ICC/ASHRAE 700-2015 National Green Building Standard

A collaborative effort of the International Code Council, ASHRAE and the National Association of Home Builders, the NGBS outlines a variety of green practices that can be incorporated into new homes and multifamily buildings, as well as hotels, dormitories and land developments.

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The ICC/ASHRAE 700-2015 National Green Building Standard (NGBS) has been approved by the American National Standards Institute for all types of sustainable residential construction. A collaborative effort of the International Code Council, ASHRAE and the National Association of Home Builders, NGBS outlines a variety of green practices that can be incorporated into new homes and multifamily buildings, as well as hotels, dormitories and land developments. The Standard also delivers stand-alone chapters for both home remodeling and additions and renovations of multifamily buildings.

The green practices address site and lot design, preparation and development; resource, energy and water efficiency; indoor environmental quality; and operation, maintenance and building owner education. Four levels - Bronze, Silver, Gold and Emerald - enable residential professionals to integrate sustainability and high performance at a level most appropriate for their businesses and specific housing markets. The 2015 edition incorporates changes that better align the NGBS with the I-codes, expands the application of innovative practices and builds upon years of building and certifying to NGBS. Some of the more notable updates include: - Substantial revisions to the Energy Efficiency chapter, which now has more stringent rating levels based upon whole-house energy savings that are above the 2015 International Energy Conservation Code.- A comprehensive update of the exterior and interior lighting provisions including common areas in multifamily building.- Mandatory installation of carbon monoxide alarms for all buildings, regardless of level of certification or local code.- Revamped stormwater management options that encourage low-impact development practices.- Greater emphasis on and recognition of multi-modal transportation options including bicycle parking, pedestrian connectivity, proximity to transit and electric-vehicle charging. - New references in the Resource Efficiency chapter for Environmental Product Declarations for both specific and industry-wide products. This latest edition includes everything needed to design, construct or remodel any residential project to the most current sustainable and green building criteria available - all under one roof!