation code. As such, the IECC, as well as its counterpart, the American Society ofHeating, Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) Standard 90.1, are both

documents which have the potential to eventually absorb most, if not all, of the energyrelated criteria contained in green building programs and standards. Proposed changes toboth ASHRAE 90.1 and the IECC may significantly increase their respective baseline

energy efficiency criteria. However, once their new minimum criteria are satisfied, neither

ASHRAE 90.1 nor the IECC has features which encourage even higher performanceenergy systems. That function is left to green and sustainable building programs and

standards.


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In most cases, building codes take a neutral stance on environmental impact. They do not

encourage the implementation of systems, materials and assemblies which have lesspotential negative environmental impact. Dedicated green and sustainable programs and

standards, however, have been specifically created to encourage architects, engineers and

building owners to fully consider the potential environmental impact of many of their

design, construction and facility management decisions. They contain provisions whichencourage the implementation of environmentally responsible construction techniques,

often awarding more points (a higher rating) for those practices which have less potentialnegative environmental impact. However, once these specific materials, assemblies and

systems are selected, many of their detailed requirements are typically found in the

building codes. There is a healthy and necessary interplay and interdependency between

building codes and green and sustainable programs and standards.

Programs, Guidelines and Standards

In general, standards are developed by a consensus process which is intended to permit andmanage the input from a widely diversified group of interested parties, including thegeneral public, in an unbiased and objective manner. In an attempt to further ensure

objectivity and fairness, some standards are developed in accordance with the requirements

of third party agencies, such as the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).

Programs and guidelines, however, are typically created under procedural criteria whichmay or may not be as rigid or defined as the standard development processes. This is not to

say that green building programs and guidelines are inherently flawed. The International

Codes (I-Codes), for example, are not developed in accordance with ANSI or other thirdparty development procedures. Instead, they are created under ICCs own Governmental

Consensus Process, which ensures objectivity by allowing anyone other than ICC staff to

submit code change proposals, but allowing only government designated regulators thepower to vote on and approve these proposals. The underlying concept is that code officials

are likely to be less biased, and are more prone to protect the interests of the public, thanother interested parties might be.

Following is a list of the more prominent national green, sustainable and/or high-performance building programs and standards currently available or in development:

ANSI Standards (All tentatively scheduled for release in 2008):

ASHRAE/USGBC/IESNA (American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Engineers / U.S. Green Building Council / Illuminating Engineering

Society of North America) 189.1 Standard for High-Performance Green Buildings

Except Low Rise Residential Buildings A minimum threshold based standard for

new commercial structures and new residential structures greater than 3 stories in

height.

GBI (Green Building Initiative) Green Globes Design v.1 Post-constructionAssessment - A point based rating tool for new commercial buildings.


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ICC (International Code Council)-700 National Green Building Standard (NGBS) A voluntary, non-mandatory point based rating tool for residential buildings and the

residential portions of mixed use buildings, including new construction, renovations

and additions.

Programs and Guidelines (All available now except as noted):

ASID (American Society of Interior Designers) & USGBC Regreen ResidentialRemodeling Guidelines Guidelines only, with many suggested ideas and

examples, but no rating capabilities, minimum requirements or detailed criteria.(Released March, 2008)

GBI Green Globes online certification program A point based rating tool for newcommercial buildings.

The NAHB (National Association of Home Builders) Model Green Home BuildingGuidelines A point based rating tool for new residential green buildings. (Thepreliminary draft of the ICC-700 National Green Building Standard was based on

this document.)

The United States Green Building Councils (USGBC) Leadership in Energy andEnvironmental Design (LEED) Programs (all are point based rating tools, except asnoted):

o LEED for Homes For new residential structures 3 stories or less in height.(Released January, 2008.)

o LEED for New Construction and Major Renovations For residentialstructures greater than 3 stories in height and commercial structures of any

height.

o LEED for Existing Buildings For operations and maintenance of existingbuildings. LEED for Commercial Interiors For fit-out of commercial

tenant spaces.

o LEED for Retail For fit-out ofnew retail tenant spaces. (Currently in Pilotstage of development.)

o LEED for Schools For new K-12 educational facilities.o LEED for Core & Shell For new commercial building projects which

consist of the initial core and shell only.

In addition to the programs and standards listed above, some local jurisdictions and localhome builders associations have developed their own unique green and sustainable

building or conservation programs, and the State of California is developing its own green

building code. There are also many other independent regional and national green and/orsustainable building or conservation related programs, including EarthCraft House, Built

Green and the U.S. Department of Energys (DOE) Energy Star Program.

The Energy Component of Green and Sustainable Programs and Standards


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Shortages and rising prices for fossil fuels, as well as growing concerns related to carbon

dioxide emissions, have added to the general sense of urgency surrounding green andsustainable building. The use of fossil fuels and the resulting carbon dioxide emissions are

primarily related to energy use. Energy use and costs, unlike the primarily first-cost impact

of most material resources, continue throughout the life of a building. The result is that, of

all concerns addressed by green and sustainable programs and standards, the use of energyfrom non-renewable sources has the most potential negative and long term environmental

impact. Fortunately, energy conservation is also a component of green building which has arelatively high degree of science behind it. For evidence to support this statement, one need

not look further than the provisions of the IECC or ASHRAE Standard 90.1.

The energy provisions of green and sustainable building programs and standards not onlytypically reference an energy code or standard, such as the IECC or ASHRAE 90.1, they

also require minimum efficiency which is x percent over and above the minimum

requirements of the referenced code or standard. Energy Star is also often cited as analternative minimum threshold for energy performance. These scenarios have recently been

complicated by proposals to significantly increase baseline energy efficiency requirementsin the next editions of each of these documents. When and how green building programsand standards will adjust to these changes remains to be seen.

Administration, Verification, Enforcement and Voluntary vs. Mandatory Programs

and Standards

ASHRAE/USGBC/IESNA Standard 189.1 was proposed as a new appendix to theInternational Building Code at ICCs Spring 2008 Code Change Hearings. This proposal

was disapproved, at least in part, because development of the standard was not complete or

approved by ANSI. When the standard receives its ANSI approval, it will likely beproposed as an appendix once again. Note that an appendix to the International Building

Code is only enforceable when it is specifically adopted by the authority having jurisdiction (AHJ). Where adopted, the provisions of the appendix could either be

mandatory or voluntary, as determined by the jurisdiction. ASHRAE/USGBC/IESNA

189.1 is intended to be administered directly by the adopting jurisdiction, although thirdparty verification of some energy related criteria will likely be in order.

GBIs Green Globes online self-certification tool does not require verification of any sort,

though third party verification is available upon request. The Green Globes online programis intended to provide guidance during the design process, as well as to allow designers,

builders and building owners to rate their own buildings based on potential environmentalimpact, thus promoting the implementation of green building principles on a voluntarybasis. As of the time of this writing, GBI has not announced how it intends the Green

Globes Design v.1 ANSI standard should be administered.

The ICC-700 National Green Building Standard may be administered on a voluntary or

mandatory basis, subject to the determination of the adopting entity. Where adopted by a

jurisdiction, ICC-700 can be administered by the same code officials who are already


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responsible for reviewing plans and performing inspections for code related compliance.

Since these code officials already evaluate building features as part of their plan review andinspection process, they may be best positioned to cost effectively conduct evaluations of

green provisions, as opposed to other third parties. This is especially true if those third

parties are remotely located, as is the case with most national green building programs.

However, as with most other programs, additional third party verification of various energycriteria is also required. Designers and builders are not required to be certified with regard

to the standard before submission of construction documents, unless otherwise required bythe adopting entity.

The National Green Building Standard may also be administered by a non-governmental

adopting entity or third party, such as a design consultant or a local home buildersassociation, on a voluntary basis. NAHBs National Green Building Program, which made

its debut in 2008, is to be revised and updated based on the requirements of the National

Green Building Standardwhen the standard receives its ANSI approval. This program willallow the NAHB Resource Center to certify green buildings in accordance with the

requirements of the standard for any builder across the country who voluntarily wishes tocomply. Local verification of various criteria is also required.

Although some jurisdictions currently require or encourage certification of green buildings

in accordance with USGBCs LEED programs, LEED programs are always administered

exclusively by USGBC and its local verifiers. A local building department can not certifybuildings in accordance with the requirements of LEED programs. In addition, LEED

programs typically require that designers be certified with USGBC (as LEED Accredited

Professionals) before they are allowed to submit construction documents for any projectintended to be LEED certified.

When a local, state or federal governmental body in the U.S. forms a green buildinginitiative, it is typically voluntary in nature. If there are any mandatory green building

requirements, they are typically only for government owned buildings. The intent is to setan example for the private sector. When a jurisdiction adopts green building provisions for

private commercial or residential buildings, it is usually on a voluntary basis. In the rare

cases where green building programs for private buildings have been adopted on amandatory basis, it is typically only after the AHJ, local builders and building owners have

had prior experience with a voluntary program and have seen its benefits first hand.

Although mandatory programs are not common, they are growing in number.

Alternative Systems, Design and Construction Methods

There is a widespread misconception among those not intimately familiar with green

building that it inherently involves alternative systems, design, materials and/or

construction methods. While this may be true for a small fraction of green buildings, theoverwhelming majority simply incorporate high performance versions of traditional

building systems, designs and construction methods. That said, a great deal of testing and

research is still needed to facilitate the approval (by code officials) of many specific green


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features, such as structural requirements for cob and other alternative construction

techniques. The requirements in building codes, which, at times, may appear to deter orprohibit green building features such as these, are there for good reason. They exist in order

to safeguard public health, safety and general welfare. Other materials have had to comply

with these or similar requirements. If green building is to be respected as a quality

construction alternative, green features must be held to the same high level of scrutiny. Iftesting, research or other information is required in order to safeguard public health, safety

and general welfare with regard to green features, it should be provided, not ignored oravoided. In response to the general sense of urgency surrounding green building, some

building departments have developed a proactive approach. Instead of placing the burden

of proof entirely on permit applicants, these building departments provide assistance and

guidance, thus streamlining the approval process for alternative materials and methods. TheInternational Code Council itself is also implementing specific proactive green building

strategies, as are other codes and standards development organizations, and the

International Code Councils Evaluation Service (ICC_ES) is moving toward thedevelopment of green related evaluation reports for building products.

Conclusion

The concept of sustainability requires that we live in ways which the environment can

support now and in the future. It sets a goal that current generations utilize and conservenatural resources in ways that ensure all future generations will have access to the same

level of resources and quality of life that current generations now enjoy. In order to achieve

these goals, significant changes are necessary. For example, it is imperative that weconserve and recycle nonrenewable resources and refrain from using renewable resources

at rates faster than they can be replenished. At this point in time no current standard orprogram in existence or development can truly claim that buildings constructed inaccordance with its requirements are sustainable in this ideal sense. None-the-less, current

green and sustainable building programs and standards are moving in the right direction.


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References

1. http://www.energystar.gov/ (U.S. Department of Energy - Energy Star Program)2. http://thegbi.org (The Green Building Initiative - producers of the Green Globes

programs)

3. http://usgbc.org (The U.S. Green Building Council - producers of the LEED programsand co-producers of ASHRAE/USGBC/IESNA 189.1 and the ReGreen guidelines)

4. http://nahb.org (The National Association of Home Builders - co-producers of ICC-700, The National Green Building Standard - producers of the Model Green HomeBuilding Guidelines and the National Green Building Program)

5. http://iccsafe.org/green (The International Code Council co-producers of ICC-700,The National Green Building Standard )

6. http://www.ashrae.org (The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers co-producers of ASHRAE/USGBC/IESNA 189.1)

7. http://www.nahbgreen.org(The National Green Building Program)8. http://www.nahbrc.org/technical/standards/greenbuilding.aspx (The National

Association of Home Builders Research Center - Consensus Committee on the National

Green Building Standard)

9. http://www.regreenprogram.org/ (The American Society of Interior DesignersFoundation and the U.S. Green Building Councils ReGreen program)


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