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The 2018 International Green Construction Code (IgCC) was released earlier this month by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), International Code Council (ICC), American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), and the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES). IgCC is a model code with wide applicability for incorporating resilient, high-performance green construction strategies into building codes to improve the standard of living.
“Our hope is building professionals and policymakers alike adopt better, greener building strategies that help them better implement Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) and achieve higher performance in sustainability,” said Mahesh Ramanujam, CEO, USGBC.
The 2018 IgCC update accomplishes two important tasks. It will help governments streamline code development and adoption and improve building industry standardization by integrating two previously separate guidance documents—ANSI/ASHRAE/USGBC/IES 189.1, Standard for the Design of High-Performance Green Buildings Except Low Rise Residential Buildings, and IgCC.
The 2018 IgCC combines the technical requirements developed by ANSI/ASHRAE/USGBC/IES 189.1 with the model code administrative provisions by the Code Council. As a result, the 2018 IgCC is a unified code emphasizing adoption, ease of use, and enforcement for building projects.
“Building safety codes help our communities prepare for the future,” said Dominic Sims, CEO, ICC. “Taking into account the latest technologies and cost-effective strategies for dealing with resource scarcity, the IgCC helps cities, states, and countries build stronger, smarter, sustainably and more resiliently.”
