Before the term “Going Green” became popular, the Pinal County Building Safety Department has been working with property owners on various housing styles that conserve energy. In the past decade our Building Safety inspectors have signed off on several alternative methods and materials for homes such as straw bale construction or rammed earth developments.

Pinal County encourages the use of gray water for golf course and outdoor irrigation. Some homeowners are making the choice to irrigate with gray water.

In 1996, Pinal County first adopted the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), which addresses both commercial and residential structures. The County has continued keeping pace with this code by adopting the 2001 and 2007 updates to the code. The code works to enforce energy saving methods from timed climate systems for commercial to better insulation for residential. The code also addresses solar power systems.

• The IECC establishes minimum insulation requirements for both commercial and residential buildings.
• Residential codes provide insurance to homeowners that newly constructed homes make use of modern techniques and products that make houses energy-efficient.
• By complying with energy code requirements, energy bills are lower and comfort levels are often improved.
• Codes also level the playing field for builders by requiring a standard level of quality in areas that homeowners might not see when they are buying a house such as the insulation in the walls.
• Pinal County is also the potential epicenter for new developers who might seek to construct entire developments meeting the LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) standard or setting higher minimum Energy Star ratings for HVAC and other household systems.