The International Code Council’s (ICC’s) plan to alter how it develops the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) has raised the ire of those pushing for more stringent efficiency measures.
The council has proposed rules changes that would make the code-making process less open, with development done by a committee without input from local government building officials, according to published reports. According to Mike Collignon, executive director and co-founder of the Green Builder Coalition, local officials were not informed of the possibility that their voice in future code development “might be stripped from them,” when the ICC recently proposed the changes.
The changes were proposed after ICC representatives from the National Association of Homebuilders (NAHB) objected to some efficiency measures during deliberations over the latest version on the IECC. NAHB’s appeals led to stripping out provisions to require that new homes go all-electric and be EV-ready—provisions supported by the majority of IECC voters.
The ICC is seeking members’ and stakeholders’ feedback on the proposed code development reforms through Jan. 11. The IECC is in use or has been adopted by 47 states.
Related Stories
| May 31, 2012
Lawsuits push the legal boundaries of green building definition
This article explores some legal issues stemming from lawsuits in which plaintiffs have charged developers with not delivering on a promised level of sustainability.
| May 31, 2012
ANSI approves Green Building Initiative’s design standard
The Green Building Initiative (GBI), a Portland, Ore. nonprofit organization, has had its new consensus-based standard for the design, construction, and operations of environmentally friendly buildings approved by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).
| May 31, 2012
USGBC testing Minnesota buildings to see if they are living up to LEED standards
The Minnesota chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has teamed up with EnergyPrint, a St. Paul, Minn. energy consulting firm, to study the energy and water use of more than 150 buildings in the state that have LEED certification.
| May 29, 2012
Reconstruction Awards Entry Information
Download a PDF of the Entry Information at the bottom of this page.
| May 25, 2012
Major retail chains welcome LEED Volume option
Large national chains such as Starbucks, Marriott, Verizon, and Kohl’s are welcoming the LEED Volume Program that enables them to batch certify similar projects.
| May 25, 2012
Alaska’s okay of gravel aggregate with naturally occurring asbestos opens up development
Some long-delayed projects in the Upper Kobuk region of Alaska may now move forward thanks to legislation that allows construction in areas that have naturally occurring asbestos.
| May 25, 2012
Las Vegas building codes may thwart innovative shipping container development
A developer wants to build a commercial development out of steel shipping containers in Las Vegas, but city codes would have to be altered or the project would have to obtain waivers for it to receive the city’s go-ahead.
| May 25, 2012
Collapse of Brooklyn building that killed worker blamed on improperly braced frame
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration cited SP&K Construction with 11 safety violations, for which it could face more than $77,000 in fines.
| May 25, 2012
Study: Safety inspections don’t hurt the bottom line
A new study suggests that random safety inspections by regulators help reduce injury claims without hurting profits.
