The future of construction is now environmentally aware: “Green” construction will be more efficient, money-saving, and healthier for the environment. Of course, we cannot ignore the economic reality— in March, new construction decreased by 5.9 percent in relation to January and 26 percent compared to March of last year, and new home sales declined as well. Once we are able to overcome these economic difficulties, however, construction will bounce back stronger than before, especially with new efficient and environmentally friendly practices. This new era will bring new markets, professions, technologies, and services, not to mention products that have never been seen in construction before. This potential means we must be at the forefront of the industry revolution.
On March 11, 2010, the International Code Council (ICC), the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning (ASHRAE), the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), and the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) announced the launch of a new organization that will implement new building codes not only in the U.S. but also throughout the world.
The International Green Construction Code (IGCC) will give the construction industry a new set of codes that will cover more and will help advance the industry with more efficiency in the U.S. and around the world. It goes without saying that the creation of the International Green Construction Code is one of the most significant developments in the construction industry in the last 10 years. I will continue to inform you about the developments in this new green direction that the industry is heading in through these articles. I will talk about the future but I will also explain the past and the negative effects the industry once had. We’ll learn about the different requirements needed to certify a building as LEED.
Finally, I am proud to participate in this intelligent movement that aims to improve our standards of living and supports an economical concept that preserves the environment and works to recuperate the damage already done to our ecosystems. This new movement will touch all areas in construction, remodeling and decorating and will begin to gain more speed as the economy improves. It will soon become the standard in modern construction and will in turn become the motor of the economic recovery in this country.
. Remember: Green construction equals better living!
By Maria M Hernandez
