flexiblefullpage
billboard
interstitial1
catfish1
Currently Reading

Decentralized approach to codes means emissions reduction responsibility falls on local officials

Codes and Standards

Decentralized approach to codes means emissions reduction responsibility falls on local officials

Efficiency advocates focusing more on local code amendments.


By Peter Fabris, Contributing Editor | August 11, 2021

Courtesy Pixabay

While organizations such as the International Code Council set energy efficiency standards, in the U.S., state and local governments have the responsibility of adopting their own building codes.

This decentralized approach to code adoption means much of the work of reducing the carbon impact of buildings is occurring in statehouses and city halls. As a result, a growing group of clean energy and efficiency advocates are focusing on instituting local code amendments that improve on the model code.

In Minnesota, for instance, a coalition of cities and environmentalists are advocating for policy that would shift commercial buildings to net-zero by 2036. The New Buildings Institute (NBI) has submitted code proposals in that state to make new buildings electric-ready. NBI is also working on proposals for Wisconsin and Michigan.

New York, Seattle, and Massachusetts have strengthened building codes beyond the national standard, while lawmakers in nearly 20 states, including Wyoming, Iowa, and Colorado, have considered legislation that would prohibit bans on gas in new buildings. These developments indicate that the fight over energy efficiency code provisions is likely to heat up.

Related Stories

Codes and Standards | Jan 30, 2017

Denser development could reduce emissions more than building energy retrofits

More tightly packed cities would cut building emissions significantly, study says.

Codes and Standards | Jan 27, 2017

Calif. legislator proposes statewide solar mandate for new buildings

It would be the first such requirement in the U.S.

Codes and Standards | Jan 25, 2017

Standard baseline for measuring building efficiency needed

EUI could push sustainability through market-driven approach.

Codes and Standards | Jan 23, 2017

Workers, local officials rally for new construction safety law in New York City

The new law would require those who work on 10-story-plus buildings to go through an apprenticeship program.

Codes and Standards | Jan 23, 2017

Prominent Atlanta construction executive faces charges in $1 million bribery scheme

The company has worked on some major projects, including Hartsfield Airport.

Codes and Standards | Jan 20, 2017

New resource lists green incentives by state

USGBC's new Public Policy Library includes tax and energy benchmarking policies.

Codes and Standards | Jan 18, 2017

How green leases benefit owners and tenants

Agreements to spur efficiency upgrades are slowly gaining popularity.

Codes and Standards | Jan 16, 2017

Building codes for existing buildings evaluated in new white paper

The paper examines implementation, enforcement challenges, and changes needed in new code editions.

Codes and Standards | Jan 13, 2017

New BIM guide for owners released

National Institute of Building Sciences releases a manual for developing standard set of BIM documents.

boombox1
boombox2
native1

More In Category

Sustainability

Grimshaw launches free online tool to help accelerate decarbonization of buildings

Minoro, an online platform to help accelerate the decarbonization of buildings, was recently launched by architecture firm Grimshaw, in collaboration with more than 20 supporting organizations including World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), RIBA, Architecture 2030, the World Green Building Council (WorldGBC) and several national Green Building Councils from across the globe.




halfpage1

Most Popular Content

  1. 2021 Giants 400 Report
  2. Top 150 Architecture Firms for 2019
  3. 13 projects that represent the future of affordable housing
  4. Sagrada Familia completion date pushed back due to coronavirus
  5. Top 160 Architecture Firms 2021