A complete Client Agreement (CA) must be on file and certification fees must be processed prior to final verification of any project seeking NGBS Green certification. Delays will impact a Verifier's ability to submit a final verification packet for review. "Complete" for a CA means that Home Innovation has the current and correct certificate of insurance (COI) and that the agreement is signed by both the client and Home Innovation.

CAs must be signed by an officer of the company. Why? Because the agreement requires the Client to maintain appropriate insurance until the building is certified; typically only an Officer of the Company can bind the Company to such a requirement.

Certification fees must also be processed before a final verification packet can be reviewed – this means payment has been received by, not just submitted to, Home Innovation. Please note that credit card transactions are not immediate. It typically takes at least 48 hours for payments to transfer and Home Innovation to receive funds. Checks are even slower to process. If you have a special situation or emergency, please contact us as early as possible so that we can assist you.

We recently uploaded new versions of our Client Agreements to AXIS; as part of that effort, a few companies were inadvertently pinged unnecessarily for signatures on new versions of their agreements. Once we have a complete Client Agreement on file, we do not need it replaced if/when there is an update to our new outgoing agreements. We apologize for the confusion and inconvenience.

The 2024 NGBS Task Groups are meeting and working their way through the many proposed changes from partners and other industry stakeholders. Below are some of the topics being discussed:

All discussions are open to the public, which means that you can still participate and help shape the next NGBS version, even if you did not apply for a formal role. Visit www.HomeInnovation.com/NGBS to view all process updates and upcoming meeting dates.

The NGBS Green Appeals Board approved the use of the Chapter 11 Existing Buildings (remodeling) path to earn NGBS Green certification for buildings older than one year but less than five years old. The 2020 NGBS previously made these buildings ineligible for certification (see top of page 13 in 2020 NGBS) and created a gap in buildings that could seek certification.

Buildings less than one year old should use the traditional Appeals process for New Construction.

We are working on the final policy document(s) for this new policy. Stay tuned!

In addition, we are working on putting Appeals into AXIS with a new workflow and hope to have that completed shortly. This should streamline the process, make it more transparent, and boost our QA on these projects.

The NAHB industry awards are now open. Enter one or more for an opportunity to win and be recognized as one of the best of the best in our industry.

Visit https://awards.nahb.org to apply.

The Biden-Harris Administration announced a national initiative that will help state, local, Tribal, and territorial governments adopt current building codes and standards and improve resilience against extreme weather events. This initiative will involve:

View the press release here.

A new ordinance was presented to the Chicago City Council that would amend the energy code section of the City's Building Code. This amendment:

A hearing was held in mid-July. Stay tuned for more information.

With temperatures rising across the US, the Southwest has been facing water shortages like never before. Last year, for the first time, the federal government declared a water shortage in the Colorado River. California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Nevada receive their water supply from the Colorado River, and, therefore, are impacted the most by this shortage. Federal officials have warned that there will be cuts to those states' access to the river starting next year. Cities and utility companies are starting to implement conservation programs and incentives to decrease residential water usage. A few of the cities offering these programs include Scottsdale, Las Vegas, Albuquerque, Denver, and San Francisco. Many of these programs incentivize switching to low-flow appliances, converting to climate-appropriate yards, installing rainwater harvesting features and greywater fixtures.

As water shortages continue to increase in severity across the Southwest, we anticipate more local incentive programs and regulations will be passed that require water conservation measures.

Now is the time to invest in water efficient homes everywhere, but especially if you are building in the Southwest! The NGBS Water Rating Index (WRI) and EPA WaterSense Certification are great tools for developers to demonstrate the water efficiency of their homes! Visit our website or Contact us to learn more.

21 Revere Beach Boulevard – one of two buildings within the Ryder community of Revere Beach — is a 2020 Silver certified mixed-use building and was among the first multifamily buildings to earn the +WELLNESS certification. The building features areas for exercise and play, technology for energy and water efficiency, and low-emission materials. Read our case study here.

The credibility and integrity of the NGBS Green program relies on NGBS Green Accredited Verifiers following our program policies, processes, and procedures. NGBS Green Verifiers must fully comply with the Verifier's Resource Guide when inspecting and verifying projects seeking NGBS Green certification.

Each verification report is graded on accuracy and completeness. Verifier grades are visible to Verifiers in real-time on the AXIS platform, and cumulative report cards are distributed every six months.

Verifiers whose performance does not meet Home Innovation's high expectations and have a grade of "C" or less for their six-month average are placed on probation and a performance plan is developed which may require additional training or education. Verifiers under probation are subject to more frequent desktop reviews and virtual audits.

Clients should contact us if Verifier performance is ever an issue. Have a great Verifier that you want to brag about? We would love to hear that too!

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:

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

If you know of a program that may be of interest to our NGBS Green program partners, please let us know.

Following are our current openings:

Seeking a recent college graduate with engineering degree and practical knowledge of residential building technologies, process, and trends to join our Building Science Division. This person will conduct analytical and experimental research.

Seeking a recent college graduate with a technical (non-engineering) construction management or accounting degree to join our Building Science Division. This person will be responsible for the analysis of residential and mixed-use construction.

Project Manager – Building Science and Construction

Seeking a skilled project manager with a technical background and experience with federal contracting. This person will manage multiple technical projects, while coordinating staff and resources.

Visit our website for more information.