2012 Energy and Green Construction Codes

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2012 Energy and Green Construction Codes

On December 4, 2012, Scottsdale City Council adopted the 2012 suite of building codes including the 2012 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) and International Green Construction Code (IgCC) with an effective date of January 7, 2013. The IgCC is mandatory when stipulated as part of the planning approval process for zoning bonuses including floor area, building height and density. Otherwise the IgCC serves as a compliance mechanism for the city’s voluntary Commercial Green Building Program.

The IgCC makes it easier for developers of commercial and multi-family projects to be green certified by addressing:

mitigation of summer heat island effect

transportation impact mitigation

resource efficient building materials

energy efficiency for building envelope, mechanical equipment and lighting systems

renewable energy systems

water efficient plumbing systems

indoor material emissions and pollutant control

mechanical equipment sound mitigation within and outside the building

daylighting for libraries, schools, offices, warehouses, retail areas 10,000 square
feet or greater

building commissioning for proper installation, effective operation and functional
performance of building systems

The new code provides flexibility to adapt to Scottsdale’s geographic conditions and environmental quality of life while promoting uniformity of performance criteria from city to city. By fully integrating the green code into the city’s plan review and inspection process, green certification is streamlined and a Green Certificate of Occupancy is issued following the final building inspection.

Scottsdale’s Green Building Program Manager Anthony Floyd says, “The IgCC integrates green building into the building code permit process while providing a building industry-wide framework for uniform baseline measures.” He adds that it also offers an alternative way for buildings to become green certified, thus boosting resource savings, productivity and the environmental benefits of green commercial developments at a wider scale.

Established in 1998, Scottsdale’s residential Green Building Program was the first in the state and the fifth in the nation. Since then, the city has issued nearly 1,300 green building permits. The city established a commercial component in 2001 with approximately 45 permits issued to date.

In 2005, the city adopted the nation’s first LEED Gold policy for newly constructed and renovated public facilities. LEED is a national multi-level green building rating program administered by the Green Building Certification Institute. Scottsdale has committed to the LEED certification process to ensure the objectivity of a third-party verification process for public facilities and considers LEED Silver, Gold and Platinum level certified buildings as meeting or exceeding the provisions of the IgCC. As a market-based rating program, LEED provides an independent avenue for achieving higher performance thresholds, whereas the IgCC is designed to provide minimum baseline performance measures that are administered by the local jurisdiction.

Learn more about the newly adopted code at:

2012 Scottsdale IgCC Summary (pdf/54kb)

Scottsdale IgCC Amendments (pdf/92kb)

IgCC Checklist (pdf/145kb/12pp)

IgCC Heat Island Mitigation Worksheet (pdf/86kb/2pp)

IgCC Material Properties Worksheet (pdf/135kb/2pp)

IgCC Material Emissions Resource Guide