In preparation for the 2012 version of the National Green Building Standard (NGBS) due early next year, the NAHB Research Center has launched a new registration process to help builders and developers identify which version of the green certification program to use.
The Research Center has provided the following tips about the registration process and the transition to NGBS 2012: --All new projects seeking NGBS certification must be registered with the Research Center to start the certification process. There will be no cost to register a project, but only an accredited verifier can register a project for certification.
--Projects that are already in process will not have to register, but will receive a Project ID from their verifier.
--Single-family homes, multifamily buildings, and residential land developments that wish to be certified using the 2008 NGBS must register with the NAHB Research Center within three months of the publication date for the 2012 NGBS. Once registered, single-family homes must be completed within 18 months of the 2012 NGBS publication to attain certification based on the 2008 version; multifamily buildings and land developments must be completed within 36 months of 2012 NGBS publication to attain certification based on the 2008 version.
--Single-family homes, multifamily buildings, and residential land developments that wish to be certified using the 2012 NGBS can begin the preliminary design process now using the draft 2012 NGBS, however, the builder and accredited verifier will need to ensure the building is built in compliance with the final published version of the 2012 NGBS, not the draft version. No rough inspections will be allowed to take place until after the 2012 NGBS is published and the accredited verifier performing the inspection is accredited to the 2012 NGBS.
