In recent years, sustainability has become a core area of focus when it comes to real estate and new building construction. In fact, the United States invested more than $86 billion in green building in 2021 alone. Not only does green building reduce the environmental impact of buildings, but it can also lower day-to-day costs for building owners while increasing long-term property values.
Whether you are working in construction or real estate or looking to break into the field, having a firm grasp of green building regulations and compliance standards is critical to navigating this complex work.
Understanding Green Building Regulations and Compliance
Before diving in further, it is essential to understand what green building is, what it entails, and the regulatory frameworks surrounding green construction.
Defining Green Building
Specifically, green building refers to an approach to construction that prioritizes sustainability, environmental responsibility, and eco-friendliness at every stage of the process.
According to the United States Green Building Council, green building is "the planning, design, construction, and operations of buildings with several central, foremost considerations." These key considerations or elements include:
- Water use
- Energy use
- Material selection
- Indoor environmental quality
- Direct site impacts
Regulatory Framework for Green Building
Numerous regulations and standards are in place regarding the governing of green building practices, including:
- The International Code Council's International Green Construction Code (IgCC)
- Green Globes™
- Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)
- Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM)
You can read more about these regulatory frameworks on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) "Green Building Standards" webpage. In addition to these frameworks, local building codes may apply as well.
Understanding Green Building Certification and Their Role in Compliance
These days, many construction companies and real estate developers are seeking green building certifications as a way to demonstrate their commitment to a more sustainable future. There is a range of green building certifications available, with LEED and BREEAM among the most popular.
In order to obtain these certifications, buildings must meet strict standards for energy efficiency, water efficiency, emissions, and more. You can read more about the differences between LEED and BREEAM certification here.
Green Building vs. Regular Building
Compared to traditional methods of constructing new buildings, green building varies significantly in terms of design, construction, operational practices, and more.
Design and Construction Differences
In green building, design and construction are all about ensuring that buildings are as sustainable and efficient as possible, not just initially but also well into the future. A building designed with this level of sustainability may leverage the area's natural features, such as natural lighting or ventilation.
Likewise, green building practices may focus on energy-efficient construction techniques, such as designing a building to use less lumber as a means of reducing material consumption.
Operational and Maintenance Practices
When it comes to green building versus “regular” building, green building places a greater emphasis on sustainable operations and maintenance practices. This means that the building is not only constructed with sustainability in mind, but it is also designed to operate as efficiently as possible after construction is completed.
Whereas conventional buildings may use large amounts of resources (including energy and water) after they are constructed, green buildings might have features like water-conserving faucets and energy-efficient fixtures to reduce resource use while cutting down on operating costs.
Benefits of Green Building
Green building practices can be beneficial for the environment as well as the economy and society as a whole.
Environmental Benefits
Of course, one of the key advantages of green building practices is the many ways in which they can benefit the environment. This is achieved by reducing the environmental impact of new construction (including both residential and commercial construction) on the planet through improved energy efficiency, water conservation, and the use of sustainable materials.
Economic Advantages
In some ways, green building practices can also benefit the economy on both a local and global scale. When green buildings are constructed, owners can enjoy reduced operating costs due to improved efficiency. Additionally, green buildings tend to maintain higher property values compared to traditional buildings, so property owners can benefit in this way. Finally, construction companies and property owners may be able to enjoy tax incentives by opting for green building practices.
Social and Health Benefits
Green building standards can also help improve the health and well-being of building occupants in both residential and commercial spaces. Because green building code requires new construction to meet certain standards for indoor environmental quality, occupants may be able to enjoy healthier indoor spaces that could lead to elevated health, productivity, and overall well-being.
The Role of a Master of Legal Studies in Green Building Compliance
So, what does all this have to do with a Master of Legal Studies degree? What you will learn from an online M.L.S. program can be applied to your work in construction or real estate—particularly as it relates to environmental laws and green building standards.
Understanding Environmental Laws and Regulations
First, an M.L.S. degree program with a dedicated construction or real estate track can help professionals in the field better understand environmental laws, codes, and regulations that pertain to green building. This can include green building standards related to indoor environmental quality, emissions, materials/resource use, and more in residential and commercial buildings.
Developing and Implementing Compliance Strategies
A background in a comprehensive M.L.S. program can also set students up to create and execute green building compliance strategies, applying the concepts they've learned in the classroom to their real-world experience in the field. This includes competencies related to the legal, policy, and ethical aspects of environmental protection and strategies for adhering to strict compliance standards.
Risk Management in Sustainable Development
Meanwhile, M.L.S. graduates working in construction or real estate can leverage their knowledge of risk assessment and mitigation to support their work in green building projects. With coursework in the ethical foundations of risk and compliance, for example, students can explore the role of ethics and leadership values in decision-making while mitigating risks associated with green building projects.
Advocacy and Policy Development
Last but not least, graduates of an M.L.S. program with a real estate and construction track can confidently engage in advocacy and policy-making efforts that support and promote green building practices across the board. Drawing upon their in-depth knowledge of green building standards and regulations, these professionals can pave the way for a more sustainable future.
Challenges in Green Building Compliance
The realm of green building compliance can be rather complex, especially given the various regulatory frameworks and entities involved in creating and enforcing green building standards. In fact, there are numerous challenges that real estate and construction professionals may face in meeting green building regulations and maintaining compliance.
Understanding Complex Regulations
For one, green building regulations can be incredibly intricate and nuanced. Being able to navigate and understand the multitude of green building regulations, codes, and standards can be challenging without the proper legal knowledge and background.
Cost and Resource Implications
Another challenge that comes with constructing green buildings is that following compliance standards can be costly, requiring a larger up-front investment for energy-efficient systems, sustainable materials, and other resources. Builders may need to seek additional financing to offset these up-front costs—which is not always a simple feat.
Keeping Up with Evolving Standards
Green building standards and technologies are constantly evolving, which can make staying current on the latest information a challenge in itself. This is where professionals in this field are encouraged to have a solid education in green building compliance and regulations as well as a reliable source of the most up-to-date information. Industry journals, publications, or conferences can be excellent sources of the latest news for professionals in the field.
Future Trends in Green Building Regulations
Only time will tell for certain what the future holds for green building regulations, but some developments and emerging technologies are already shaping the industry.
Integration of Smart Technologies
More builders are integrating smart technologies into their new construction as a means of monitoring energy consumption and optimizing usage of resources. Examples of these technologies include energy management systems, human-machine interfaces, and even electrochromic glass that can control the amount of natural light let into a building at any given time.
Increased Focus on Climate Resilience
As global climate change remains a growing concern, there is also elevated demand for building designs that can withstand natural disasters and other potential environmental impacts. In areas that may be affected by hurricanes, for instance, building codes may mandate the use of reinforced materials like brick, concrete, and steel for greater structural integrity.
Expanding Scope of Sustainability Metrics
As green building practices become increasingly common, it is also likely we will continue to see more sustainability metrics that can be measured to determine the success of each new building project. For example, it may soon be possible to measure metrics such as social equity, biodiversity, and even circular economy principles as part of a green building initiative.
Explore a Master of Legal Studies to Further Your Real Estate or Construction Career
As the demand for more sustainable and environmentally-conscious buildings rises, so will the need for construction and real estate professionals who understand the ins and outs of green building standards, regulations, and codes.
For those seeking an online Master of Legal Studies program that can prepare them to navigate the regulatory nuances of green building, the University of Miami School of Law offers an online M.L.S. real estate and construction track curriculum that covers real estate laws and regulations, green/sustainable development compliance, and other hot topics in real estate.
Reach out today to request more information about our M.L.S. degree program—or begin filling out your online application for enrollment.
Sources
https://admissions.law.miami.edu/academics/MLS/
https://admissions.law.miami.edu/academics/mls/curriculum/#real-estate
https://www.rubyhome.com/blog/green-building-stats/
https://admissions.law.miami.edu/connect/#contact-us
https://admissions.law.miami.edu/apply/mls/index.html
https://www.usgbc.org/articles/what-green-building
https://www.epa.gov/smartgrowth/green-building-standards
https://www.prologis.com/what-we-do/resources/difference-breeam-leed
https://www.valcre.com/blog/how-green-building-affects-property-value
https://www.usgbc.org/articles/ira-update-it-s-go-green-building-tax-incentives
https://maddevs.io/blog/what-are-smart-buildings-and-how-do-they-work
