Committee on the Environment

While AIA leaders buzzed about Washington, DC during the recent Grassroots Leadership and Legislative Conference, over 125 county leaders went online February 3 to take part in "Building Sustainable Communities with Green Building Codes," a webinar facilitated by the National Association of Counties (NACo).

According to a poll taken during the webinar, 25 percent of those participating indicated that they had no previous exposure to the International Green Construction Code. Dennis A. Andrejko, FAIA, AIA National's Vice President of Knowledge and long an active participant in the drafting and development of the IGCC, spoke to the details of the IGCC, including:

• jurisdictional electives in complying with the code;
• what the code covers (e.g., water and energy use, site selection, commissioning, etc.);
• the code development process;
• why the AIA is involved; and
• why it is important to implement a well-vetted green code to establish a sustainable "floor" for commercial building.

Becky Baker, building director for Jefferson County, Colorado, and a member of the IGCC public comment hearing committee this past summer, spoke largely to the advantages and opportunities afforded local building officials by the advent of the IGCC. Baker noted that as most jurisdictions are already familiar with the codes promulgated by the International Code Council -- better known as the "I-Codes" -- adopting the IGCC would a natural fit as it overlays (i.e., coordinates and integrates) with existing I-Codes and no separate green permits would be required. Furthermore, given the consensus process by which the IGCC is being developed, Baker explained how adopting the IGCC is a much more economically feasible proposition for jurisdictions than crafting and implementing a "home grown" "green" ordinance or statute.