The ICC/ASHRAE 700-2015 National Green Building Standard has been approved by the American National Standards Institute and is available for public use. This third edition preserves the standard’s tradition as the industry benchmark for residential projects designed and built for high performance.
First published in 2009, the NGBS sets the bar for sustainable and high-performance residential construction and provides a pathway by which builders and developers may seek third-party certification of their new homes, developments and remodeling projects. Although voluntary, the NGBS serves as the basis for several federal, state and local green building programs. In addition, builders, developers and consumers whose projects are NGBS-certified may receive incentives.
The 2015 edition better aligns the NGBS with the I-Codes, expands the application of innovative practices and builds on years of building and certifying to the NGBS. Green practices such as energy, water and resource conservation, indoor air quality, lot and site development, and building operation and owner education remain largely intact.
Some significant changes to the 2015 edition are the Energy Efficiency chapter referencing the 2015 International Energy Conservation Code®; expanded builder options by including environmental product declarations for both specific and industry-wide products; and revamped stormwater management options that focus on low-impact development.
Individuals can access a complimentary electronic copy of the standard at www.builderbooks.com/ngbs. Hard copies are available for purchase through www.builderbooks.com.
