Paper Outline

My question, very generally, is how are building codes/regulations established? I will be looking at the U.S. building codes with special attention to the regulations concerning energy, and comparing that to equivalent building policies in other developed/developing countries.
While government certification programs such as LEED are providing the incentive for building more efficient and environmentally thoughtful structures, they are just that--incentive. Building code and policy provide a legal standard to which buildings can be constructed. That said, a radical upgrade of these codes could initiate a mandatory LEED-like building sector. After hearing Thomas Friedman and Bill Brown (Director of the Office of Sustainability) speak on related topics, I feel that strict policy on a large scale has the potential to make a credible difference in unsustainable practices. By examining building regulations around the world which have radically changed what a 'to-code' building should consist of, we can start to better understand how the U.S. system might be improved.

My thesis is that building-code policy is heavily influenced by utility prices. Cheap access to electricity or clean water implores buildings to be built with lights and faucets that take full advantage of those artificially 'sweetened' prices. While an efficient water-heater or dual-flush toilette system would indeed save the extra cost of the investment and more, the prices of utilities do not honestly reflect their environmental cost and, therefore, do not have as much of an impact on sustainable construction.

Some of the sources I'll be using include the Buildings Energy Data Book, various newspaper articles, Statistics Denmark, and the International Code Council.

Firstly, defining and explaining the nature of building codes in the U.S. will be an important first step. Who is involved in the writing of the code and the administering of the code will also be important to our overall understanding of this complex procedure. Much of the complexity is derived from the fact that building code in the U.S. is set at a local or state level. While the ICC has a written 'national' building code, local and state regulations are much more often adhered to.
Next, what factors are considered when code is written will tell us about where these regulations can be changed. Proximity to fresh water would hypothetically have a severe influence on shower-head standards.
Next I will explore where building codes have taken a more sustainable turn (California, Denmark). Understanding how these standards were put in place will help to better understand how the U.S. building codes can be upgraded.