NAHB and the NAHB Research Center learned on Jan. 29 that the National Green Building Standard™ for single-family homes, apartments and condos, residential remodeling and renovation has been approved by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). The approval signals a new era for the nation's builders, remodelers and developers and also provides an extra measure of reassurance for home buyers. It means that the National Green Building Standard is now the first and only ANSI-approved green building rating system, making it the benchmark for green homes. Home builders and remodelers now have a much more expansive third-party rating system that they can use with NAHBGreen, the voluntary, market-driven NAHB National Green Building Program.

 

As part of the stringent process required by ANSI, NAHB and the International Code Council gathered a fully inclusive and representative consensus committee composed of a broad spectrum of builders, architects, product manufacturers, regulators and environmental experts. This group deliberated on the content of the standard for more than a year, held four public hearings and evaluated 2,000 public comments before submitting the draft standard to ANSI in April of 2008. Approval of the standard is nothing short of a landmark event for our industry, and congratulations are definitely in order for those who have worked so hard to achieve it.

NAHB members can pre-order the NGBS at BuilderBooks.com for a discounted cost of $31.95; retail price is $35.95. For technical questions about the standard and how HBAs can implement it as part of their green building efforts, contact Kevin Morrow (x8375). Builders can direct questions about how the standard works to Chad Riedy (x8225). For media-related inquiries, contact Calli Schmidt (x8132).