Our offices will be closed on Monday, September 6th, in observance of Labor Day. Due to our transitioning to a new platform, any reports submitted after 12:00 pm. ET on Thursday, September 2nd, will not be processed until Tuesday, September 7th. Have a safe and happy holiday weekend!

The NGBS Green program will be moving to a new and improved online platform as of Tuesday, September 7th. Our new online portal, AXIS, is designed to streamline the certification process for our certification clients and Verifiers. Rather than relying on email to transmit agreements, proof of insurance, verification reports, and even certificates, clients will be able to log into their NGBS Green account to take care of all certification business.

To accommodate the new system, we will need to close out our old system for the data migration. We will do this over the Labor Day weekend, but to ensure there is sufficient time for the transition, we will have a short period where we do not process any new information, agreements, reports, or certificates. See the notice above for the timing.

Once the new AXIS portal is operational, we will send a Special Insider Update with all the information you need to set up an account and use the new portal. An updated Builder’s Resource Guide will be available in early September with instructions on using the new portal, as well.

Home Innovation Research Labs recognized 87 NGBS Green Partners for outstanding contributions to advancing green building in their communities and their commitment to voluntary, market-driven, third-party certification of high-performance homes. On the heels of reaching the program milestone of 300,000 NGBS Green Certified Homes, we are especially grateful to this year’s recipients for helping NGBS Green thrive over such a turbulent time in the world and in our industry.

NGBS Green+ bestows special recognition for NGBS Green Certified homes that go “above and beyond” in certain areas of green practices. The +NET ZERO ENERGY and +WELLNESS badges are designed to recognize homes that are extremely energy efficient and constructed to be higher performing across multiple categories that influence human health, respectively.

NAHB’s Multifamily Pillars of the Industry Awards highlight creative development concepts, innovative financing strategies, great design, and superior management and marketing in the apartment and condo marketplace. The Pillars awards are held in high esteem by top-level multifamily development companies, management firms and experts in the field. The annual competition is judged by a jury of knowledgeable peers, each having a proven record of success in various facets of the multifamily industry.

The program includes multiple award categories for individuals, firms, and exceptional buildings, including Best in Green Market-Rate Multifamily Community and Best in Green Affordable Multifamily Community.

Learn more and apply today. Applications are accepted through October 18th.

Cindy Wasser, Home Innovation’s Senior Manager of Green Building Programs, has joined Green Builder Media’s Next Generation Influence Group of young professionals. This diverse group has the ear of corporations, building professionals, and national policy makers who want to meet the social, environmental, and economic needs of the 21st century. Learn more here.

The Maryland Clean Energy Center (MCEC) and the Montgomery County Green Bank (MCGB) have received approval from the Maryland Public Service Commission (PSC) to develop and implement the Clean Energy Advantage (CEA) Pilot Program.

CEA will facilitate access to lending capital provided by a third-party CEA Participating Lender so residential property owners anywhere in Maryland can conveniently and affordably complete energy improvements. The CEA program will be sponsored by seven utility partners who have been authorized by the PSC to fund the program using ratepayer surcharge funds of EmPOWER Maryland. MCEC and MCGB anticipate launching the pilot program before the end of the year.

The following states have or will revise their Qualified Allocation Plans (QAP) for the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Program (LIHTC). The summaries included indicate if NGBS Green certification is incentivized and provide information on how to submit comments or stay informed. If you know of current QAP activity in your state or locale that is not listed here or included in our online QAP Round-Up, please contact us.

Alabama: The Alabama Housing Finance Authority has released a draft 2022 QAP for public comment. Comments can be submitted through August 27th, using the Public Comment Form. The QAP includes prescriptive energy and water conservation measures, but no third-party programs are referenced. We are coordinating with other energy efficiency and green building programs to request that they require or incentivize third-party energy efficiency or green building programs.

Connecticut: the Connecticut 2022-2023 QAP was approved by the Governor in late July. The QAP features a revamped Sustainable Design section with new sub-sections for Energy Conservation, Green Building, Renewables/Electrification/Resiliency, Operations/Resiliency, and Sustainable Development with Digital Literacy and Connectivity. Two points are available for NGBS Green certification at the Gold level, and three points are available at the Emerald level.

Louisiana: Louisiana Housing Corporation released its final 2022 QAP. The QAP requires all funded projects to be certified to NGBS Green, EarthCraft, Enterprise Green Communities, or LEED.

Michigan: The Michigan 2022-2023 QAP is now Governor-approved. The QAP requires that funded projects achieve certification to the NGBS, Enterprise Green Communities, LEED, or PHIUS+. Silver level or higher is required for NGBS and LEED, and competitive points are available for higher certification levels and net zero energy certification. We applaud the Michigan State Housing Development Authority for including the NGBS Green+ NET ZERO ENERGY certification as an accepted option under the net zero category, and we hope that other states will follow suit.

Ohio: The Ohio Housing Finance Agency has released a draft 2022-2023 QAP for public comment. Written comments are accepted through September 2nd; comments must be sent to QAP@OhioHome.org. The draft 2022-2023 QAP would require new construction projects to obtain certification to the NGBS (Silver level or higher), Enterprise Green Communities, or LEED (Silver level or higher). Rehabilitation projects must obtain green certification where feasible; otherwise, they can demonstrate compliance by alternative means. NGBS Green Partners are encouraged to submit comments of support for Ohio’s inclusion of third-party green building certifications.

Utah: The Utah 2022 QAP was approved by the Governor in late July. The QAP awards five points for Enterprise Green Communities certification; however, NGBS Green and LEED self-certification are acceptable alternatives with no points available. We requested that NGBS Green certification be recognized as on-par with Enterprise Green Communities in terms of points; unfortunately, that request was not adopted by the HFA.

As a reminder, Home Innovation's NGBS Green Scoring Tools are only authorized to use for the purpose of seeking certification. We ask that, in keeping with the terms of your Agreement with Home Innovation, NGBS Green partners not use the scoring tool to demonstrate achievement of QAP criteria when NGBS Green certification is not being pursued. If you have any questions about this policy, please contact us.

Virginia: Virginia Housing has released a memo detailing proposed changes to the 2022 QAP, and comments were accepted through mid-August. The memo includes added points for geothermal and solar heating and cooling systems.

View Cindy’s blog for a broad view of QAP green building criteria and their references to NGBS Green certification.

The New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency, New Jersey Economic Development Authority, and New Jersey Redevelopment Authority will host the 2021 Virtual Governor’s Conference on Housing and Economic Development September 29-30th.

Together with developers, non-profits, financiers, and government agencies, the conference will foster discussion about how the housing and economic development industries can recover in a post-pandemic world. Learn more and register.

In each issue of Insider Update, Home Innovation profiles products that can help builders achieve points toward NGBS Green Certification. To browse all NGBS Green Certified products, visit the online directory.

VERSATEX Building Products are strong, durable, lightweight, and easy to install. The PVC Trimboards are resistant to moisture, insects and capable of below grade installation. This product is certified as a prefinished (601.7) and termite-resistant material (602.1.6).

Gas or Electric? For a new home, the answer often centers on the tradeoffs between short-term affordability vs. long-term operating cost. With the new home industry undergoing a period of stress and rapid change, seemingly in favor of the “all electric” home, natural gas and propane are still maintaining the lead, and even growing in some sectors, as the most popular choice for space heating, cooking, and water heating fuels. But this trend is not static. Read more in Ed Hudson’s Trends article.

Recently, we’ve been posting more and more case studies on some unique and exemplary NGBS Green Certified projects. If you haven’t had a chance to check them out yet, be sure to go to our Resources page – there are several there already and we’re adding more each week. While on the page, be sure to check out the wide range of guidance documents, comparisons, and other helpful resources we’ve created for our NGBS Green Partners, including:

You can also find LOTS of great resources by visiting the following pages -- #BookmarkWorthy:

Home Innovation Research Labs is looking for an inspired building scientist/building construction engineer to join our research team responsible for programmatic efforts in the fields of energy efficiency, energy modeling, technology innovation, and green building in residential construction.

See the full position listing on our website.

Home Innovation Research Labs is seeking a recent engineering graduate to join our Building Science Division. This person will be responsible for project work in the areas of energy efficiency, disaster resistance, cost evaluation, technology innovation, and green building in residential construction.

See the full position listing on our website.

Home Innovation Research Labs, an accredited third-party test lab, is looking for a motivated Engineer who wants to be on the leading edge of building product testing and certification.

Home Innovation Research Labs, the premier provider of marketing research services to manufacturers of construction-related products, their trade associations, and the federal government in housing technology-related studies is searching for a Construction Building Products Market Research Analyst to lead qualitative and quantitative research, conduct analysis, and report findings to our building product manufacturer clients.

Home Innovation Research Labs is seeking a well-organized self-starter to work in our materials and structures lab. This is a technical hands-on position that requires physical labor to set-up and perform tests on a variety of building products and components.

Take a 1 minute survey and let us know what you think of our delivery of NGBS Green certification and our customer service.

As we strive to keep up with events of interest around the country, we welcome your input. If you know of a program that may be of interest to our NGBS Green program partners, please let us know. And, if you or a client are interested in scheduling virtual (or, eventually, live) training on the 2020 NGBS, contact us – we have an AIA and ICC-approved program that we’d be happy to deliver.

Join these upcoming events: