Codes and standards
Importantly, three broad categories of standards are relevant to the appraiser of green and high-performance buildings:
- Green building codes and ordinances
- Energy efficiency standards applying to buildings as a whole
- Energy efficiency standards applying to the equipment within buildings
Energy-oriented building codes and standards are becoming increasingly common at the federal, state, and local level.
- Overview of the U.S. Department of Energy's building codes program: status, tools, compliance, technical assistance
- Rules and regulations for renewable energy (federal, state, utility, local) - a snapshot of government and utility rules, regulations and policies that promote renewables in the United States
- International Codes Council (ICC)
- Responsible Energy Codes Alliance (RECA)
- Efficacy of code compliance
- Green-building ordinances
- The Insurance Services Office produces a Building Code Effectiveness Rating Scale for cities based on quality and enforcement of building codes, and insurance premiums (and hence buildings’ cash flow) can be adversely impacted by sub-par ratings.
The U.S. Department of Energy maintains a searchable database of energy-related building codes by states (see maps). Interactive information, by state, can be accessed here.
Non-Residential Residential
Energy-efficient Equipment Standards
- Overview of the US appliance standards program
- A wide range of residential and non-residential equipment is eligible for EnergyStar ratings. The online databases containing individual products (by manufacturer, type, and other characteristics) can be easily searched in order to determine the efficiency level of a given product and how it compares to the applicable minimum efficiency standard.
- Reference Building Codes and StandardsThe IIEC code is widely followed in the US, although it's application varies widely as indicated in the map below. State-by-state guides can be found here.
- International Green Construction Code (IgCC)
- ASHRAE Green Standard 189.1 (Standard for the Design of High-Performance, Green Buildings)
- NAHB National Green Building Standard
- Non-residential illumination levels (c. 2013)
- California Residential Lighting Design Guide
