INTERNATIONAL
CODE COUNCIL
Sustainability: It’s More Than Structures
By Patrick J. Coughlin, Regional Manager, State and Local Government Relations, ICC
When people talk about sustainability, they typically refer to structural sustainability or a structure’s ability to withstand environmental impacts, such as hurricanes and tornadoes. But sustainability also applies to the environment, energy resources and community viability. This article describes how a residential construction project in New Mexico promises to increase all categories of sustainability – including community viability.
The City of Farmington, New Mexico, is at a crossroads. The city wants to add new subdivisions, but faces two major barriers to growth. The city-owned electrical power plant is at capacity, and increasing capacity will require costly upgrades to reduce air pollution. Water supply is another limiting factor. Enough water exists to sustain the current population, but new subdivisions will strain that resource.
The city is examining how “green” homes can reduce the impact of new construction on the environment, infrastructure and community services. If green subdivisions can significantly reduce electrical and water demand, Farmington may be able to grow and avoid the higher costs of traditional development.
A green residential project planned for Farmington is helping the city answer those questions. Home builder Joseph Kozimor, President of Consolidated Constructors, is planning a new subdivision of energy-efficient homes. His goal is to reduce the subdivision’s demand on Farmington’s electrical and water utilities by up to 50 percent.
The homes will be modeled on a prototype home that Kozimor built in 2009. The homeowner is Doug Lenberg, President of Real Green Building Solutions (RGBS) Company. RGBS is a distributor of energy-efficient plumbing equipment and plumbing-based fire sprinkler systems.
Kozimor built the Lenberg home with the following objectives in mind:
• Use recycled materials where possible.
• Reduce energy consumption for heating and cooling.
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