Grand County Builders Association Promotes NAHB Green What is NAHBGreen? NAHBGreen is a program from the National Association of Home Builders that helps any builder, anywhere learn how to incorporate green building practices into their projects, certify the results, and communicate the benefits of doing so to their buyers. The program offers: o design and technical assistance o an online scoring tool so builders can gauge how green a planned home will be o an accredited verifier network and national green building certification service o green building education o marketing and advocacy support What is the green scoring tool and how does the national certification process work? The Green Scoring Tool takes builders step-by-step through the design and construction process to select which green features to incorporate into their home plans. Although one doesn¡¯t need to certify a house to use the scoring tool, builders seeking certification can work with an accredited verifier, who confirms that all the specified green features are in place at rough-in and at project completion. Results can then be submitted to the NAHB Research Center, an accredited third-party certification agent. If the project passes review, the Research Center issues a certificate indicating that the house has reached one of the program¡¯s green thresholds. What criteria does NAHBGreen use to score homes? NAHBGreen is based on the NAHB Model Green Home Building Guidelines and the National Green Building Standardtm, which suggests higher thresholds and new requirements in many existing categories. The Standard has been approved by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), an organization whose approval ensures that a balanced committee vetted the criteria through a transparent and rigorous process; and that the result is unbiased toward any interests. What types of projects can be certified? Single-family homes can be certified Bronze, Silver or Gold under the Guidelines. Under the National Green Building Standard, remodelers, multifamily builders and developers can score, verify and certify their projects. In addition to Bronze, Silver and Gold, the Standard adds an Emerald threshold to recognize projects that meet the highest achievement levels possible in green. Any home building professional, in any part of the country, regardless of NAHB membership, can use the National Green Building Certification service. Please note: the certification process must begin pre-drywall verification cannot be done retroactively. Wo verifies and certifies projects? The NAHB Research Center trains and certifies verifiers across the country who inspect builder score sheets, homes, and accompanying documentation to determine that projects meet the NAHBGreen program benchmarks. When inspections are complete and the builder is satisfied with the resulting score, the verifier submits all necessary paperwork to the NAHB Research Center for review and certification. How much does it cost? The Green Scoring Tool and associated design and technical assistance are free to all home building professionals. Verification costs are set by individual verifiers and therefore, vary from market-to-market. The fee for NAHB members to certify homes is $200 per home. What are the benefits of using NAHBGreen's national green building certification? NAHBGreen is a nationally recognized third-party certification program. National certification means, for example, that the bronze-level green home in Seattle is at least as energy efficient as a bronze home in Savannah, and a bronze home in St. Louis. It doesn't mean that they have the same features or that they even look the same. It means that they all meet a minimum, national level of performance. NAHBGreen's online platform allows easy navigation through a variety of choices, allowing regionally appropriate green homes to be built at all price points. What is a certified green professional (CGP) and what are its benefits? The Certified Green Professional is a professional designation for individuals in the home building industry. A CGP designation allows those who hold it to distinguish themselves as having been trained in the fundamentals and best practices of sustainable residential construction. Designees have access to marketing materials and are included in an online database. The CGP is available to all home building industry professionals, including builders, subcontractors, architects and design professionals, as well as manufacturers and vendors. Earning a CGP entails passing two courses' Green Building for Building Professionals and Business Management for Building Professionals. A CGP designation is not required to certify homes with NAHBGreen, although a CGP is one of the recognized prerequisites for becoming a verifier. Many local home builder associations are offering this course to their members. To find upcoming classes, contact NAHB's University of Housing. How do I get started? www.nahbgreen.org is the home for NAHBGreen tools and resources, including the Green Scoring Tool, and is a great place to go for more information.

Site Map