Dive Brief:
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The 2015 International Green Construction Code will for the first time allow building owners to prove they are complying with local codes by showing evidence of lower energy bills.
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Until now, code officials determined whether a building was compliant by evaluating whether it was constructed according to code. That method did not take into consideration how much power the structure used once it was completed and occupied, according to the Institute for Market Transformation.
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The new “outcome-based” approach will require a building owner to show 12 months of power bills as evidence of whether the structure is energy efficient.
Dive Insight:
The change could make the job of the local code official easier, as it will be simpler to determine whether a building is living up to the code simply by reviewing its power bills. Industry observers also have said it could pave the way for future versions of the International Green Construction Code to incorporate the LEED green building program and ASHRAE energy standards.