OVERVIEW
Building codes establish the minimum legal requirements for buildings. There are typically two types—prescriptive and performance.
Prescriptive codes tell a designer what must be done (such as requiring R-20 insulation in the walls). Performance codes simply provide a metric that must be met (such as total energy use relative to a baseline), allowing the project to meet that benchmark in a variety of ways.
Code requirements differ from locale to locale, so here we cover news related to sustainability or energy use in building codes, and ways in which innovative green technologies are limited by code requirements.
IN-DEPTH
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Maryland Approves IGCC for Statewide Use
April 29, 2011News Brief
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IGCC Public Version 2.0 Released
December 7, 2010News Brief
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Model Building Code Now 30% More Energy Efficient
November 9, 2010News Brief
Changes to the International Energy Conservation Code will result in 30% energy savings over previous codes.
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Rhode Island First to Adopt International Green Construction Code
October 12, 2010News Brief
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Standard 189 Integrated into New Green Construction Code
March 31, 2010News Analysis
In a surprise move, two competing initiatives with commercial green building codes, IGCC and Standard 189, have come together.
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Clearing the Way for Water Savings in Plumbing Codes
March 31, 2010News Analysis
A new green supplement to the Uniform Plumbing and Mechanical Codes will enable more creative water-savings strategies while allowing jurisdictions to regulate their safety.
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Green Codes Task Force: 111 Ways to Make NYC Greener
March 1, 2010News Analysis
A report by the New York City Green Codes Task Force includes 111 recommendations for improving City building codes by incorporating green building principles.
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California Adopts Nation's First Statewide Green Building Code
February 1, 2010News Brief
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NBI Energy Code Proposal Moves Forward
January 1, 2010News Brief
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Massachusetts Stretches the Energy Code
August 28, 2009News Brief
