The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) introduced its National Green Building Certification program and Model Green Home Building Guidelines to assure homeowners and the community that home projects "truly are green."
There are numerous ways that a home can earn green points, but the seven primary areas are:
- Lot design
- Preparation and development
- Resource efficiency
- Energy efficiency
- Water efficiency
- Indoor environmental quality
- Homeowner education
- Global impact
Builders can choose from a menu of green features, choosing whatever makes sense for them and the homebuyers.
The green scoring and certification technology was developed by the NAHB Research Center in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Energy's Energy Star rating system. By earning green points on a home, builders can achieve three levels of green certification: Gold (395 points), Silver (311 points) or Bronze (237 points).
Builders can also earn a Certified Green Professional designation in conjunction with the program. Builders, remodelers and other industry professionals must have at least two years of building industry experience and be involved in the construction of at least one home in the past 24 months to qualify.
The designation requires participants to take a two-day "Green Building for Building Professionals" course, complete a management course, agree to continuing education requirements and adhere to a code of ethics.
The nine-step process for a Certified Green Home certification:
1. The builder manages the green score of the home-to-be-certified with an online Green Scoring Tool.
2. Next, the builder must export the final Designer’s Report (derived from the Green Scoring Tool) and save it as an Excel file.
3. As construction begins, the builder must select an accredited verifier (to find one, contact the National Green Building Hotline at 877-NAHB-GRN at the NAHB Research Center).
4. The Designer’s Report is then sent to the selected verifier, and the rough inspection is scheduled.
5. The builder meets with the verifier after the rough inspection for the signing off of a Verification Report, which will be sent to NAHB Research Center for review.
6. The builder will receive an invoice for a home certification fee ($200 for NAHB members; $500 for non-members).
7. The builder must complete the Program Participation Agreement and return it to the NAHB Research Center with required evidence of insurance (only one agreement is required for each builder regardless of how many homes are ultimately submitted for certification).
8. The final inspection with the verifier is scheduled, and the final Verification Report (including certificate information) is signed off.
9. After final report review and receipt of the certification fee, the NAHB Research Center will issue the Certified Green Home certificate.