AEC industry groups look to harmonize green building standards, codes

The International Code Council (ICC), the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), the American Institute of Architects (AIA), the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IES), and ASHRAE are collaborating on the next editions of the International Green Construction Code (IgCC), ASHRAE Standard 189.1, and the LEED standard. 

The groups say the effort should encourage the construction of more sustainable buildings. 

"Our organizations working together will result in harmonization of technical, administrative and compliance expertise to produce a single green code, simplifying the choice among design and code options for the using community,” said IES director of technology Rita Harrold.

ASHRAE is revising Standard 189.1—the Standard for the Design of High-Performance Green Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings—and the goal is to incorporate it with IgCC into one regulatory tool. Another goal is to align that document with LEED. The effort will make compliance and building to green standards easier, the groups say.