Greening the Codes!
Code Innovations Database Project
A partnership of the NW EcoBuilding Guild with Thurston County Resource Stewardship and Information Technology Dept. The Verdant Group Consulting provides program development and staff support. Learn more about internships and volunteer opportunities...
The Database
See a mock-up of what the database will resemble like when it is officially published...
The database will be a basic mechanism for local building officials, the building industry and other parties to share information about examples of successfully permitted green building, high-performance, and other innovative construction techniques, materials and technologies. The idea is that once an innovative approach has been approved by one local jurisdiction, the information and code interpretation used to justify the permit can be captured and published, making it easier for builders to get that approach permitted in other localities. Our goal is to publish the initial “Code Innovations Database” in early 2012. Learn more...
Background Documents:
Draft White Paper Defining Parameters of Code Innovations
TCIP Case Study Prospectus (Process and Methodology)
If you are a builder or code official and want to help inform this process, please get in touch with us now by contacting Chris van Daalen at (360) 789-9669 or Cvan@TheVerdantGroup.com.
Sustainability Symposium Series
To explore this possibility and other high-level conversations related to green building, the South Sound Chapter will offer a quarterly Sustainability Symposium Series which will be a forum for education and discussions among elected officials, agency staff and a range of professionals and other stakeholders.
If you would like to contribute to the Series or to “Greening the Codes” Symposium in particular, please contact Chris van Daalen at 789-9669 or email education@ecobuilding.org.
National Trends in Greening the Codes
As we continue our work with local jurisdictions to improve the permitting process for innovative green products and technology, there are noteworthy developments on the national building codes scene. Read more...
Background on work with Thurston County
Many EcoBuilding Guild and OMB members will remember the Green Development stakeholder process convened by Thurston County in 2009. There were many differing opinions and recommendations, but one idea that rose to the top was to create a database of green building techniques to help builders and code officials share information about innovative techniques. Read more...
Additional Links
Report: Breaking Down the Barriers: Challenges and Solutions to Code Approval of Green Building by David Eisenberg, Robert Done, and Loretta Ishida. Development Center for Appropriate Technology, 2002.
Report Building Codes: Barriers to Green Innovation by Garman, Jennifer et. al. Dovetail Partners, Inc. 18 October 2011.
National Green Building Standard – Public Comment Draft 9/23/2011
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