The NAHB announced it will end certifications under its Model Green Home Building Guidelines, making way for the ANSI National Green Building Standard to be the lone rating system certified by the NAHB Research Center (NAHB-RC). The Guidelines, introduced in 2005, were the basis for the Standard, which was approved by ANSI in January 2009.

The online Green Scoring Tool will not accept new projects under the Guidelines after April 1. Rough inspections for the Guidelines must be submitted by June 1, and final inspections must be submitted by Sept. 1. Appeals for an extension on the final inspection deadline due to extenuating circumstances must be submitted by Aug. 1.

Developments with multiple houses undergoing certification can continue certification through that phase’s completion or until Dec. 31, 2011, whichever comes first; however, at least one home in the current phase must be certified by June 1 of this year, and builders seeking to be grandfathered must notify the NAHB Research Center by May 1, 2010. 

Since the Standard was approved last year, the NAHB-RC has seen a gradual increase in builders making the switch to the newer program. “The Standard really was the rating system that the builders were moving to as a natural progression,” says Michelle Desiderio, director of green building programs at the NAHB Research Center. 

The National Green Building Standard, a joint effort by the NAHB and the ICC, expanded on the original NAHB Model Green Home Building Guidelines and is seen as the more stringent of the two. The move to a single program should ease any lingering confusion between the two systems.

Pros making the transition from the Guidelines to the Standard can utilize the same Verifiers as well as the same online Scoring Tool. The submission process and fees ($200 for members, $500 for non-members) also remain the same.

The Research Center is working closely with Verifiers to make sure they’re up to speed on the Standard. It also has a hotline for builders to call with questions, 877.624.2476.

For more details and resources and to utilize the Green Scoring tool, visit www.nahbgreen.org.

Katy Tomasulo is Deputy Editor for EcoHome.