THE ROLE OF BUILDING CODES & STANDARDS IN A GREEN CONSTRUCTION SECTORBrian BernalMODE Ltd

Caribbean Green Economy Conference,24 February 2015

“If you can

imagine it....

Santiago Calatrava Tenerife Opera House

Split picture

....you can

create it”

Santiago Calatrava Tenerife Opera House

OPPORTUNITIES…..We have an opportunity to reinvent our construction sector and to create a more sustainable built environment by employing…..

• Building Codes• Standards• Green Building Rating

Systems The Ishtar Gate

OPPORTUNITIES…..We have an opportunity to reinvent our construction sector and to create a more sustainable built environment by employing…..

• Building Codes• Standards• Green Building Rating

Systems Kandalama Hotel ,Dambul, Sri Lanka by Geoffrey Bawa

WHAT ARE BUILDING CODES A set of rules that govern and constrain the design, construction, alteration, and repair of buildings and are used to protect the health, safety and welfare of building occupants.• Its the LAW!• Required to be met in order to

secure a permit for construction.• established mandatory minimum

standard of careSTANDARDSIndustry accepted standard of best care/practice , even if not established in code or law

WHY ARE CODES & STANDARDS IMPORTANT IN GREEN ECONOMY?Robust and enforced building codes are highly effective in ensuring a better built environment. When employed in conjunction with “green” building standards &/or practices, will significantly increase the functional resilience of our buildings.

WHY FOCUS ON CODES?• Cost effective method to ensure

high quality buildings• Provide opportunities to leverage

collective knowledge and accepted best practices.

• Have widespread applications across varied scales of buildings

• Are a framework for understanding and adapting to increasing complexity in the intricate systems utilized in modern construction

WHY SHOULD WE BUILD GREEN• Reduced Operating and Life Cycle

Costs:– “Green buildings have been shown to save

money through reduced energy and water consumption and lower long-term operations and maintenance costs.”

• Reduced carbon output• Create a more resilient building

environment• Potential reductions in design and

construction costs– As we gain expertise, our costs should come

down or at least not require a premium investment

• Increased asset value• Promote a healthier living spaces an

more productive workplace environment

Adapted from The Business Case for Green Building

RECOMMENDATIONS:1. Enact the National Building Act

and Enforce the New Building Code (NBC) of JamaicaThe new NBC is a substantive evolution of

the current building practices and will set the new mandatory minimum standard for building projects.

A comprehensive and enforced building code will do more than any other single measure to create a “greener” built environment.

IPCC Fourth Assessment Report: Climate Change 2007

RECOMMENDATIONS :2. Update Of Codes To 2012 VersionsThe soon to be adopted Building Codes (2003 International Code Council (ICC) codes and Local Application documents) be updated to the 2012 versions of the code.

Sustainability issues are specifically addressed in the Code, these include: Energy Efficiency, Material Selection, Water Use Efficiency and Waste Disposal.

RECOMMENDATIONS :

3. Adopt the International Green Construction Code (IGCC)

• A collaboration of the USGBC, ICC, ASHRAE and AIA.

• Can be a enforceable code and is customizable

• The code was conceived as a compulsory standard

• used in both new and existing building projects

• functions as an “overlay” to existing ICC codes

The adoption of the IgCC as a code would make many green “best practices” mandatory parts of the building approval process.

RECOMMENDATION :4. Support the development of local versions of green building rating systems• Green Building Rating Systems

(GBRS) are voluntary tools for rating the environmental performance of buildings, which are typically verified by a third party, in order to achieve recognition for exemplary design and levels of conservation.

• They are aspirational by intent and attempt to significantly exceed the stipulations in code

RECOMMENDATION :(cont.)• In the Jamaican jurisdiction,

there is no widely accepted standard for evaluating the level of “green” in a project. To address this need, a GBRS should be developed to reflect the specific social, economic and environmental conditions in Jamaica

• This GBRS can be used as a basis for the application of financial incentives and to create “win-win” scenarios that encourages sustainable development

VISION & OPPORTUNITY• Buildings with low Operating and Life

Cycle Costs:• Low carbon output• Resilient to Climate Change• Professionals that understand how to

efficiently design green buildings• A workforce that knows how to build

green• Building Owners that appreciated the

increased value of a green asset • Healthy productive places for people

to live and work

“Opportunities are like sunrises. If you wait too long, you miss them”

William Arthur Ward.

THE ROLE OF BUILDING CODES & STANDARDS IN A GREEN CONSTRUCTION SECTORBrian BernalMODE Ltd

Caribbean Green Economy Conference,24 February 2015