Building Safety Month Green and Energy Week, May 1-7

WASHINGTON, May 2, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- May marks the 31st anniversary of the International Code Council Foundation's (ICCF) Building Safety Month. Throughout the month, ICC Members will educate the public and builders about building safety and sustainability issues, and sharing ideas to create more energy-efficient and durable structures.
The first week of Building Safety Month will be devoted to green and energy efficiency issues—a timely topic because of the forthcoming introduction of the International Green Construction Code by the International Code Council in 2012.
"The emergence of green building codes and standards is an important next step to provide communities with the opportunity to build sustainable and safe buildings," Richard P. Wieland, ICCF Board of Governors and CEO of the Code Council said. "We talked to communities that indicated their voluntary green building programs reach only, but an important, 30 percent of the built environment. That told us there is a clear need for a regulatory tool to establish a baseline to help jurisdictions meet their sustainability goals."
During Green and Energy Week, consumers will learn comprehensive strategies, such as replacing insulation, windows, and roofs, as well as low-cost strategies for increasing energy efficiency.
BASF, The Chemical Company, and a presenting sponsor of Building Safety Month, has created a series of online video diaries to show consumers the real-life benefits of durable, energy-efficient building materials.
"Many people don't realize that BASF is a major supplier of products that vastly improve the energy efficiency and the durability of homes and commercial buildings," says Michael Sievers Business Manager, BASF.  "We provide insulation, pervious pavement solutions and impact resistant exterior wall systems that hold up better against natural disasters, and so much more."  To view the video diaries, visit BASF on YouTube.
Green and Energy week also relates to creating healthy homes. "New studies show that green homes can also be healthier homes," says Rebecca Morley, Executive Director of the National Center for Healthy Housing (NCHH), platinum sponsor of Green and Energy Week. The National Center for Healthy Housing recommends that all green building and energy efficiency programs incorporate the Seven Principles of Healthy Homes: Keep homes dry, clean, pest-free, ventilated, contaminant-free, safe and maintained. "By following these simple principles, builders, architects, and others in the housing industry can keep families safe and healthy at the same time they are reducing impact on the environment and helping their clients save money on energy."
"Green" has come to encompass many aspects of creating safer, more sustainable and healthy environments in homes and commercial spaces. ICCF, BASF and NCHH are leaders in finding solutions for common problems and educating consumers and builders.
More information about products, resources and ideas for "greening" your home or business can be found at the following sites:
www.buildingsafetymonth.org
www.basf.com
www.nchh.org
First observed in 1980 as Building Safety Week, Building Safety Month is a program of the International Code Council Foundation. The International Code Council Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with the mission to promote public awareness of ideas‚ methods and technologies that encourage the construction of safe, durable and sustainable buildings and homes, reducing the devastating effects of building damages due to natural disasters and other tragedies.

SOURCE International Code Council Foundation