Contact Green Building, Pacific Southwest
Pacific Southwest, Region 9
Serving: Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, Pacific Islands, 147 Tribes
Green Building: Building and Energy Codes
- Building Codes
- Energy Codes
- Green Building and Energy Efficiency Rating Systems/Standards
- Building Rating Systems/Standards
- Energy Efficiency Rating Systems/Standards
- Other Green Building Resources/Programs
Building Codes
International Green Construction Code (IgCC). 
Recently published for public comment and expected to be completed and approved by ICC in late 2011, the IgCC was developed in conjunction with the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM). It is coordinated with the other ICC model codes and is intended for adoption and use with those codes. It provides criteria for site development and land use, material resource and conservation, energy efficiency and air quality, water resource conservation, indoor environmental quality, building O&M, and provisions for existing buildings.
CALGreen (Draft - 2010 California Green Building Standards Code)
This document is part of the official compilation and publication of the adoptions, amendments and repeal of regulations to California Code of Regulations, Title 24, also referred to as the California Building Standards Code. This Part is known as the California Green Building Standards Code, and it is intended that it shall also be known as the CALGreen Code.
Straw Bale (PDF) (California) (9 pp, 18K) The State Guidelines, also known as HS18944, were originally adopted in 1995 as AB1314. The Guidelines are voluntary only, and must be formally adopted at the local level (City, County, Tribal) before they are utilized or enforced.
Energy Codes
ICC IECC (International Energy Conservation Code) 2009
The IECC is published by The International Code Council (ICC) an internationally recognized code development organization. The IECC is a model energy code that makes allowances for different climate zones.
CA Title 24 The Energy Efficiency Standards for Residential and Nonresidential Buildings were established in 1978 in response to a legislative mandate to reduce California's energy consumption. The standards are updated periodically (for example the CALGreen Code) to allow consideration and possible incorporation of new energy efficiency technologies and methods.
Green Building and Energy Efficiency Rating Systems/Standards
Building Rating Systems/Standards
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Green Point Rating System This system exceeds California's Energy Code - 2005 Title 24 by 15%. Build it Green/Green Points is a membership supported non-profit organization that two points based verification, one for new homes, and existing homes. It is used by jurisdictions as a mandatory or voluntary third party certification program.
NAHB Green Guidelines First published in 2005, the NAHB Model Green Home Building Guidelines were written by a group of builders, researchers, environmental experts, and designers to provide guidance for builders engaged in or interested in green building products and practices for residential design, development, and construction. The Guidelines were also written to serve as a "baseline" so that NAHB members could easily develop local programs.
ASHRAE 189 Currently under development, the standard is being developed in conjunction with the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IESNA) and the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and will be applicable to new commercial buildings and major renovation projects and will address: Energy efficiency; A building's impact on the atmosphere; Sustainable sites; Water use efficiency; Materials and resources; and Indoor environmental quality. ASHRAE/IESNA/USGBC Standard 189 is being developed for inclusion into building codes.
Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) LEED for New Construction and Major Renovation requires a minimum 10% compliance beyond ASHRAE 90.1-2007. Developed by the United States Green Building Council, LEED is a green building certification system, providing third-party verification addressing: energy savings, water efficiency, CO2 emissions reduction, improved indoor environmental quality, and stewardship of resources and sensitivity to their impacts. There is a suite of LEED programs focused on various building types, or stages of occupancy including LEED for Homes .
ICC-700-2008 National Green Building Standard, 2008 exceeds the 2006 IECC by a minimum of 15%. ICC-700-2008 National Green Building Standard defines green building for single and multifamily homes, residential remodeling projects and site development.
Enterprise Green Communities Criteria The Green Criteria contains detailed information that addresses aspects of design, development and operations, such as integrated design; site, location and neighborhood fabric; site improvements; water conservation; energy efficiency; materials beneficial to the environment; healthy living environment; and operations and maintenance.
Energy Efficiency Rating Systems/Standards
ENERGY STAR ENERGY STAR is a joint program of the U.S. EPA and Department of Energy (DOE). The program includes an energy performance rating system for buildings that provides strict guidelines for energy efficiency set by the U.S. EPA. ENERGY STAR homes are at least 15% more energy efficient than homes built to the 2004 International Residential Code (IRC), and include additional energy-saving features that typically make them 2030% more efficient than standard homes.
Core Performance Guide This guide was developed by the New Buildings Institute. It is designed for commercial buildings 10,000 to 70,000 ft2 in size and can lead to 20-30% more energy efficiency than ASHRAE 90.1-2004.
Home Energy Rating System Commonly known as HERS, uses energy efficiency software package to perform an energy analysis of the homes design.The rating involves analysis of the home's construction plans and at least one on-site inspection. This information is used to estimate the home's annual energy costs and give the home an index between 0 and 100. The higher the score, the more efficient the home.
Other Green Building Resources/Programs
U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Building Energy Codes Program
The Building Energy Codes Program was funded in 1993 in response to the Energy Policy Act of 1992, which mandated that DOE participate in the model national codes development process and that DOE help states adopt and implement progressive energy codes.
Living Building Challenge The purpose of the Living Building Challenge is to define the most advanced measure of sustainability in the built environment possible to diminish the gap between current limits and ideal solutions. This certification program covers all building at all scales.
Rocky Mountain Land Use Institute: Sustainable Community Development Code This initiative seeks to bring sustainability to the forefront as a land use issue and understand how local governments can support sustainable communities through innovative land use codes.
Green Globes: Green Building Initiative Green Globes is a green building guidance and assessment program that offers an effective, practical and affordable way to advance the overall environmental performance and sustainability of commercial buildings.
Development Center for Appropriate Technology (DCAT) DCAT works to enhance the health of the planet and our communities by promoting a shift to sustainable construction and development through leadership, strategic relationships, and education.
U S Green Building Council (USGBC) The USGBC works towards a prosperous and sustainable future through cost-efficient and energy-saving green buildings. The USGBC developed the LEED green building certification system that focuses on improving performance on energy savings, water efficiency, CO2 emissions reduction, improved indoor environmental quality, and stewardship of resources and sensitivity to building impacts.
Collaborative for High Performance Schools (CHPS) CHPS is a non-profit organization dedicated to making schools better places to learn. CHPS was founded in 1999 as a collaboration of Californias major utilities to address energy efficiency in schools. The program quickly expanded to address all aspects of school design, construction and operation.
Green Guide for Health Care (GGHC) The GGHC is a best practices guide for healthy and sustainable building design, construction, and operations for the healthcare industry.
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