Introduces Set of Resilience Principles
New York, May 10, 2016 — The Illuminating Engineering Society of North America and 38 other leaders of America’s design and construction industry, released today a report on progress made on the resilience front since the Resilience Building Coalition announced the Building Industry Statement on Resilience two years ago.
The Resilience Building Coalition also released a set of guiding principles to help the building industry adopt resilient design and policies. These include developing and advocating for codes and policies that advance resilience; developing “whole-systems resilient design” approaches for the built environment; and providing guidance, beyond the baseline life-safety codes, that recognizes the importance of fortifying property for individual and community resilience. Since the initial signing, the Coalition has added 19 new signatories (a complete list is available at the end of this release).
The report includes results from a survey of signatories about how their work has been impacted by the Building Industry Statement on Resilience. Among the survey’s major findings:
- A majority of signatories report that they have “become more aware of their unique role in achieving resilience” since committing to the statement, which has clearly catalyzed the integration of resilience goals into existing organizational frameworks.
- Almost 30 percent of respondents have seen an increase in resilience as a priority within their organizations.
- More than two-thirds of respondents listed high-performance buildings as an initiative they were most interested in advancing.
- More than half of the responding signatories have used the Statement to “advance their organizational mission statement/values,” as well as “provide support and/or validation for moving forward on organization initiatives.” This shift in organizational priorities has led to concrete action.
- Respondents reported more than 40 initiatives they have begun that support the resilience focus areas committed to in the Statement.
The report is an outgrowth of a landmark agreement made in May 2014, in which leaders of America’s design and construction industry agreed to promote resilience in contemporary planning, building materials, design, construction and operational techniques as the solution for making the nation’s aging infrastructure more safe and secure.
I’m very pleased that the IES has chosen to be an active supporter of the statement on resilience. The IES, through its newly formed Standing Committee on Resilience, will assess lighting’s role in advancing building and community resilience. The goal is to develop and standardize best practices for the lighting industry utilizing both new and existing guidelines, standards, and related publications, commented Bob Horner. Our new 5-year research plan and agenda includes lighting and resilience-related topics which will be investigated in concert with universities, labs, and other independent research organizations as part of a multi-year endeavor.
Tim Licitra, the Executive Vice President of the IES added, The IES Board of Directors and I share the concerns that the other participating organizations have regarding the need to prevent the loss of life and property from natural and man-made disasters posed by an aging infrastructure. Building on the progress cited in today’s coalition report, we look forward to incorporating lighting as a key component in the resilience our nation’s infrastructure.
The list of organizations who have signed the joint statement on resilience is as follows (new organizations are marked with an asterisk):
- The Air Barrier Association of America*
- American Council of Engineering Companies
- American Institute of Architects
- American Planning Association
- American Society of Civil Engineers
- American Society of Interior Designers
- American Society of Landscape Architects
- American Society of Plumbing Engineers
- American Wood Council*
- ASHRAE
- Associated Builders and Contractors
- Associated General Contractors of America
- BuildStrong Coalition*
- Building Owners and Managers Association
- Congress for New Urbanism*
- Concrete Reinforcing Steel Institute*
- Construction Specifications Institute*
- EcoDistricts*
- Federal Alliance for Safe Homes*
- Green Building Initiative*
- Illuminating Engineering Society*
- Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety*
- International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials*
- International Code Council
- International Facility Management Association
- International Interior Design Association
- Lean Construction Institute
- National Association of Home Builders
- National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies*
- National Concrete Masonry Association*
- National Fire Protection Association*
- National Institute of Building Sciences
- National Insulation Association*
- National Ready Mixed Concrete Association*
- National Society of Professional Engineers
- Portland Cement Association*
- Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors
- US Green Building Council
- U.S. Resiliency Council*
- Urban Land Institute
View the Building Industry Statement on Resilience
View the Progress Report