NAHB Green Building Standard

How does a home become certified?

National Green Building Certification assures homeowners and the community that your projects meet the requirements of either the NAHB Model Green Home Building Guidelines or the ICC 700-2008 National Green Building Standard, and truly are green. Builders interested in having their buildings certified should follow the steps outlined below.

Builder Process for Green Building Certification

Step 1:

Score the building using the online Green Scoring Tool.

Step 2:

Export final Designer's Report from Green Scoring Tool and save locally as an Excel file.

Step 3:

Hire an accredited verifier.
If there is not an accredited verifier listed for your area, contact the NAHB Research Center.

Step 4:

Forward Designer's Report to selected verifier and schedule rough inspection.

Step 4A:

(First Certification Only): If this is the Builder's first certification, the Builder's application packet will be sent once the verifier has scheduled the rough inspection. Before the final inspection, complete the Program Participation Agreement and return to the Research Center with required evidence of insurance.

The Builder's application packet will be sent directly to the builder once the verifier has scheduled the rough inspection and notified the Research Center of the scheduled inspection. The builder should return the following back to the Research Center for processing:

the completed application form
all pages of the Program Participation Agreement
the required evidence of insurance
the certification fee for the first building

The certification fee for single-family homes is $200 per building for NAHB members, $500 for non-members. The multi-unit building fee is $200 per building + $20/unit for NAHB members and $500 per building + $20 per unit for non-members. For subsequent homes, builders will be invoiced when the Research Center receives the Notice of Inspection from the verifier.

Only one Agreement is required for each builder regardless of how many buildings are ultimately submitted for certification.

Step 5:

Meet with verifier after rough inspection to sign the verification report which will be sent to the Research Center for review.

Step 6:

(For 2nd and future certifications): Receive payment notice and remit certification fee. ($200 per building for NAHB members, $500 for non-members, multi-unit building fee is building fee + $20/unit)

Step 7:

Schedule final inspection with verifier and sign final Verification Report including certificate information.

Step 8:

If the builder application, agreement and insurance is on file and the certification fee has been paid, the Research Center will review the report and issue Certified Green Home certificate.

The chart below details the steps and responsibilities for each involved party in the green building certification process. See a larger version, or download the certification flowchart in PDF format.

How a home becomes certified. Click to see a larger version of this flowchart.

During the home certification process, the NAHB Research Center will:

Review reports and any accompanying verifier comments/documentation

Confirm that properly accredited verifier was used by the builder

Invoice builder for certification fee upon completion of verifier's rough inspection

Confirm builder's Program Participation Agreement, insurance information, and payment history are in order

Issue Certified Green Home certificate and forward to builder in accordance with instructions noted and approved on final Verification Report

As green building grows in popularity, so does the scrutiny of green certifications. Make sure your project has the credibility of an accredited third-party certification to back it up.

National Green Building Certification is based on the ICC 700-2008 National Green Building Standard™. There are four green certification levels for homes available in the Standard – Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Emerald. Land Developments can earn One, Two, Three, or Four Stars.

Residential buildings, remodeling/retrofit projects, and developments can be Green Certified to the National Green Building Standard as detailed below.

The green levels and certifications address key green construction areas, including:

Lot & Site Development
Resource Efficiency
Energy Efficiency
Water Efficiency
Indoor Environmental Quality
Homeowner Education

National Green Building Standard establishes design and construction practices for various types of residential projects, including:

New single-family homes -- Includes detached single-family homes, townhomes, duplexes, tri-plexes, and quad-plexes
New multi-unit residential buildings
The residential portion of mixed-use buildings
Additions to single-family homes that equal less than 75% of existing square footage
Renovations of single-family or multi-unit buildings
Renovations plus additions to single-family homes
Renovations of pre-1980 residential buildings
Renovations that change the use of non-residential buildings into residential uses. Building conversions can be certified using the Green Building Path but not the Green Remodel Path
Individual sections or phases of residential or mixed-use developments
Entire residential or mixed-use land developments and subdivisions

Certification is available for most types of residential construction or development projects. The following cannot be Green Certified at this time:

Additions only (of any size) to existing multi-unit buildings
Additions only greater than 75% of the original conditioned area of an existing single-family building that do not involve renovation of the original building
Developments that do not contain any residential uses

Dual Certification: National Green Building Standard with Builders Challenge

Logo for Builders Challenge program - a yellow sun with a round green center with with white letters B C in the center. New single-family homes certified to the Standard may qualify to be concurrently certified the Builders Challenge. Learn more about the Builders Challenge and how your green home may qualify.

Contact Information for Hathmore:

Address: 14220 E. 42nd St. South, Independence, MO 64055

Phone: 816.224.5550
Fax: 816.224.5150

Email: hathmore@hathmore.com

How does a home become certified?

Builder Process for Green Building Certification

Verifier Role

During the home certification process, the NAHB Research Center will:

Dual Certification: National Green Building Standard with Builders Challenge

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