IMPORTANT: No Certification Processing Week of October 14TH | To accommodate staff attendance at the annual NGBS Green Verifier Retreat, we will not process any submissions or issue certifications during the week of October 14th. Please plan ahead for certification processing. | |
UPCOMING CONFERENCES - Let's Meet! | It's conference season! We look forward to connecting with many of you at these upcoming events. Drop us a line to coordinate a time to discuss your NGBS Green experience. | |
First WaterSense Certified Home | |
Home Innovation issued its first WaterSense Labeled Homes certification to a single-family home constructed by Netze Homes and verified by Brad Bray, NGBS Green Master Verifier with Essential Construction Consultants. The home also earned NGBS Green Certification at the Silver-level. Read our case study here.
Home Innovation is an approved Home Certification Organization (HCO) for the U.S. EPA's WaterSense Labeled Homes program. For certification through Home Innovation, compliance is based on select practices from the 2020 NGBS. Project team can demonstrate their compliance via either a prescriptive or performance path. Learn more here.
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Apply by October 7TH - NAHB Awards Program | |
NAHB has launched their 2024 Industry Awards program, which highlights the best and brightest in residential construction across a variety of categories.
This year's Best in American Living Awards include the following green categories:
- Green Detached or Attached Home, Built for Sale
- Green One-of-a-Kind Custom Home
- Green Entire Home Remodel
- Green Community
Apply today!
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Joint Announcement with USGBC, Zero Emissions Buildings | |
In June, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced a National Definition of a Zero Emissions Building, with a goal of establishing a more commonly accepted understanding of what a zero-emissions building is, along with creating greater transparency and standardization for achieving it. The initiative is part of the Biden-Harris administration's ambitious efforts to set goals and generate momentum for reducing the buildings sector's emissions.
This week nine leading green building and energy efficiency certification organizations in the U.S., including NGBS Green, announced that they will embed, align to, or exceed the recently finalized definition in their certifications. Read more about the initiative here.
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2015 and 2020 NGBS Sunsets | |
NGBS Green is designed as an above code green certification program. As building codes nationally become more stringent, so does NGBS Green compliance. As such, we sunset the use of older NGBS versions and transition partners to newer versions.
Previously-registered 2015 NGBS projects must be completed by April 1, 2025. If you think you may encounter a project delay, please contact us to discuss an extension.
No sunset policy has been published for the 2020 NGBS version and NGBS Green Partners should expect that we will continue to offer certification for several more years. We will review state code adoption to inform our policy decision. Home Innovation encourages clients and Verifiers to use the NGBS version that results in an above-code project based on the local building code.
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VERIFIERS NEEDED! Apply Today | |
Home Innovation Seeks New Verifier Candidates!
The NGBS Green certification program seeks new Verifiers to support the program's continued growth. If you are a green building professional - especially in Louisiana, Maryland, Utah, and the City of Chicago - interested in offering NGBS Green verification services, learn more here.
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Fannie Mae Revisions to their Green Preferred Financing | Fannie Mae is set to make significant revisions to their green preferred financing effective January 2025. While the proposed revisions have not been released publicly, we understand that they will be significantly increasing the energy efficiency eligibility baseline for both new and existing buildings and eliminating many of the green certifications that currently are eligible. NGBS Green staff expect to be briefed by the Fannie Mae Team in the next month or so, and as soon as we have more details we will share with our clients. In the interim, projects that need to seek permanent financing in first quarter 2025 should be exploring options and alternatives. | |
The federal Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program requires each state agency that allocates tax credits, generally called a housing finance agency, to have a Qualified Allocation Plan (QAP). The QAP sets out the state's eligibility priorities and criteria for awarding federal tax credits to housing properties. | |
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ARIZONA: The Arizona Department of Housing (ADOH) released the second draft of the amended 2024-2025 QAP. Projects can earn 10 points for certifying to one of the following green building certifications: NGBS Green (Silver or higher); LEED (Silver or higher), or 2020 Enterprise Green Communities.
ADOH is accepting written comments on the amended draft through October 4TH at 5pm. Submit comments to Melanie Brewer, Rental Programs Administrator. The final draft will be posted on October 11TH.
Home Innovation submitted written comments and praised ADOH for including third-party green building certifications. We also recommended that ADOH incentivize the achievement of third-party water efficiency ratings; specifically, by adding a Water Efficiency section to the amended 2024-2025 draft QAP, so buildings can earn points for pursuing a Water Rating Index (WRI) score.
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ARKANSAS: The Arkansas Development Finance Authority (ADFA) released the draft version of the 2025 QAP.
ADFA is accepting public comments on the proposed changes to the 2025 QAP through Friday, October 4TH at 4:30pm. Submit comments to Mr. John Blackwell, Director of Tax Credits.
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GEORGIA: The Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA) is accepting input for the 2026-2027 QAP through an outreach survey. This public input survey is open year-round for partners to submit feedback at any time. More information on the 2026-2027 QAP development timeline can be found here. | |
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MARYLAND: The Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DCHD) accepted public comments on the draft versions of the 2024 QAP and Multifamily Rental Financing Program Guide ("The Guide") through September 9TH.
Under the "Sustainability Features" section of the draft Guide, points are awarded as follows:
- 10 points - projects that achieve NGBS Green, Earthcraft, Enterprise Green Communities, Green Globes, or LEED certification
- 8 points - projects built to one of the rating systems that do not achieve certification; for this option, the DHCD guide says "The certifying entity's published scoring checklist and scorecard must be submitted and completed by the project architect or a qualified third party, and they must provide a statement explaining how the items listed on the checklist will be verified during construction."
- 1 to 6 points - based on prescriptive sustainability features
Note: Home Innovation's NGBS Green Scoring Tools are only authorized for purposes of certification. We ask that 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.
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NEW MEXICO: The New Mexico Mortgage Finance Authority (MFA) released their draft 2025 QAP, which does not recognize any third-party green building programs.
Home Innovation requested that MFA expand its Property Standards requirements to incentivize or require that funded projects certify to a comprehensive green building and water efficiency rating program, specifically, recognizing the ICC 700 National Green Building Standard (NGBS) and the embedded Water Rating Index (WRI).
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TEXAS: The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) released the Staff Draft of the 2025 QAP. The draft QAP awards up to 4 points for NGBS, LEED, or Enterprise Green Communities certification.
Submit written comments to Dominic DeNiro through October 11TH at 5pm CT.
See the notice here.
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Newly Certified Product! Greenfiber SANCTUARY® | | |
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We are thrilled to be working with Greenfiber!
Greenfiber SANCTUARY® insulation is an all-in-one fiber insulation that can be blow-in or spray-applied, and it's suitable for all climates and conditions. SANCTUARY is capable of reducing sound power by 60% and heating and cooling costs by 25%.
SANCTUARY has been certified for recycled content (604.1), life cycle assessment (610.1.2.1), and low-emission insulation material (901.11).
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NGBS Green Product Spotlight | | |
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CertainTeed Premium Blowing Wool Insulation: InsulSafe® SP, OPTIMA®, TrueComfort®, InsulSafe® XC
CertainTeed Blowing Insulation products improve building energy efficiency and reduce building energy consumption over the life of the structure.
These products are certified for recycled content (604.1), life cycle assessment (610.1.2.1), product declaration (611.1.2), ISO accredited production facilities (612.2), and low-emission insulation materials (901.11).
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See the full directory of all NGBS Green PROs featured on our website. | |
About NGBS Green PRO
Earn your NGBS Green PRO professional designation to validate your expertise in green design, construction, and building certification.
Successfully earning the NGBS Green PRO designation demonstrates advanced understanding of the ICC 700 National Green Building Standard and the NGBS Green certification program.
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Bringing NGBS Green PRO to the Classroom
We have established a streamlined and productive process for university instructors to track student activity via our learning management system.
To find out more or offer NGBS Green PRO to a class or organization that you're involved with, contact Joanne.
Are you a student interested in green building?
Register with your ".edu" email address and use the discount code NGBSStudentEDU to reduce the course fee.
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Location: Charlotte, NC
Verifier: Jamie Hager, Southern Energy Management
Overview: HARMON Five Points is a new rental community featuring 76 three-story townhomes. HARMON Five Points is a walkable community conveniently located near multiple mass transit stops and the Carolina Thread Trail. The homes are all-electric and feature energy and water efficient system and appliances with smart technology. The developer, Crescent Communities, is committed to sustainability across their portfolio of build-to-rent communities in Florida, North Carolina, and South Carolina.
Read more in our case study.
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2020 NGBS vs. ZERH v2 Single-Family | |
Congress approved the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA) to provide additional tax incentives for new homes that earn the EPA's ENERGY STAR or DOE's Zero Energy Ready Home (ZERH) certifications. Builders who are familiar with NGBS Green Certification may wish to add ENERGY STAR or ZERH certification to their homes to be eligible for the IRA incentives.
Our latest analysis documents the additional practices, equipment, and system changes a home would need above NGBS Green Certification to earn ENERGY STAR, Indoor airPLUS (a prerequisite for ZERH), and ZERH certifications. Builders can use this information to prepare a project-specific cost analysis to determine which certifications best suit their needs.
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Join Our Team - We're Hiring! | |
If you know of a program that may be of interest to our NGBS Green program partners, please let us know. | |
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Every other Tuesday, 2:00 PM ET | Join us here
Open Forum for questions, chatting, and whatever you need.
- Oct 15TH - Cancelled for internal training
- Oct 29TH
- Nov 12TH
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NGBS Green Program Feedback
Take this 1-minute survey to provide feedback on our delivery and customer service.
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