Vancouver, WA – April 26, 2011 – (RealEstateRama) — International Code Council recently selected Clark County’s Building Safety program as winner of the group’s 2011 Raising the Profile Award in conjunction with Building Safety Month in May. The national award recognizes efforts to raise public awareness about work to improve public safety in the built environment.
International Code Council is dedicated to building safety and fire prevention, and develops codes and standards used to construct residential and commercial structures.
For the past six years, Building Safety has had a mobile wall display showing examples of good and bad construction and provided hands-on activities for children at various community events. This year, outreach efforts expanded to include a new energy efficiency program funded by the federal Department of Energy.
The focus of the new program is air duct sealing, which can lower heating and cooling costs. The program has tested more than 250 Clark County homes for free. When leaks and other problems are found, homeowners receive a $100 rebate to hire contractors to make repairs.
To advertise the program, the county formed a partnership, Planet Clark, with public and private entities including Clark Public Utilities, Parr Lumber and Energy Trust of Oregon. The program provides information on energy efficiency, building safety, permits and inspections, green building, home safety, emergency preparedness and environmental services.
The Planet Clark program takes information to the public at various events using a 20-foot, interactive educational trailer, and its Energy Detectives program visits area schools. The partnership builds on earlier outreach efforts of the county and other jurisdictions in the ThinkPermit program.
More information about Clark County’s Building Safety program is available at www.clark.wa.gov/commdev and www.PlanetClark.com.
Contact:
Jim Muir, Community Development
Phone: (360) 397-2375 ext. 2470
Fax: (360) 397-2011
jim.muir (at) clark.wa (dot) gov
