Green building code approved

After two years of development, the International Green Construction Code (IgCC) was approved by the International Code Council last week. The code, if adopted by state and local governments, would apply to all new and renovated commercial buildings and residential buildings over three stories high. The new code sets mandatory baseline standards for all aspects of building design and construction, including energy and water efficiency, site impacts, building waste and materials. The final code won’t be published until March 2012, but many local and state governments have begun to officially adopt it, said the ICC. The IgCC’s requirements include minimum standards for lighting and mechanical systems and specified levels of submetering and demand-response automation.