Background

DC’s Green Building Act of 2006 requires the Mayor to “submit to the Council for approval construction code revisions that shall incorporate as many green building practices as practicable…”  The District Department of the Environment (DDOE) contracted with IMT and the Institute for Building Technology and Safety (IBTS) to work with the Green Building Advisory Council (GBAC) and building designers, developers, engineers, trades people, the DC Building Industries Association (DCBIA), government officials, neighboring jurisdictions, and other stakeholders to prepare a package of green building code amendments based on best practices from around the country.  The package has been completed and was unanimously endorsed by the GBAC.  The Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (DCRA) included most of the package in its proposed  building codes in a proposed rule published April 25.  DCRA has completed the rule making process and submitted a slightly revised proposed DC Construction Code Supplement of 2008 to the City Council on June 26.  Councilmember Mary Cheh chairs the relevant committee of the DC Council and has voiced support for the GBAC package.  The Council is scheduled to markup the package on July 11.  The new building code will become mandatory one year after City Council passage. The GBAC package would:

* Adopt the International Code Council's 2006 family of codes, which represent a significant improvement on current DC building code and remove obstacles to many green building practices.
* Improve minimum energy efficiency in both commercial and residential buildings by nearly 30%
* Improve water efficiency by requiring low-flow plumbing fixtures
* Permit waterless urinals and green plumbing materials
* Remove impediments to disconnection of downspouts to enable on-site retention of stormwater
* Require white or green roofs to reduce the urban heat island effect, and
* Prohibit recirculation of air vented from bathrooms and kitchens.

The recommendations build on the work of DC's Building Code Advisory Committee in recommending amendments to the 2006 family of I-codes for adoption by DC.

DC's Green Building Act requires that the mayor submit a new package of building code amendments by January 1, 2010.  We welcome all input as we work to continuously improve  DC's building codes and their implementation.  And, we welcome names and contact information of experts interested in participating in an advisory/editorial team.  Please contact Cliff majersik (202-328-5149 or cliff@imt.org) or Kevin Powell (703-481-2000 x121 or kpowell@ibts.org).

Proposed amendments to green DC building codes (The Package)

Presentation outlining proposed amendments to green DC building codes

Energy code amendments

ASHRAE Standard 189.1P Second Public Review Draft

Energy code amendments to administrative chapter (DCMR 12 A, chapter 1)

Cool roof amendment for low-rise residential buildings

Cool roof amendment for all other buildings

Water efficiency amendments to International Plumbing Code

Water efficiency amendments to International Residential Code

Downspout disconnect amendment

IRC bathroom ventilation fan amendment

IRC vent fan recirculation prohibition amendment

 

News

IMT's Cliff Majersik presented at ULI Breakfast on the "Nexus of Politics and Green Building" June 3 in downtown DC  - slideshow

IMT's Cliff Majersik presented at an ENERGY STAR Networking Meeting on May 22 for Energy Managers, Building Owners/Managers, Facilities Personnel, and ESCOs at Pepco's DC office - slideshow

February 20, 2008: DC Mayor Fenty joins mayors from around the country in calling for a 30% improvement in building energy codes
See also EECC

Regional coordination in greening building codes

Chesapeake Crescent Initiative aims to coordinate environmental policies (including building codes) across Maryland, Virginia and DC - January 29, 2008 press release

On January 10, 2008, IMT presented on greening building codes to the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments' (MWCOG) Intergovernmental Green Building Work Group (IGBG).  Favorably responding to an IMT proposal, the group issued a letter endorsing strengthening by 30% the national model energy code (the 2009 International Energy Conservation Code).
Meeting Highlights
Slideshow

Resources

Documents collected for Project Green-DC-Building-Codes: http://www.box.net/p/codes 

International Code Council (ICC)
ICC Green Building Page

Development Center for Appropriate Technology (DCAT)

New York City Cool Roof building code provisions - effective July, 2008
http://www.nyc.gov/html/dob/html/model/construction_code.shtml

“Chapter 15: Roof Assemblies and Rooftop structures” 

1504.8 Reflectance.
Roof coverings on roofs or setbacks with slope less than three units vertical in 12 units horizontal (25 percent) shall be white in color or EnergyStar rated as highly reflective for at least 75 percent of the area of the roof or setback surface.  

Exceptions:
1. Terraces on setbacks comprising less than 25 percent of the area of the largest floor plate in the building.
2. Green roofs in compliance with Section 1507.16 shall be permitted to comprise part or all of the 75 percent required area coverage.
3. Roofs used as outdoor recreation space by the occupants of the building shall be permitted to be either landscaped or covered with a walking surface or other protective surface with an albedo of 30 percent or greater.

Live/work code
This is the link to Seattle’s existing live/work code, part of a fairly well developed program (and supportive mayor). Their live/work code info is here (along with other NW regional examples): http://mrsc-web.mrsc.org/Subjects/Transpo/MixedUse.aspx#seattle

 Energy Code

	The Cases for Strengthening Commercial Energy Codes and Residential Energy Codes
	American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2004 - Energy Standard for Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings

	Building Codes Assistance Project in DC -- www.bcap-energy.org
	New Buildings Institute (NBI www.newbuildings.org) NBI created, maintains and supports the Core Performance Guide, which brings together a set of strategies that provide a prescriptive path for design teams that results in buildings 30 percent better than national building energy standards (ASHRAE 90.1 2004). What’s more, the USGBC has adopted Core Performance as a prescriptive option for up to five points under LEED-NC v2.2.
	US DOE's Building Energy Codes Program Free live web casts on ASHRAE/IESNA Standard 90.1-2007
	Northeast Regional Building Energy Codes Project of the Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships (NEEP)

Montgomery County: pending bills related to building energy efficiency Bill 30-07, Buildings – Energy Efficiency – sponsored by Councilmember Berliner, Praisner, Elrich and Floreen.  A public hearing is scheduled for January 17, 2008 at 7:30 p.m.  To view this bill and background information visit: http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/content/council/pdf/agenda/col/2007/071120/20071120_5.pdf Bill 31-07, Real Property – Energy Performance Audits – sponsored by Councilmember Berliner and Elrich.  A public hearing is scheduled for January 17, 2008 at 7:30 p.m.  To view this bill and background information visit: http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/content/council/pdf/agenda/col/2007/071120/20071120_6.pdf

Plumbing/Water Efficiency/Graywater/Stormwater
New York City Plumbing Code Water Conservation (Appendix C)

Sandy Springs, Georgia (pop 87,000) is considering building code changes to require water recycling systems for new homes valued at $500,000 or more, waterless urinals in all new commercial buildings and low-volume faucets, bath fixtures and appliances in all new homes
per 11/20/2007 AJC article
Amendments may be presented to the City Council on 1/8/2008.
Contact Nancy Leathers, Community Development Officer 770-730-5600

Green building policies and lessons (mostly non b-code)
A lot of ordinances and good info on the CALBO website (California Building Officials Association):
www.calbo.org/build_dept/default.aspx
www.consol.ws/calbo/
www.consol.ws/calbo/ordinances.html
www.consol.ws/calbo/pending.html
www.consol.ws/calbo/resources.html

Massachusetts Green Communities bill
(As of 12/17/2007 passed in MA state house and awaiting Senate action.) http://www.mass.gov/legis/house/ht04365_summary.pdf

Summary of the earlier version, does not include Section 80 -- http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/house/185/ht04pdf/ht04373.pdf
Final Bill: Page 60, Section 80 is the green building tax credit.  Final vote required Section 80 won't go into effect until there is an economic analysis of the impact of this section.  Bill now goes to the Senate.

Contact: David Shakespeare, MassDEP-Office of Enforcement, 617-654-6543 (tel) David.Shakespeare@state.ma.us

 

We continue to collect info regarding:

·          Known examples of language in the 2006 International Building Codes that prevents, delays or otherwise impedes green building practices,

·          Specific examples from other jurisdictions of successful green building code amendments,

·          Specific suggestions where code can be improved particularly in the areas of water efficiency, energy efficiency, live/work spaces, durability and indoor air quality,

·          Sources of cost information regarding green building practices or code mandating these practices,

·          Barriers to adoption of building code amendments facilitating green building practices.