We know many of our NGBS Green Partners have been anxiously awaiting this exciting news – consider it our holiday gift to you!

Industry professionals can now earn NGBS Green Pro, a professional designation which validates expertise in green design, construction, and building certification. Successful completion of the NGBS Green Pro modules showcases your expertise in sustainable buildings and designates you as a green professional. Individuals who successfully earn the NGBS Green Pro designation have advanced understanding of the National Green Building Standard ICC-700 and the NGBS Green certification program.

NGBS Green Pro training is now available 24/7 at the NGBS Green Pro Training site. Completion of a single NGBS Green Pro module earns 1LU Elective from AIA or 0.1 CEU credit from ICC. Completion of the entire course earns 4LU Elective from AIA or 0.4 CEU credit from ICC.

This year, the NGBS Green certification pipeline will shutdown completely for the end of year holidays.

For projects seeking certification in 2021, all final submissions were to have been submitted by today. We will work the best we can to deliver certifications for projects in process before COB Wednesday, December 22, 2021. After that time, certifications will not be issued until the new year.

Existing multifamily and mixed-use buildings can use the ICC-700 National Green Building Standard (NGBS) to earn green certification when the buildings are renovated to be more sustainable and efficient. The NGBS accommodates building renovation projects from moderate renovation to gut rehab, including historic preservation and adaptive reuse, and the 2020 NGBS version introduced more compliance options for added flexibility.

Hear from Cindy Wasser, Senior Manager of Green Building Programs at Home Innovation Research Labs, on the process and requirements for existing buildings to achieve green certification.

Graham Giovagnoli, Partner with Eco Achievers, will share examples of certified projects and identify the building features that contributed toward achieving NGBS Green Certification.

Register here.

The Proposed Changes Submission Form is open if you have changes you would like to submit for consideration. Don't snooze! Once it closes, you will have lost the opportunity to improve the next NGBS version.

Complete a 1-minute NGBS Green AXIS Feedback Survey.

On December 8th, Fannie Mae announced that it had issued $100 billion in green multifamily mortgage-based securities, helping to transform financing and create a more sustainable future. 

For more than 10 years, Fannie Mae has been an industry leader in green financing. Its flagship multifamily green financing program supports more sustainable and affordable housing for residents through its Green Building Certification program and Green Rewards, the company’s green property improvement program. NGBS Green certification is a recognized pathway for multifamily buildings to secure preferred financing under Fannie Mae’s Green Building Certification offering, recognized alongside other national third-party programs. 

The Historic Tax Credit (HTC) is a widely used redevelopment tool for underutilized properties. Though it is a proven and critical tool for community redevelopment, advocates say that it has not been substantially improved or modernized in decades. Multiple affordable housing organizations have requested that HTC be added to the final Build Back Better legislation to encourage greater building reuse and support economic prosperity. View the letter here.

The Arizona Department of Housing (ADOH) issued a Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for conversion of hotel units into transitional bridge housing for homeless individuals and/or families, including acquisition and/or rehabilitation. Of the funds available, $30 million is designated for the rural areas outside of Maricopa and Pima counties and tribal jurisdictions, and the remainder is available statewide. Visit ADOH’s website for more information. While green building certification is not required by ADOH, a green building certification for existing buildings would likely benefit these projects and help ensure that indoor environmental quality elements are addressed as part of the building conversion.

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.

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.

Thompson Creek's double-hung vinyl replacement windows blend tradition with innovative engineering. The double-hung windows feature a strong frame made from high-quality, durable materials and a glass package designed for maximum energy efficiency. These replacement windows are certified under 11.701.4.3.4 Fenestration Air Leakage, as they have a tested air infiltration rate at or below 0.3 cfm per sq. ft.

Recently, we’ve been posting 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 month. 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:

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

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: