The International Code Council Foundation (ICFF) has declared May as Building Safety Month, and each week is focusing on a different aspect of construction. This week is Energy and Green Building Week, and the organization is throwing a spotlight on the rapidly growing area of environmentally friendly construction.
Major projects often have various standards they need to meet before approval, and green standards are becoming more common. Construction company owners will have to read up on the latest codes and regulations in order to ensure that the buildings they're working on are up to environmentally-friendly standards.
The ICFF has recently released the new International Green Construction Code, a series of regulations for contractors to follow that will ensure a home is more energy efficient and less damaging to the environment. There are various levels of compliance within the code, so project developers can tailor their building to the level of "green" they want. The ICFF says the new regulations are the first to include green steps throughout every phase of the construction process. Green construction encompasses a wide variety of techniques and features, but some examples include solar panels, energy-efficient appliances, recycled materials and building upwards to reduce the amount of land used.
"With the new International Green Construction Code, we're going to see more builders offering energy-efficient packages and upgrades," said Mike Holmes, a contractor featured on HGTV. "We're going to see more homeowners choosing renovations that will bring their homes to higher performance levels and make them more durable."
Construction company McGraw-Hill sees a big future for green buildings in the housing industry. Currently, McGraw-Hill estimates that 17 percent of new home construction is "green." However, the company expects that number to rise to 40 percent by 2016.
One issue for contractors is that staying green is often more expensive than a normal construction job. To keep costs down, contractors should consider turning to used construction equipment, which is often more affordable than buying new. The online auction site IronPlanet offers a wide variety of cranes, bulldozers and other equipment, all backed by IronClad Assurance inspection reports. This way, green builders can ensure that their equipment is up to standard while keeping their expenses down.
