April 1, 2022 was the final day for projects to be registered under the 2015 NGBS version. A record 1,600 projects were submitted on March 31^st, bringing the total number of multifamily units currently in-process to more than have been certified since the beginning of the program! Whew!

All new projects seeking certification must register and certify under the 2020 NGBS.

If you're just getting started with the 2020 NGBS, check out these resources:

Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) are one of the most widely used instruments of environmental impact of green building and yet they are also widely misunderstood.

Especially as demand for net zero energy labels - including the NGBS Green+ NET ZERO ENERGY certification - grows, more and more project teams are looking to RECs as a tool to offset energy use.

Join Heather Schrock of the Bonneville Environmental Foundation for a breakdown of what RECs actually are - not just a piece of paper - how they are used in green building, the pros and cons of various types of RECs, the difference between a REC and a carbon offset, and how you can use them in your own building projects.

All NGBS Green Partners are invited to join for this webinar.

The Michigan Revitalization And Placemaking (RAP) incentive program will deploy $100 million in American Rescue Plan funding to address the COVID-19 impacts in Michigan communities. It will provide access to real estate and place-based infrastructure development gap (GAP?) financing through grants of up to $5 million per project for real estate rehabilitation and development.

Eligible applicants are individuals or entities working to rehabilitate vacant, underutilized, blighted, and historic structures and the development of permanent place-based infrastructure associated with traditional downtowns, social-zones, outdoor dining, and placed-based public spaces. The RAP program will award funding to eligible applicants based on one or more competitive application rounds. Incentive points are available if the project earns a third-party green certification (like, NGBS Green!).

The North Dakota Housing Finance Agency (NDHFA) seeks input on its HOME-American Rescue Plan (ARP) allocation plan, which will distribute $7.7 million to assist individuals or households who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. Rental housing development is an eligible activity. Comments can be sent to Jennifer Henderson at hfainfo@nd.gov.

Take a look back at all the NGBS Green certification program did in 2021 to help move the needle toward a better, more sustainable, healthier, and more fulfilling built environment. Read Michelle's blog.

The new U. S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) rules will rules will require public companies to report on the climate impacts of their business. For NGBS Green clients, the proposed SEC rule provides additional validation of their decision to design, build, and own high-performing real property assets, and seek a third-party certification of their conformance to back-up your environmental claims. Learn more in Michelle's blog.

Ed Hudson discusses trends in PVC and other plastic products used in new homes and remodeling and discusses new opportunities. Read his blog.

As a continuation of our #willitcorrode series, here's the latest installment from the Home Innovation lab team testing some everyday gadgets and household items in our salt spray chamber. Our latest household victim? A typical house key. See the results in Deanna's blog.

Home Innovation addresses formal complaints and appeals with urgency and seriousness to maintain the credibility of the NGBS Green certification mark. When a complaint or appeal is received, the Appeals Board – which consists of Home Innovation's NGBS Green Quality Director, CFO, and President/CEO – is convened. Appeals may be specific to a project or they can be a request for a new interpretation, policy, or procedure that would apply more broadly to the NGBS green certification program.

For more information on this process, see the Builder's Resource Guide.

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:

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.