JULY 2023

Practical information and resources for NGBS Green Certification program partners. Find out more about the program, its tools & resources, and available marketing materials online. If you were forwarded this message or do not receive Insider Update regularly and would like to, sign up online.

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NEWS

NGBS Office Hours

The NGBS Green Team hosts office hours from 2-3 PM ET every other Tuesday. Open forum; come ask questions or chat about issues.


The next Office Hours are scheduled for:

  • July 11
  • July 25


Here is the link to join.

Get Started with NGBS Green How-to...

Contact us to schedule a FREE 15-minute consultation with a member of our green team to get started.

2-Year Client Agreement Extension

Clients now have the option in AXIS to extend their four-year agreement for an additional two years. Agreements can only be extended once. At the end of the extension period, the client must execute a new 4-year agreement.

Accessing HUD Green and Resilient Program (GRRP) Funding Using NGBS Green

GRRP is the first HUD program to invest in energy efficiency, greenhouse gas reductions, renewable energy generation, and climate resilience strategies in multifamily housing before a disaster strikes.


View our webinar recording for a program overview, including the specific requirements of the three funding pathways and application deadlines. It'll also provide more information about the NGBS Green+ NET ZERO ENERGY and RESILIENCE certifications, which are recognized options for GRRP funding.


Contact us if you have a project that would like to seek GRRP funding using NGBS Green certification.

NGBS Green PRO

Calling All Industry Professionals!

Earn your NGBS Green PRO professional designation to validate your expertise in green design, construction, and building certification.

About Green PRO

Successfully earning the NGBS Green PRO designation demonstrates advanced understanding of the ICC 700 National Green Building Standard (NGBS) and the NGBS Green certification program.


Training for the designation – consisting of four self-paced modules, each with its own mastery check – is live and 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


Learn more and get started today – download the Overview document and discuss the benefits of this professional development opportunity with your supervisor and colleagues.


NGBS Green PRO Discounts Available!

Student Discount. You Asked; We Delivered.

Are you a student interested in green building?

Utilize our discount code to reduce the training fee to $100: NGBSStudentEDU.

Register with your ".edu" email address.


NGBS Green PRO Directory

All NGBS Green PROs are now featured on our website. See the directory.

POLICY

EPA Launches $7B "Solar For All" Grant Competition

EPA has launched a $7 billion grant competition to increase access to affordable, resilient, and clean solar energy for millions of low-income households. The Solar for All competition, which was created by the Inflation Reduction Act's Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF), will expand the number of low-income and disadvantaged communities primed for residential solar investment by awarding 60 grants to state and local government and eligible nonprofits. The deadline to apply is September 26, 2023.


All applicants are required to submit a Notice of Intent (NOI) to apply. NOI deadlines differ by applicant type and are between July 31 and August 28. For more information, see the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO).

Some WaterSense Labeled Homes Incentive Eligible

The Central Arizona Groundwater Replenishment District (CAGRD) has launched the Water Efficient Construction Incentive, which offers $1,000 rebates for WaterSense labeled homes constructed in CAGRD member service areas between June 2023 and May 2024. To learn more, review the fact sheet and utilize the CAGRD Membership Locator to identify qualifying locations.


Homes must be labeled to WaterSense v2.0 by an EPA-recognized Home Certifying Organization (HCO), such as Home Innovation Research Labs.


Builders seeking WaterSense certification from Home Innovation can comply using either a Prescriptive or Performance Path. Both compliance options are based on selected 2020 NGBS practices, but homes do not need to seek NGBS Green certification to earn the WaterSense label.


Getting started? Do not hesitate to contact us.

Make the Case for Water Efficiency:

WaterSense Regional Factsheets

EPA has developed fact sheets to communicate the benefits of WaterSense labeled homes and how they deliver on water efficiency and performance in different regions across the country. Builders, water utilities, community planners, and other interested parties can learn how much water a WaterSense labeled home can save compared to a typical home or one that only installs WaterSense labeled products. Available for these regions:

ESG Reporting

NGBS Green certifications can help developers meet the "E" in their ESG goals and showcase to investors that their developments are designed and built to a rigorous, high performing green building standard. Our ESG webpage is a one-stop-shop for ESG-related resources, including the NGBS-GRESB crosswalk, which shows the GRESB indicators that are fulfilled by NGBS Green Certification.


We also embedded NGBS-GRESB checklists into all 2020 NGBS Green Scoring Tools. These new tabs auto-populate inputs from the Design and Verification tabs and identify GRESB indicators that are fulfilled by a project's unique green features and performance.


There are also two new ESG blogs on our website! Check out Katie's blogs, "Changes in the 2023 GRESB Real Estate Reference Guide and NGBS Green+ NET ZERO ENERGY" and "How Can NGBS Green Bolster Your ESG Efforts?" for more information.

QAP Watch

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

IOWA: The Iowa Finance Authority has published the draft 9% 2024 QAP and draft 4% 2024 QAP. A public hearing with both in-person and virtual participation options is scheduled for July 12th, 11:00-1:00PM ET. Written comments can be submitted to [email protected] through July 18. The draft 9% QAPs award 2 points for Iowa Green Streets compliance. NGBS Green Partners are encouraged to request that IFA recognize NGBS Green as an additional green building option.

TENNESSEE: The Tennessee Housing Development Agency invited stakeholders to submit comments to inform the 2024 Tennessee QAP. Home Innovation submitted comments that requested the agency to include green building programs in the QAP once again.

UTAH: The 2024 Utah QAP was approved by Governor Cox on June 14, 2023. All new construction must earn ENERGY STAR certification. All rehabilitation projects must be ENERGY STAR or "ENERGY STAR enhanced if certification cannot feasibly achieved." Competitive points are available for NGBS Green, ENERGY STAR NextGen, Enterprise Green Communities, Green Globes, LEED, Passive House, or WELL Building certification. Previously, the Utah Housing Corporation (UHC) accepted NGBS Green, Enterprise Green Communities, and LEED certifications, but points were only available for Green Communities. We are very pleased that developers now have a true choice of green building programs. Thank you to NGBS Green Partners who submitted written comments or spoke during the QAP hearing!

PRODUCTS

Product Spotlight

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.

Superior Walls Insulated Precast Concrete Walls

Superior Walls panel products are custom-made with the highest quality materials. High-strength, steel, and fiber reinforced 5,000+ psi concrete is carefully mixed and formed to a builder's specifications. Superior Walls Insulated Precast Concrete Walls are certified to 601.2(2) (higher-grade or higher strength materials), 601.5(1-3) (pre-cut/preassembled components), 602.1.1.2 (capillary break between the footing and foundation wall), and 608.1 (lighter/thinner materials).

RESOURCES

Latest Bog Posts:

  • Changes in the 2023 GRESB Real Estate Reference Guide and NGBS Green+ NET ZERO ENERGY: In her blog, Katie summarizes the 2023 GRESB Net Zero Energy changes and how to leverage NGBS Green+ NET ZERO ENERGY certification to boost your GRESB score and ranking.
  • How Can NGBS Green Bolster Your ESG Efforts? NGBS Green certifications are an excellent way for companies to validate their commitment to constructing and operating sustainable and healthy buildings across their portfolio. Read Katie's blog for a primer on the ESG resources available through Home Innovation.
  • HUD Green and Resilient Retrofit Program: Making Affordable Housing More Sustainable: Read Michelle's blog to learn more about HUD's new program to make affordable housing more sustainable and resilient.
  • What Homebuyers Want in 2023: The housing market is constantly evolving, and what homebuyers want is no exception. In recent years, there has been a growing focus on sustainability and environmental impact, and this is reflected in the latest trends in homebuying. Read Michelle's blog to learn more.

Quick Links to Marketing Materials & Guidance One-Pagers

Recently, we've been posting case studies on some unique and exemplary NGBS Green Certified projects. If you haven't checked them out yet, be sure to visit our Resources page. 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:



And you can also find LOTS of great resources by visiting the following pages – #BookmarkWorthy:


Career Opportunites

Building Energy Modeling Analyst

Home Innovation Research Labs is seeking someone to support the NGBS Green certification program and other high-performance building programs, such as the ENERGY STAR and Zero Energy Ready Home. The preferred candidate will be comfortable creating and reviewing building energy models for single-family homes and multifamily buildings, writing program policies and procedures, providing technical assistance to our clients, and analyzing building codes and standards.


See the full position listing on our website.

NGBS Project Manager with Eco Achievers

Eco Achievers seeks a full-time Junior or Senior Project Manager responsible for verifying sustainability measures during project design, analyzing and implementing the NGBS, and completing on-site inspections and performance testing. The idea candidate will be a highly organized, detail-oriented self-starter who is comfortable working in a collaborative environment. Most time will be spent in the Eco Achievers Chicago or Detroit office, but field visits across the metropolitan areas and occasional travel to remote sites are also important elements of this position.


To learn more and apply, contact [email protected].

Become an NGBS Green PRO, Field Rep, or Accredited Verifier!

Download the latest version of the NGBS Green Verification Candidate's Handbook for training information, accreditation use, and capabilities for each designation. Contact Us with any questions.

EVENTS

As we strive to keep up with events of interest around the country, we welcome your input!

Upcoming events:


Know of a program that may be of interest to our NGBS Green program partners? Let us know.

Continuing Education

If you or a client are interested in scheduling virtual or in-person training on the 2020 NGBS, contact us about scheduling a Lunch-n-Learn! We have AIA and ICC-approved programs that we'd be happy to deliver.

WE WELCOME YOUR OPINION

Share Your NGBS Green Program Feedback

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


Give Us Your AXIS Feedback

Complete a 1-minute NGBS Green AXIS Feedback Survey.

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