New Phoenix Green Construction Code

Phoenix Green Construction Code

Starting from July 1, 2011, The city of Phoenix is being ruled by a Green Construction Code that will promote safe, sustainable and energy-efficient construction. This new construction code can be used to achieve green certification trough the city's Planning Board. The Phoenix Green Construction Code provides a series of pre-requisites that the builder must complete in order to be certified by the Phoenix City.

This new Green Code will be able to certify construction projects with a green standard (bronze, silver, gold or emerald) based on their performance and sustainability. This process will allow residential and commercial projects, new or existing, to be certified without having to pay third-party fees for certifications.

The Phoenix Green Code adoption was created by amending the International Green Construction Code (IGCC) for commercial and the National Green Building Standard for residential construction, to specific Phoenix requirements. Under the IGCC a commercial building can only get one type of certification, while the NGBS offers four levels of certifications that will be used to certify residential construction. For example, builders can get incentives for installing new HVAC systems, high performance windows and energy-efficient water heaters.

The Phoenix Green Construction Code will try to:

• Reduce construction waste material from landfills.

• Encourage the reduction of the building's footprint.

• Improve indoor air quality.

• 20%, mandatory reduction of indoor water use.

• 15% mandatory reduction of energy use.

• Require that at least 2% of building's annual electrical use be produced by renewable energy methods.

• Encourage the implementation of green roofs, brown roofs and reflective roofs.

These codes and the Phoenix Amendments are available for review by clicking here.