at Plain Green Conference 2008

1. ICC/NAHB-700
An Introduction to
ICC 700-2008
The National Green Building Standard

2. Introduction
 The standard addresses the huge impact that construction and
maintenance of buildings have on the environment. According to
the USGBC, buildings in the US account for:
 39% of annual energy use,
 65% of waste output and
 12% of water use.
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3. NGBS Historical Perspective
 In 2005, NAHB released their Green Model Home
Building Guidelines, a green building rating system.
 The International Code Council was a stakeholder in
the process that created the guidelines.
 The guidelines were used as the basis for the
Working Draft of the NGBS.
 NAHB currently uses the guidelines as the basis for
its National Green Building Program (but intends to
base it on the NGBS after ANSI approval).
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4. Scope, Intent, and Applicability
 The standard rates residential
buildings with respect to their
potential environmental impact. It
includes four threshold levels to
encourage the construction of higher
performing green buildings.
 Bronze
 Silver
 Gold
 Emerald
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5. Table 304
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6. Scope, Intent, and Applicability
 The NGBS is intended to rate the
environmental impact of low-rise, mid-rise,
high-rise, mixed use, single-family and multi-
family residential buildings.
 The standard also rates green renovations and
additions, as well as green sites and
subdivisions.
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7. Scope, Intent, and Applicability
A Major distinguishing feature of the NGBS is its application to
existing residential buildings.
 Existing structures make up 90% of housing
 Existing buildings are not addressed by most current residential green
building programs.
 Renovations and additions are specifically addressed and rated by the
NGBS.
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8. Table 306: Green Remodels
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9. Table 303:
Site Design & Development
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10. The ANSI Process:
Balanced and Diverse Interests
 Balanced and diverse interests helped the Consensus Committee
ensure
 Affordability
 Enforceability
 Ease of implementation
 Manufacturer and Builder Committee Members
 Helped keep a perspective on potential costs and ease of
implementation.
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11. Why do Affordability, Enforceability, and
Ease of Implementation Matter?
 Affordable and easily implemented green features
 Are more likely to be maintained
 Enforceability
 Allows local building departments to double as
environmental stewards
 Can be administered locally, unlike most other green
programs
 May be more cost effective than remotely administered
programs
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12. Can Green Be Affordable?
 Green is becoming mainstream
 The cost of going green is coming down
 Some green features are affordable
 Some green features are cost prohibitive
 The standard is filled with choices
 Conservation principles typically translate to cost savings
 If we implement material resource conservation, this can result in
less materials and less cost in the short term.
 Whenever monthly energy costs are reduced by more than the
increase in the monthly financing costs due to green features, the
owner wins immediately, as well as in the long run.
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13. We have building codes. Why do we
need green building programs?
Traditionally, building codes and standards have addressed how
the environment affects buildings. The NGBS addresses the other
half of the equation: how buildings affect the environment.
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14. We have building codes. Why do we
need green building programs?
Building Codes
 Neutral on Environmental Impact
NGBS
 Rates the potential environmental impact of each
provision
 Another layer of criteria code officials and designers
must consider
International Energy Conservation Code
 Addresses conservation principles, as does the
International Energy Conservation Code - which is
why GB energy provisions are a likely candidate for
future incorporation in the IECC.
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15. The NGBS and the I-Codes
The NGBS interacts with provisions contained in:
 The International Energy Conservation Code (IECC)
 The International Residential Code (IRC)
 The International Building Code (IBC)
 The International Plumbing Code (IPC)
 The International Mechanical Code (IMC)
Application of the NGBS requires expertise in many disciplines.
The existing I-Codes often contain the detailed requirements for
green features (such as structural and gray water provisions)
The NGBS rates these features and encourages their
implementation based on a conscious effort to reduce the
negative impact of buildings on the environment.
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16. GB and Code Requirements
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17. Choice vs. Mandatory Requirements
 The NGBS has minimum point threshold
requirements in each environmental category.
 Designers, builders and owners can choose from a
multitude of provisions with which to comply, each
with corresponding point values.
 Very few mandatory requirements.
 Mandatory requirements often eliminate design
options.
 Because point thresholds must be achieved,
environmental responsibility is not compromised.
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18. Administration of the NGBS
The standard allows administration by any Adopting
Entity, defined as:
“The governmental jurisdiction, green building program, or any
other third party compliance assurance body that adopts this
Standard, and is responsible for implementation and
administration of the practices herein.”
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19. Administration of the NGBS
Potential Adopting Entities:
 Governmental Jurisdictions
 Local or National Green Building Programs
 Independent Third Parties
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20. Choice vs. Mandatory Requirements
and Governmental Jurisdictions
 Where adopted by a jurisdiction, should the NGBS as a whole be
administered on a mandatory or voluntary basis?
 The jurisdiction makes this decision by nature of its adoption
 AHJ decisions: administered in house or by third parties?
 Plan review?
 Inspections?
 Third party involvement for specific verifications only? (such as energy
related evaluations and/or testing)
 Incentives to builders/owners?
 GB assistance or education by AHJ? (Alternative materials and
methods)
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21. The NGBS as a Rating Tool
The NGBS rates potential environmental impact in
accordance with principles related to
 Land Conservation
 Water Conservation
 Material Resource Conservation
 Energy conservation
 Indoor and outdoor air quality.
Promotes owner education regarding Green Building
 Operation
 Maintenance
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22. The NGBS as a Rating Tool
Multiple Threshold Levels Promote High Performance Buildings
 Bronze
 Silver
 Gold
 Emerald
Each Threshold Level has separate point requirements for
 Land
 Water
 Material Resources
 Energy
 Indoor Air Quality
 Owner Education
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23. Table 304
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24. Energy and Green Building
 Energy is often considered the most important criteria in
Green Building rating systems and standards.
 Energy performance directly impacts:
 Building carbon dioxide emissions,
 Fossil fuel use and
 Operating costs.
 Energy is not a one time cost or factor.
 Energy use occurs continuously over the entire life span of
buildings.
 The ultimate energy goal of green building:
 Net-Zero energy buildings (buildings that use renewable energy
sources to produce at least as much energy as they consume)
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25. Putting NGBS Energy in Perspective:
Software Analysis Option
BRONZE
Requires a minimum energy efficiency increase of 15% and
awards 30 points in the Energy category (over 2006 IRC/IECC).
SILVER
Requires a minimum energy efficiency increase of 30% and
awards 60 points in the Energy category.
GOLD
Requires a minimum energy efficiency increase of 50% and
awards 100 points in the Energy category.
EMERALD
Requires a minimum energy efficiency increase of 60% and
awards 120 points in the Energy category.
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26. Common GB Misconceptions
 Green Building and “Alternative” Construction
 Misconception: Green buildings are typically buildings which
utilize “alternative” construction methods.
 Reality: Though some green buildings use “alternative”
construction methods, the overwhelming majority are higher
performance buildings of conventional construction
 The Codes and Green Building
 Misconception: If a green feature is awarded points in a green
building rating system, it is no longer required to comply with
code related criteria.
 Reality: Green features not excused from compliance with
applicable code provisions. (This is the most common reason
codes are incorrectly cited as “barriers” to GB.)
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27. The NGBS Encourages the
Following:
 Erosion and sedimentation control and storm water management
 Development of brownfield and greyfield sites
 Building in close proximity to public and/or alternative transportation
 Avoiding environmentally sensitive areas
 Landscape design which limits long term water and energy use and
preserves the natural environment
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28. The NGBS Encourages the
Following:
 Reducing heat island effects
 Implementing rainwater collection and gray water recycling systems
 Limited use of irrigation systems or efficient irrigation systems
 Using waterless urinals and low-flow/consumption water closets (toilets),
faucets and shower heads
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29. The NGBS Encourages the
Following:
 Building smaller structures to reduce site impact, material resources and
energy use
 Building up instead of out to produce a smaller footprint
 Using durable, affordable and low maintenance materials
 Using materials which are easily returned to the earth
 Recycling construction and post construction waste
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30. The NGBS Encourages the
Following:
 Building high performance/energy efficient building envelopes
 Using energy efficient luminaries, appliances, and heating and cooling
systems
 Sealing ducts, building envelopes, including weather stripping and added
insulation
 Using whole house ventilation and ceiling fans
 Using low VOC and emitting materials
 Installing MERV air filters
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31. ICC/NAHB-700
To view Draft Standard #2 of the ICC700-2008 National Green
Building Standard, visit :
www.nahbrc.org/technical/standards/greenbuilding.aspx
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