Check it out!

The efforts of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and the International Code Council (ICC) have paid off, when on Friday the American National Standards Institute approved the National Green Building Standard.

The new code, ICC 700-2008, is the first national code recognized by ANSI for the construction, renovation and development of green residential structures.

http://www.nahb.org/news_details.aspx?newsID=8533

So is this a replacement for LEED? I hear all these people talking about LEED for Homes and now this big organization creates/adopts another standard.

Is this the same as LEED?

This new standard and LEED are separate. I haven't had the opportunity to read the new code as it is not published yet, but it is a separate code and unlike LEED, it was adopted by ANSI which gives it more clout in the building community.

I do wonder what the plight of LEED for Homes will be now that this new code has been elevated to such an important level.

Although I haven't read the standard yet, I have read about it. One thing I know is a benefit of the new standard over LEED is that it addresses home remodeling, site development and multifamily dwellings on a separate basis.

LEED has its faults and I am sure that there are some things that fall short with the ANSI standard, but until I read through it I can't tell you anything more.

More standards and codes to read. I hope this one takes off and becomes adopted by as many municipalities and districts as possible. There is so much literature and information on the market to read and the codes are all so similar. I hope this one is the end all be all of green building standards.

I like that this code is going to address renovations because the other available standards typically only address the newly constructed home. We need a mindset more of improving the existing than the current disposable house mentality.

Does anyone know how to get a copy of the new standard. I can't seem to find it. Is it even in print yet?

ad, well you are right, you won't find it yet. I do know you can preorder your copy as I have at a few sites. I hope its not too complex and that its more accessible than the LEED program is to the everyday homeowner/buyer.

Are any of these "standards" actually code or just a set of guidelines and benchmarks for bragging rights. I don't see the point. Unless you make something a strictly enforced code then following it becomes voluntary and the homes that do adhere become novelty or simply too expensive.

Are there plans to make this new standard a code? I know that is where LEED was headed and I guess they did get it set as a standard for some public/government funded projects but it isn't an enforceable code anywhere I know of.

I get the feeling that these codes don't ring true with everyone. Is that right? I don't know how convincing a new standard/code is if everyone is questioning it and if there are so many options already out there. What is the right code?

unsure, I don't believe anyone is truly questioning the standard itself. That would be hard to do considering most have never read it and only have a glimpse at the standards it was based on. I have done a little research and found that the new standard is based on and expands from the NAHB Model Green Home Guidelines. They do include more, addressing issues like renovations, multifamily residences and land development that have been curiously absent from most standards and programs.

The right code is the one that best applies to your situation. If in your market, there is a demand for LEED for Homes certified houses and not yet a demand for this new code, then the LEED codes are right for you. It could be LEED, ANSI, Energy Star or other programs. There is so much movement in the market and right now its a period where the best standards will rise to the top and the others will fall off and lose market share.

Just got my copy and ran through it once. Shorter than what I expected, but a fairly robust and useful standard for building green. It relies on existing code and measures itself against much of the International Building Codes. Its a much easier read than say, LEED for Homes or New Construction. It leaves much more open to the decisions of the involved parties, but is still controlling enough to ensure adherence to the standard.

Worth looking into for anyone considering building green.

I truly like the structure of the rating system, requiring that you meet certain standards in each category to gain a rating. With LEED you can simply load up on certain criteria and boost your rating while lacking in others. The balance just isn't there with LEED. I like that NAHB and ANSI addressed this shortfall of LEED.

GHD, I am with you on this. I truly expected a large 300-400 page book full of extras and fluff with heavily prescriptive measures, but I was very happy to find a well written, technical code that leaves the decisions to those who are involved at a project per project level.