[This is an EXCERPT of a lengthy article about the challenges that come up when trying to balance innovation in green building with codes established for public safety and the bureaucracies that administer them - read the whole thing over at Sustainable Industries. -Ed.]

by Charles Redell

"The nation’s built environment is undergoing a revolution. There are almost 12,000 Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) registered projects, according to the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). Slowly but surely, builders and designers are moving toward 'green' and sustainable construction techniques for both new construction and existing remodels.

"But in the West Coast’s biggest jurisdictions, the change isn’t happening slowly at all. In fact, it’s happening so quickly that some builders and designers are complaining that the building and energy codes aren’t able to keep up.

"'There are inherent challenges within the regulatory system that provide a lot of frustration to the development community,' says Katie Spataro, research director at the Cascadia Region Green Building Council. 'A lot of that is inter-jurisdictional barriers.'"

"Building height restrictions and setback requirements can derail plans for a building to generate its own electricity, while something as seemingly basic as reusing rainwater can become controversial because of water rights or public health issues. But, Spataro says, codes can be flexible enough to deal with these problems—if the design team is willing to put in the work."

Photo credit: Jakob Montrasio