Changing city codes are pushing buildings into greener territory

Houston Business Journal
by Nicole Bradford Houston Business Journal

With a new commercial energy code going into effect in August, the City of Houston is among those working to educate the public on how green building is not only good for marketing and image but can be necessary for compliance and reduce operating costs.

The Energy Code is mandated by the state and designed to reduce air pollution and control energy costs and power demand.

"This new code will have significant design impacts on building envelope requirements, including cool roofs, glazing with lower solar heat gain and vestibules for buildings greater than three stories," says Jonathan Vaughan, commissioning services group leader at PageSoutherlandPage LLP.

Energy conservation is among key driving forces behind ever-changing commercial construction codes -- thus the city's minimum building requirements and the more progressive green building movement are, strangely enough, intertwined.