New green construction certification unveiled

The International Code Council with sponsorship from ASHRAE, the leading global heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration membership society, announced the release of a new International Green Construction Code (IgCC) certification, Commercial Green Construction Professional.

The Commercial Green Construction Professional certification was created to assist in developing new standards for building construction in order to address the problem of greenhouse gas emissions and to help reinforce societal health, life and safety benefits. Professionals who hold this certification will lead the way in helping to conserve resources and regenerate sites, while providing expertise in offering solutions to resilience through natural disasters, a changing climate, resource consumption/management and service interruptions due to unforeseen events.

“As the focus to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase energy efficiency within our communities continues to grow, the demand for green building design, construction and operational techniques has become essential,” said Cindy Davis, CBO, president of the International Code Council Board of Directors. “A certified Commercial Green Construction Professional will play an important role as an industry leader in helping communities establish sustainable, resilient, high-performance buildings.”

The Code Council is the preeminent certification body for credentialing code professionals. Code Council certifications are often prerequisites for those seeking positions that review building plans and inspect homes and buildings for compliance with applicable codes and standards. Code Council certification exams are developed and maintained to the highest standards, which includes continuous peer review by committees of experienced, practicing professionals.

The certified Commercial Green Construction Professional certification verifies competence in plan review and project inspection performance for commercial buildings as it pertains to the International Green Construction Code (IgCC), in coordination with ASHRAE Standard 189.1. Standard 189.1 provides guidance for designing, building and operating high-performance green buildings and sets the foundation for total building sustainability through site sustainability, water and energy efficiency, indoor environmental quality and the building’s impact on the atmosphere, materials and resources.

“ASHRAE congratulates the Code Council on this new certification,” said Mick Schwedler, P.E., LEED AP, 2021–2022 ASHRAE president. “ICC’s contributions to the built environment and a sustainable future are appreciated.”