The Green TAG (Technical Advisory Group) subcommittee of Washington DC’s Construction Codes Coordinating Board (CCCB) has been leading an effort to adapt the best practices from sustainable design and construction into enforceable code language. Part of the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (DCRA), the CCCB and its subcommittees are responsible for developing and presenting the building codes for adoption by the District.
An advance preview of the Green TAG’s recommendations will be presented at the District of Columbia Building Industry Association’s (DCBIA) Construction Forums series on Friday, October 26th at Patton Boggs. Learn more about the event here.
Bill Updike with the District Department of the Environment (DDOE) and I will discuss high level details of the proposed code and some of the potential impacts to DC projects. Those familiar with the LEED rating system for buildings will notice a similarity between it and the main focus areas of the code. The primary elements covered will include:
- Site Development and Land Use
- Material Resource Conservation and Efficiency
- Energy Conservation, Efficiency and CO2 Emission Reduction
- Water Resource Conservation, Quality and Efficiency
- Indoor Environmental Quality and Comfort
- Commissioning, Operation and Maintenance
- ASHRAE 189.1-2011
The current code that the Green TAG has passed on to the CCCB will be released for public comment this coming Spring, before a final CCCB review and possible vote for adoption by the DC City Council. If you have any questions about the timeline and process, feel free to contact me at 703-243-1200 or pkunze@ghtltd.com.
As a Senior Principal of GHT’s Interiors studio, Patrick Kunze, PE, LEED AP is committed to advancing sustainable design practices in the building industry. He contributed to the development of questions for the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI) LEED AP exam, and as a voting member of the Green Technical Advisory Group (TAG) subcommittee of Washington DC’s Construction Codes Coordinating Board (CCCB), he helped review and amend the DC Green Construction Code.