After soliciting input for over a year, we are proceeding with our April 1^st registration deadline for the 2015 NGBS. Homes or multifamily buildings that want to use the 2015 NGBS must register them NO LATER THAN 11:59 p.m. (Eastern), April 1, 2022. Projects will have three years to complete construction (construction deadline April 1, 2025).

Please contact your Verifier ASAP to register any projects that intend to pursue certification under the 2015 NGBS.

As an ANSI standard, the NGBS is subject to regular review and update to increase efficiency and incorporate best practices and innovations. There are three ways to contribute toward the development

of the next NGBS version:

The 2024 NGBS Task Group list is tentatively planned as follows:

Task Group participation time commitment varies; participants should anticipate several video calls throughout summer 2022. Individuals may serve on more than one Task Group.

For Consensus Committee members, there will be at least two two-day in-person meetings in Washington, DC. The first is tentatively scheduled for the beginning of June and the second in Fall 2022.

Applications are now being accepted for TG and Consensus Committee members.

Apply by April 5 at HomeInnovation.com/NGBS.

In Federal Notice 87 FR 6364, HUD released updated requirements for accessing Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Disaster Recovery (DR) funding for rebuilding or replacing homes impacted by disasters. While prior releases regarding this program include NGBS Green certification as one of the recognized green building programs, the latest notice specifies NGBS Green+ RESILIENCE certification. This would significantly raise the stringency of the NGBS Green option, placing it at a disadvantage compared to the other recognized options. We are currently in discussions with HUD regarding this update.

Please contact Michelle to stay informed on this issue.

On February 17, 2022, the City of Alexandria released an updated version of its 2019 Green Building Policy. This updated Policy includes NGBS Green certification as a recognized option for compliance.

Unfortunately, the City expects additional requirements—higher energy performance, dehumidification, and humidity monitoring—in order for NGBS Green to meet compliance. These expectations are inconsistent with the expectations for other recognized green building programs. We have contacted City staff to discuss their equivalency determination.

Please contact Cindy to receive updates on this activity.

Governor Murphy released New Jersey's proposed budget, which includes $300 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds for the Affordable Housing Production Fund. These funds would create 3,300 new affordable homes across the state.

The federal Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) gave initial approval of a rule that would require public companies to tell shareholders and the federal government how they affect climate change. The transparency required by this rule would hold companies accountable for their climate change impacts and give investors more leverage in forcing changes to business practices.

We believe that this new ruling would drive more real estate companies to quantify and track progress toward their sustainability goals. Third-party green certifications like NGBS Green will be even more in-demand by investors as evidence of sustainable, green real estate assets.

The public has 60 days to share comment public comment period before the proposed rule takes effect. For more information, click here.

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.

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.

Browse more Home Innovation Insights.

There's certainly no arguing that COVID changed our world, but the debate continues as to whether the day-to-day changes are temporary or if they will have a long-lasting impact on our behaviors. In an effort to determine if COVID will have a lasting impact on new home features and on the business of building them, Home Innovation Research Labs conducted a survey in collaboration with Professional Builder magazine to learn specifically what practices were adopted as a result of COVID, and which of those practices will remain after the pandemic is "over."

Take a look at Part 1 and Part 2 of Ed's series of posts on this research

Virtual audits are an in-field assessment of a Verifier's inspection using a video conferencing service. After connecting with the Home Innovation staff via the video conferencing system, the Verifier conducts the inspection as they would normally. HI staff will observe the inspection and take notes but generally not interfere with the Verifier's actions. Every virtual audit is graded, and the review is added to the Verifier's file.

Virtual audits are project-specific and assigned at registration. Our goal is to conduct Virtual Audits on at least 50 Verifiers annually (approximately 16% of the total accredited Verifiers). Verifier and project selection is largely random, but Verifiers with performance issues are selected at a higher frequency than experienced Verifiers and those with exceptional performance reviews.

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.

Join these upcoming events:

And, if you or a client are interested in scheduling virtual (or, eventually, live) training on the 2020 NGBS, contact us – we have AIA and ICC-approved programs that we'd be happy to deliver.

We are looking for a researcher/analyst to join our Applied Engineering team to support our consultancy business with government and industry clients in the field of residential and light commercial buildings and associated technologies. The book of business focuses on optimization of high-performance buildings from structural, durability, and energy performance standpoints.

We are 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.

We are searching for the right person to become part of our vibrant and active green home certification team.