You may assume that building codes would favor green materials, given their tendency toward less-toxic materials. In reality, building codes have little to say about the finishes or fixtures in a building. Generally, codes exist to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the inhabitants.
Bottom line: You should be able to use green finish materials as freely as traditional building materials. On the other hand, the walls, floors, or beams in a building impact the occupants’ health, safety, and welfare, so they do fall into the purview of the local building code.
Ancient alternative materials such as straw bale or adobe are still not accepted by many building departments. Cost-saving measures such as the use of finger-jointed wood studs are also frowned upon by the local building inspectors. You’ll have to check with your local building department before planning any construction project with these nontraditional methods.
Any wood intended for structural use must be inspected and grade stamped prior to use, or it will not comply with the building code. Ask the supplier for grade stamps — some suppliers provide this service for a reasonable fee. (Note: This rule does not apply to finish and nonstructural wood.)
Remember: Always check with your local jurisdiction before using any unusual materials.
A number of local governments have discovered the value in getting people to build green buildings. In addition to being a healthier way to build, green buildings reduce the strain on the local infrastructure. Cash-strapped governments can save considerable amounts of money simply by getting their residents to reduce their energy, water, and waste. Whether you live in these areas or not, visit the Web sites of the following agencies to download their free and incredibly useful green building guidelines and checklists:
- Alameda County (California) Waste Management Authority (ACWMA; http://www.stopwaste.org): ACWMA has been a pioneer in green building. Its free guides are so well done that the City of San Francisco adopted them for its own use.
- Chicago Department of the Environment (http://www.cityofchicago.org/environment): Chicago has been striving to become the greenest city in the United States through visionary programs promoting green roofs and energy efficiency. Its green building checklists are a valuable tool.
- City of Seattle Green Building Program (http://www.seattle.gov/dpd/GreenBuilding): Seattle is a visionary city in terms of promoting green building. Although its guides are written specifically for the unique climate of Washington, they’re beautifully done and incredibly informative, no matter where you live.
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