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Announcing: The Code Innovations Database A new web resource "Making it Easier to Build Green" Earth Day: April 22, 2014 Hi South Sound Eco-Community, The Northwest EcoBuilding Guild, in partnership with Thurston County, the City of Olympia, WA and the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance, are pleased to announce the Code Innovations Database, a new web resource, designed with a simple goal in mind: "Making it Easier to Build Green!" The Database is a clearinghouse of examples of successfully permitted green building, high-performance and other innovative design strategies, materials and technology. It provides a way for local building officials, the building industry and the interested public to share information about what works and what doesn't, what's new in "green" code-setting, and how to navigate the permitting process when innovative methods don't fit neatly into an existing "prescriptive path" to approval. The steady advance of designs and technology to reduce the environmental cost of construction has helped fuel a budding recovery in the building industry. It has also challenged code officials and builders in many cases to come up with new ways to achieve the intent of the code, in some cases even adopting new codes to accomodate green building. Officially announcing the launch on Earth Day in a presentation to the International Codes Council, Rainier Chapter - Principal Investigator Chris van Daalen stressed that "innovation is so important to our economy. It stimulates job creation and business competitiveness. In the case of construction, innovation also helps reduce the impact of our buildings on the Earth, by introducing new energy-, resource- and money saving designs at a faster pace than ever. Building codes are always responding to these innovations, but in the meantime codes need not be a barrier to green alternatives - the key is having the right information at the right time." The Code Innovations Database aims to provide this unique and timely information as a free public resource which we hope will inspire and educate the building industry to adopt more green practices. It will eventually hold hundreds of in-depth case studies rich in supporting information, each one documenting a successful "road-map" to approval for a specific innovation. Over time, the growing trove of information will reveal a tapestry of unique approaches and emerging trends, and directly support replication of successful innovations and development of new green codes. Code Innovations Blog To enrich the education and engage our community, we will be examining patterns and trends related to green codes and innovations, and publishing a Code Innovations Blog. We'll let you know about featured case studies, upcoming events and exciting green codes developments. We'll always keep it short and sweet. For the next several weeks, we'll send you a weekly digest of these posts, and invite you to subscribe via email or RSS Feed once you see what we've got to offer. Our Principal Investigator, Chris van Daalen is available until May 31 for presentations and appointments with code officials and code users who may want to get involved. For more information contact him: (360) 789-9669 or email education@ecobuilding.org. Be a Guest Contributor! Thank You to our Founding Partners, the database would not be possible were it not for their support and encouragement: Thurston County Public Works Thurston Solid Waste City of Olympia Public Works Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance Also Special Thanks to: * Cascadia Green Building Council * Washington State Building Codes Council * The Evergreen State College * Rainier Chapter, International Codes Council * City of Seattle / King County Green Team * Building Officials of Lacey, Olympia, Tumwater and Thurston County And Most Especially: Members of the Board, Northwest EcoBuilding Guild * Interns and Research Volunteers * Alyssa Parker, Graphic Designer extraordinare! FREE Permit Center Display & Resource Binder *note: binder tucks behind display to save counter space. click for larger view. The Guild is building a regional partnership and a national audience for the database, with a call out to leading Northwest Innovators and Jurisdictions to help make the project a success. We're offering a free display to interested Cities and Counties who want to encourage more sustainable, energy-efficient building practices in their permit center. Contact us to request a viewing, or order yours today! Code Innovations 2-page Partnership Prospectus What's Your Innovation? We are looking for submissions of your innovative projects that successfully pushed the envelope. Please visit our website, Subscribe to our Blog and submit your case study ideas at www.CodeInnovations.org. Note: If you've been part of the "beta test" of the database in the past 2 years, rest assured the website and content are "new and improved" with many changes based on your input and critique since 2012. Thank you! This time its for real. Read, Download, Distribute our Earth Day Press Release. Visit www.CodeInnovations.org to Search by Category or Advanced Search. Chris van Daalen, Education Coordinator NW EcoBuilding Guild 911 Adams St. SE Olympia (360) 789-9669 cvan@theverdantgroup.com education@ecobuilding.org Making it Easier to Build Green! www.CodeInnovations.org www.Vision2Action.us