“Code Officials: Building A Brighter, More Efficient Tomorrow” is the Theme for Building Safety Month Week 4

Weatherizing every home in the U.S. would save $33 billion a year in energy costs

Since 1980, Building Safety Month has been an annual public safety awareness campaign hosted by the International Code Council (ICC). Gubernatorial and local government proclamations in 40 states and more than 70 jurisdictions recognize Building Safety Month and the importance of building safety and fire prevention officials, architects, engineers, builders, tradespeople, laborers and others in the construction industry who work year-round to ensure the safe construction of buildings. The theme for week four of Building Safety Month 2014, May 26-31, sponsored by the American Gas Association (AGA), is “Code Officials: Building A Brighter, More Efficient Tomorrow.”

“Better insulation of walls, floors, attics and basements, and other components that make up the building envelope, along with the use of high-efficiency light bulbs, and energy-efficient windows and skylights is code compliant and can save money in the long run,” said International Code Council Board President Stephen D. Jones, CBO. “Those features along with unplugging unused electronics and appliances, using programmable thermostats, turning down the water heater temperature, using ceiling fans, turning up the air conditioner thermostat and even strategically placed and appropriate landscaping can reduce utility bills for homeowners and building owners.”

Weatherizing every home in the U.S. would save the country $33 billion a year in energy costs, according to a Lawrence Berkley National Laboratory study. Building energy codes provide states and municipalities across the country a range of energy, environmental and economic benefits, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. While green is a popular topic today, safe and sustainable construction dates back at least 40 years to the 1973 energy crisis.

“The American Gas Association is proud to once again sponsor this very important ICC event and the role that the efficient use of natural gas plays in expanding the safe and efficient built environment,” said Jim Ranfone, AGA Managing Director, Codes and Standards. “Working together to help ensure the development and enforcement of model building and energy codes are a key element in moving the nation forward to handle the many challenges that need to be addressed to assure a bright and strong future for all of us.”

Three major codes and standards based on the most current building science available are used to construct sustainable buildings in the U.S.: the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), the International Green Construction Code (IgCC) and the National Green Building Standard ICC 700-2012. Constructing energy-efficient homes and buildings favorably impacts the economic development of communities, meets consumer demand and saves valuable resources

More information about Building Safety Month and energy efficiency in the built environment is available at www.buildingsafetymonth.org.

The American Gas Association, founded in 1918, represents more than 200 local energy companies that deliver clean natural gas throughout the United States. There are more than 71 million residential, commercial and industrial natural gas customers in the U.S., of which 94 percent—more than 68 million customers—receive their gas from AGA members. Today, natural gas meets almost one-fourth of the United States’ energy needs.

The International Code Council is a member-focused association. It is dedicated to developing model codes and standards used in the design, build and compliance process to construct safe, sustainable, affordable and resilient structures. Most U.S. communities and many global markets choose the International Codes.