An NGBS Verifier Tells All
Q-and-A with Marla Esser Cloos
Marla Esser Cloos is a healthier home advocate of Green Home Coach and host of the Everyday Green Home podcast.
How long have you been a verifier? What was that process like?
I’ve been an NGBS Verifier for about 3 years. Before that I consulted for NGBS projects and worked alongside the verifier and the builder and helped get a lot of the documentation together and organized. I also populated an online owners and occupant manual for the project. Much of my work both as consultant and verifier has been in LIHTC multifamily remodel projects.
The technical process of becoming a verifier was pretty straightforward for me since I’ve worked with the NGBS since its inception. Getting all my insurance figured out was my biggest challenge, especially as I am a 1-person firm.
What would surprise people about your role as a verifier?
How much tracking and documentation is involved. Especially for multifamily projects, there are a lot of details that need to be verified for every unit and inspections typically happen a few units at a time. I came up with a worksheet that helped me track all of the information I needed to collect at each inspection.
What excites you about the NGBS update?
The health and wellness practices in Chapter 10. I was fortunate to work on one of the NGBS Consensus Task Groups and propose some of the health and wellness practices. The opportunity to see how the consensus process works and be a part of it was pretty cool.
What advice would you give to someone looking to become a verifier?
I am in the minority of verifiers who do not come from an energy rater background, so having a few energy raters you can rely on and partner with is crucial, at least to my practice. Find a good mentor/coach you can work with for the first few projects. My time as a consultant gave me so much more confidence working with the NGBS.
Any memorable moments from your tenure?
My most memorable moment was when our client made a champagne toast with her builder and me when she received her NGBS certificate for her single family home. It made it even more fun that all 3 of us - client, builder and verifier - are women!
