John Umphress, the American Society of Interior Designers receive the National Leadership in Sustainability and Energy Efficiency Award

Each year, the International Code Council recognizes peers and colleagues who are a reflection of what the association stands for: dedication to developing model codes and standards used in the design, build and compliance process to construct safe, sustainable, affordable and resilient structures. The Code Council honored several outstanding individuals and organizations for their accomplishments and contributions to building safety and resiliency in their communities during the 2019 Annual Conference in Las Vegas, Nev.

The National Leadership in Sustainability and Energy Efficiency Award (formerly the Standard Bearers Award) recognizes outstanding contributions to the growth and enhancement of codes or public policy advancing the principles of the Code Council’s Sustainability Membership Council in the field of energy efficiency and/or sustainability in the built environment. John Umphress, senior green building and sustainability consultant for the Austin Energy Green Building Program, and the American Society of Interior Designers each received the 2019 National Leadership in Sustainability and Energy Efficiency Award during the Joint Membership Council Meeting on Oct. 23, 2019, in Las Vegas, Nev.

The annual award honors states, cities, towns and individuals who go above and beyond to raise compliance with building energy and green codes — and by doing so, help unlock billions in savings and improve the efficiency of America’s new and existing buildings and homes using cost-effective, practical and innovative strategies. Award recipients must demonstrate an exceptional record of contribution, either in one-time or cumulative efforts, made during their career or in the course of past operations through significant contributions and involvement in advocacy, leadership and development of codes and standards, programs, public policy, publications, goals, or objectives in the area of energy efficiency and/or sustainability in the built environment, either directly or indirectly supporting the intent and purpose of the International Green Construction Code, the International Energy Conservation Code and/or ICC–700 National Green Building Standard.

The first recipient, John Umphress, is the senior green building and sustainability consultant for the Austin Energy Green Building Program. For the past decade, John has influenced green building and sustainability efforts in and outside of his job by advocating for energy code development, adoption and implementation in Austin, Texas. He is an active participant in the International Energy Conservation Code code development process. He has contributed significantly to the implementation of Austin’s residential energy code as well as the adoption of Austin’s solar-ready code — the first solar code in the state and the country.

During his tenure, Umphress has rated hundreds of homes and has advised many colleagues, building inspectors, architects and city politicians on ways that energy and building codes reduce building energy use. His career has shaped the industry as he continuously influences other communities throughout the country to adopt provisions for future sustainability.

Our second recipient is the American Society of Interior Designers. For more than 20 years, the Society has promoted sustainable designs at the national level and through their 46 chapters across the United States. By providing practical solutions, applying innovative thinking and establishing creative partnerships, the Society remains at the forefront of sustainability projects created for the benefit of all people, at all socioeconomic levels, in all places.

The Society regularly publishes works to help designers understand and implement concepts in sustainable designs, including “The Guide to Ecolabels.” Their dedication to promoting sustainable design and best practices also extended to giving a variety of presentations during the Code Council’s Annual Conference. Bryan Soukup, vice president of Government & Public Affairs at the American Society of Interior Designers, and Codes & Standards Committee Chair Tracey Fillmore presented “Interior Designers: Partners in Building Safety” to attendees of the Building Safety & Design Expo and the Code Council’s Major Jurisdictions Committee on the education interior designers receive on building codes, the qualifications and the important work that they do to advocate on behalf of and educate the design community and general public to improve life, health, safety and welfare in the built environment.

“The Code Council is proud to recognize our members who are actively working to improve the design and construction of buildings through better energy code compliance,” said International Code Council Chief Executive Officer Dominic Sims, CBO. “These leaders recognize the importance of our codes and standards in ensuring a safe and more sustainable built environment and we are pleased to applaud their leadership.”

The International Code Council congratulates John Umphress and the American Society of Interior Designers as its 2019 National Leadership in Sustainability and Energy Efficiency Award recipients.

View past award recipients.