The Home Builders & Remodelers Association of Connecticut is bringing green residential construction to the mainstream by promoting the NGBS (National Green Building Standard, ICC 700-2012), the first and only ANSI-certified, green building standard in the nation and the Home Innovation Research Labs’ National Green Building Certification ProgramTM as the certification agent.
What is a green home? Green homes incorporate environmental considerations and resource efficiency into every step of the building and development process to minimize environmental impact.
Through our national partners, the HBRA of CT offers the following resources for anyone interested in green homes:
- A Certified Green Professional (CGP) designation from NAHB that enables housing industry professionals to gain and market green experience.
- Promoting the use of the National Green Building Standard
- Promoting Home Innovation Research Labs’ nationally recognized Green Certification Program
- Information for members and the public about Connecticut’s Green Building or Energy Efficiency Statutes and Code.
National Green Building Standard (NGBS)
- Educating Home Owners to Make Sustainability Stick – NAHB Now
- Home Innovation Enters into Agreement with Appraisal Institute to Issue Green Appraisal Addendum for all NGBS Green Certified Homes (12-15-14, Home Innovation Research Labs)
- ASHRAE Joins NAHB and ICC to Develop 2015 NGBS Version – ASHRAE has joined NAHB and ICC to serve as a co-sponsor of the 2015 version of the ICC/ASHRAE 700 National Green Building Standard (NGBS). Home Innovation Research Labs, as secretariat, for the NGBS welcomes ASHRAE’s sponsorship and participation in updating the NGBS to the 2015. This announcement strengthens NGBS’ position as the leading consensus standard in the industry. Learn more here. The 2015 NGBS Development process is currently underway. Visit www.HomeInnovation.com/ngbs.
- The original ICC 700-2008 NGBS was replaced in 2013 by the next generation standard, ICC 700-2012. Many thanks to Peter Fusaro, Preferred Builders, Riverside, CT, for serving on the NGBS Water Efficiency task group, one of seven groups that worked to update the standard to the 2012 version. Pete was elected as the HBRA of CT’s First Vice Chairman & Vice President by its Board of Directors on 9-10-14.
- The rigorous ICC-700 National Green Building Standard helps you demonstrate your green homes and products to environmentally conscious consumers.
- Why Look for the NGBS Green Certified Mark? – Cindy Wasser, Home Innovation Research Labs.
- NGBS Overview – In 2008, the National Green Building Standard (ICC 700-2008) was the first residential green building rating system to undergo the full consensus process and receive American National Standards Institute (ANSI) approval. ANSI approval is critically important approval signifying that the NGBS was developed by a fair and balanced process with all stakeholders participating. ANSI approval has not been granted to date to any other green rating system, including LEED. See the comparison to LEED-H below.
- The four threshold levels of the NGBS – Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Emerald – allow builders to achieve entry-level green building or the highest level of sustainable “green” building incorporating energy savings of 60% or more. Single-family & multi-family homes, residential remodeling projects, and site developments are all covered in the Standard. The standard covers the following seven areas: lot design and preparation; resource efficiency; energy efficiency; water efficiency; indoor environmental quality and comfort; operation, maintenance, and homeowner education; and global impact. Note: the predecessor voluntary Green Building “Guidelines” were phased out in late 2010, entirely replaced with the National Green Building Standard.
- See what cities and states have done to incentivize use of the NGBS (9-2011).
- NGBS Green Certified Products
- Purchase the National Green Building StandardTM (NGBS) by clicking on the image below. At the BuilderBooks site, scroll down or click on Codes & Regulations and follow the links to purchase:
NGBS Comparison to LEED:
As noted above, the NGBS was the first residential green building rating system to undergo the full consensus process and receive the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) approval. ANSI’s approval is critically important to signify that the NGBS was developed by a fair and balanced process with all stakeholders participating. ANSI approval has not been granted to date to any other green rating system, including LEED.
- 6 Reasons to Choose NGBS over LEED
- Green Home Rating Systems Comparison– 22 pg report from 2008 comparing NGBS to LEED-H
- Critique of the LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) Rating System – the LEED rating system has not been approved as a standard by any objective, standards development organization (9-2008)
- US Green Building Council responds to the critique – USGBC is the private group that created the LEED rating system (9-2008)
- Problems with LEED Standards in City and State Building Codes (Nov. 2008, from ICSC)
Home Innovation Research Lab (HIL) Certification Program
In late September 2008, the HBRA of CT green homes program was one of the first builders associations in the nation to formally affiliate with Home Innovation Lab’s National Green Building Certification Program.
- Home Innovation Research Labs’ certification programs enable builders and consumers in Connecticut to assure their homes are truly green.
- The certification program includes an online Green Scoring Tool that allows builders and consumers to gauge how green their projects will be (you can also download at the scoring tool site an Excel spreadsheet to score your homes offline).
- Verifier training and accreditation is central to the program to ensure that certification is accurate, consistent, neutral, and technically rigorous. Interested in finding or becoming a 3rd party NGBS verifier, click here.
- Find Your Green Home
- Builder Marketing Materials
CT’s Green Building/Energy Efficiency Code
See our Green Building Codes & Standards page for information on CT’s green building code statute, plus the so-called “30% Solution” and more.
Other Green & Energy Efficiency Resources
Comprehensive List of Incentives & Policies for Renewables & Efficiency by State (from NC State University)
CL&P Home Energy Solutions
Energy Efficiency & Conservation Programs – An exhaustive report from the State legislature’s Program Review & Investigations Committee on the state’s and utilities’ programs related to energy efficiency and conservation (9-25-2008)
Clean Energy Finance and Investment Authority (CEFIA)
Energize Connecticut
The Home Builders & Remodelers Association of Connecticut is bringing green residential construction to the mainstream by promoting the NGBS (National Green Building Standard, ICC 700-2012), the first and only ANSI-certified, green building standard in the nation and the Home Innovation Research Labs’ National Green Building Certification ProgramTM as the certification agent.
What is a green home? Green homes incorporate environmental considerations and resource efficiency into every step of the building and development process to minimize environmental impact.
Through Our National Partners, The HBRA Of CT Offers The Following Resources For Anyone Interested In Green Homes:
- A Certified Green Professional (CGP) designation from NAHB that enables housing industry professionals to gain and market green experience.
- Promoting the use of the National Green Building Standard
- Promoting Home Innovation Research Labs’ nationally recognized Green Certification Program
- Information for members and the public about Connecticut’s Green Building or Energy Efficiency Statutes and Code.
National Green Building Standard (NGBS)
- Educating Home Owners to Make Sustainability Stick – NAHB Now
- Home Innovation Enters into Agreement with Appraisal Institute to Issue Green Appraisal Addendum for all NGBS Green Certified Homes (12-15-14, Home Innovation Research Labs)
- ASHRAE Joins NAHB and ICC to Develop 2015 NGBS Version – ASHRAE has joined NAHB and ICC to serve as a co-sponsor of the 2015 version of the ICC/ASHRAE 700 National Green Building Standard (NGBS). Home Innovation Research Labs, as secretariat, for the NGBS welcomes ASHRAE’s sponsorship and participation in updating the NGBS to the 2015. This announcement strengthens NGBS’ position as the leading consensus standard in the industry. Learn more here. The 2015 NGBS Development process is currently underway. Visit www.HomeInnovation.com/ngbs.
- The original ICC 700-2008 NGBS was replaced in 2013 by the next generation standard, ICC 700-2012. Many thanks to Peter Fusaro, Preferred Builders, Riverside, CT, for serving on the NGBS Water Efficiency task group, one of seven groups that worked to update the standard to the 2012 version. Pete was elected as the HBRA of CT’s First Vice Chairman & Vice President by its Board of Directors on 9-10-14.
- The rigorous ICC-700 National Green Building Standard helps you demonstrate your green homes and products to environmentally conscious consumers.
- Why Look for the NGBS Green Certified Mark? – Cindy Wasser, Home Innovation Research Labs.
- NGBS Overview – In 2008, the National Green Building Standard (ICC 700-2008) was the first residential green building rating system to undergo the full consensus process and receive American National Standards Institute (ANSI) approval. ANSI approval is critically important approval signifying that the NGBS was developed by a fair and balanced process with all stakeholders participating. ANSI approval has not been granted to date to any other green rating system, including LEED. See the comparison to LEED-H below.
- The four threshold levels of the NGBS – Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Emerald – allow builders to achieve entry-level green building or the highest level of sustainable “green” building incorporating energy savings of 60% or more. Single-family & multi-family homes, residential remodeling projects, and site developments are all covered in the Standard. The standard covers the following seven areas: lot design and preparation; resource efficiency; energy efficiency; water efficiency; indoor environmental quality and comfort; operation, maintenance, and homeowner education; and global impact. Note: the predecessor voluntary Green Building “Guidelines” were phased out in late 2010, entirely replaced with the National Green Building Standard.
- See what cities and states have done to incentivize use of the NGBS (9-2011).
- NGBS Green Certified Products
- Purchase the National Green Building StandardTM (NGBS) by clicking on the image below. At the BuilderBooks site, scroll down or click on Codes & Regulations and follow the links to purchase:
NGBS Comparison To LEED:
As noted above, the NGBS was the first residential green building rating system to undergo the full consensus process and receive the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) approval. ANSI’s approval is critically important to signify that the NGBS was developed by a fair and balanced process with all stakeholders participating. ANSI approval has not been granted to date to any other green rating system, including LEED.
- 6 Reasons to Choose NGBS over LEED
- Green Home Rating Systems Comparison– 22 pg report from 2008 comparing NGBS to LEED-H
- Critique of the LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) Rating System – the LEED rating system has not been approved as a standard by any objective, standards development organization (9-2008)
- US Green Building Council responds to the critique – USGBC is the private group that created the LEED rating system (9-2008)
- Problems with LEED Standards in City and State Building Codes (Nov. 2008, from ICSC)
Home Innovation Research Lab (HIL) Certification Program
In late September 2008, the HBRA of CT green homes program was one of the first builders associations in the nation to formally affiliate with Home Innovation Lab’s National Green Building Certification Program.
- Home Innovation Research Labs’ certification programs enable builders and consumers in Connecticut to assure their homes are truly green.
- The certification program includes an online Green Scoring Tool that allows builders and consumers to gauge how green their projects will be (you can also download at the scoring tool site an Excel spreadsheet to score your homes offline).
- Verifier training and accreditation is central to the program to ensure that certification is accurate, consistent, neutral, and technically rigorous. Interested in finding or becoming a 3rd party NGBS verifier, click here.
- Find Your Green Home
- Builder Marketing Materials
CT’s Green Building/Energy Efficiency Code
See our Green Building Codes & Standards page for information on CT’s green building code statute, plus the so-called “30% Solution” and more.
Other Green & Energy Efficiency Resources
Comprehensive List of Incentives & Policies for Renewables & Efficiency by State (from NC State University)
CL&P Home Energy Solutions
Energy Efficiency & Conservation Programs – An exhaustive report from the State legislature’s Program Review & Investigations Committee on the state’s and utilities’ programs related to energy efficiency and conservation (9-25-2008)
Clean Energy Finance and Investment Authority (CEFIA)
Energize Connecticut