As part of the City of Boynton Beach’s Climate Action Plan, the City Commission  adopted a Green Building Program in April, making it only the second of its kind in the entire nation. The new program incorporates the International Green Construction Code (IGCC), which was released in 2010 by the Code Council to aid in the construction of sustainable buildings in the business and residential sectors. Among its goals are to decrease energy usage and carbon footprints.

Adoption of the program puts the City ahead of the State of Florida, which is tracking the same IGCC Green Building Program that Boynton Beach adopted. Legislation pending through Florida House Bill 849 and Florida Senate Bill 396 would amend the definition of “sustainable building rating” to include the International Green Construction Code. As part of its new Green Building Program, Boynton Beach will be the first city in the country to add fees to help fund “green” building incentives.

More information on the International Green Construction Code is available at http://www.iccsafe.org.