By City of Tempe
Construction of City facilities is doubling down on going green, and local developers have the option to do the same. On Nov. 30, Tempe City Council adopted Resolution No. R2023.178, which commits future City facility construction to sustainable building practices and establishes a voluntary sustainable building code for local development.
Tempe will use the International Green Construction Code, a building code used to guide development while prioritizing nature and climate. Green codes like IgCC reduce greenhouse gas emissions, mitigate heat island effects, reduce water consumption, decrease dependency on fossil fuels, increase building life spans and heat resiliency while promoting native, desert-adaptive landscaping and structural shade.
Tempe has previously tested green codes by including elements of the code in various city projects like the Tempe Transportation Center, Clark Park and Fire Station #2. These projects, along with solicited community feedback, were used to inform the new resolution.
While IgCC is optional for private development, the City will be working with developers to better understand what elements of IgCC are easily adoptable and others that might be more challenging. The City will be tracking and monitoring the use of IgCC in private development.
“At the end of the day, what we are really aiming for is a stronger set of codes that can easily be implemented and do good for our environment. The current code adoption puts our community one step closer to a more sustainable and resilient Tempe by testing green codes with real construction in our community,” Sustainability & Resilience Director Eric Iwersen said. “Private developers can assist this process by being early, voluntary adopters.”
In addition to IgCC, Tempe has already adopted Solar Ready provisions in its Energy Conservation Code and is pursuing other sustainable codes like an Electric Vehicle ready code and Green Stormwater Infrastructure. More information about the City’s adoption of green codes at tempe.gov/GreenCodes.
Learn more at tempe.gov/SustainableTempe.