By Dan Hounsell, Senior Editor

As healthcare facilities nationwide continue their efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and minimize the impact of their facilities and operations on the environment, managers have a bit more guidance on accommodating the use of electric vehicles (EVs) in expansion and construction activities.

The International Code Council recently published a new educational resource on EV charging infrastructure and building codes titled Electric Vehicles and Building Codes: A Strategy for Greenhouse Gas Reductions. This is the first in a series of resources set to be published with the aim of supporting organizations and communities in achieving greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction goals in a safe and efficient manner.

The framework presents solutions already implemented by jurisdictions that have chosen to enact policies aimed at supporting increased EV deployment. The model language presented in the resource is intended to provide communities with approaches that can reflect local needs and enables the policies and guidelines they set to be directly integrated into the International Codes family of building safety solutions.

In March 2021, the Code Council’s Board of Directors issued a new framework to support advancements in energy efficiency and GHG reductions entitled Leading the Way to Energy Efficiency: A Path Forward on Energy and Sustainability to Confront a Changing Climate. The framework includes provisions for the development of technical and policy resources that provide organizations and communities with tools to support achievement of their energy efficiency and GHG reduction goals. These resources are intended to be useable independently and adopted alongside the baseline code to support community needs in specific areas.