A collaborative effort between the ICC and NAHB recently approved by ANSI, the National Green Building Standard defines green building for single-family and multifamily homes, residential remodeling projects, and site development projects while still allowing for the flexibility required for regionally appropriate best green practices. A builder, remodeler, or developer must meet mandatory requirements as well as incorporate a minimum number of features in the areas of energy, water, and resource efficiency; lot and site development; indoor environmental quality; and homeowner education. The four threshold levels–Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Emerald–provide builders with a means to achieve basic, entry-level green building, or to achieve the highest level of sustainable building that incorporates energy savings of 60% or more.
