APRIL 2022
Insider Update
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.

Having trouble viewing this email? Click Here.
NEWS
2015 NGBS Registration Deadline is Passed
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 31st, 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 Certificate (REC) Overview and Application Webinar
May 11th, 2:00PM - 3:00PM EDT
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.
NGBS Green PRO
Meet Wesley Price – Latest Professional to Earn NGBS Green PRO
Wesley Price, Founder and Owner of W.D. Price, Inc. has completed the NGBS Green PRO training.

Congratulations, Wesley!

Will you be the next to earn this professional designation?
Wesley Price
About NGBS Green PRO
Industry professionals! 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 National Green Building Standard ICC-700 and the NGBS Green certification program.

Training for the designation – consisting of four self-paced modules, each with its own mastery check – is now 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.
POLICY
Michigan Revitalization and Placemaking (RAP) Incentive Program
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!).
North Dakota HOME-ARP Program
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.
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.
Colorado:
  • The Colorado Housing Finance Authority (CHFA), in conjunction with Novogradac, will host a LIHTC Need-to-Know webinar on April 19th, from 9AM-Noon MT. This webinar is designed for those new to housing credits, as well as those looking for a refresher. Register here.
Indiana:
  • The Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority (IHCDA) has published a Final Draft of the Indiana 2023-2024 QAP. All new construction buildings must achieve base-level certification under NGBS Green, Enterprise Green Communities, LEED, or an equivalent. Two points are awarded when a higher-level certification is achieved under one of these programs.
Kentucky:
  • The Kentucky 2023-2024 QAP was approved on March 8, 2022. Green building is not specifically incentivized or required; however, there is a designated Innovation Funding pool, and high-performance standards, including Passive House and Zero Energy Ready, are featured as examples for innovation funding.
New Hampshire:
  • The final New Hampshire 2023-2024 QAP was published on March 2, 2022. One point is available for projects that participate in an energy charrette via the NH Saves Program. Two points are available for projects that achieve NGBS Green or LEED certification at the Gold level or Enterprise Green certification.
North Dakota:
  • The North Dakota Housing Finance Agency has published a draft of its 2023 QAP. New construction projects can earn 1-7 points for meeting Enterprise Green Communities criteria or earning NGBS Green, Enterprise Green Communities, or LEED certification. Rehabilitation projects can earn 3-7 points for meeting Enterprise Green Communities criteria or earning NGBS Green, Enterprise Green Communities, or LEED certification.
Utah:
  • Utah Housing has published an updated version of its 2022-2023 QAP. All new construction projects must be ENERGY STAR certified. All rehabilitation projects must be ENERGY STAR certified, or "ENERGY STAR enhanced if certification cannot feasibly be achieved." Points are available when a project certifies or demonstrates compliance to NGBS Green, Enterprise Green Communities, or LEED.
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.
CertainTeed Metal Building Insulation
CertainTeed Fiberglass Metal Building Insulation is a flexible blanket insulation furnished in rolls and intended to be laminated on one side with a suitable vapor retarder. It is used as a thermal and acoustical insulation in the roofs and sidewalls of pre-engineered metal buildings and post frame construction. This product has been certified for recycled content (604.1) and low-emission insulation (901.11).
RESOURCES
Latest Blog Posts
Earth Day Reflections: Looking Back on 2021
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 SEC Ups the Ante: Greenwashing Riskier Than Ever
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.
Current Market Trends and New Opportunities Revealed for Plastics in New Construction and Remodeling
Ed Hudson discusses trends in PVC and other plastic products used in new homes and remodeling and discusses new opportunities. Read his blog.
#WillItCorrode: Key Causes for Corrosion
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.
Quality Assurance Highlights
As an accredited laboratory and third-party certification agency focused on the home building industry, Home Innovation Research Labs is uniquely suited to manage a residential green certification program, and quality assurance is central to NGBS Green certification. Over the next several Insider Update editions, we'll highlight key tenets of Home Innovation's quality assurance program.
Complaints and Appeals Process
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.
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 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:



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


Continuing Education
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'RE HIRING!
Career Opportunities
Research Analyst - Building Science and Sustainable Construction
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 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.
As an NGBS Green Certification Program participant, you received this email to notify you of important program and service updates, as well as relevant industry news and happenings. Home Innovation Research Labs will send email notifications periodically; we encourage recipients to add this email address (InsiderUpdate-noreply@HomeInnovation.com) to your approved senders list. You may unsubscribe from this notification service at any time using the link below, though please be aware that this will be the primary channel for conveying certification program changes, news, and updates to participants, and opting out of this notification service may result in missing critical developments and changes. Home Innovation Research Labs authorizes use of information contained within this email only by those participating in our NGBS Green Certification Program.

NGBS Green Certification is administered by Home Innovation Research Labs
Copyright © 2008-2022 Home Innovation Research Labs. All rights reserved.