Colorado Housing Facility Becomes 500,000th Home Certified to National Green Building Standard

Sustainability and Green Building
Published

Bluebird, a permanent supportive housing facility in Boulder, Colo., recently became the 500,000th green home to the National Green Building Standard (NGBS). Bluebird is a housing tax credit project providing permanent supportive housing to those experiencing homelessness.

The NGBS Green program, administered by Home Innovation Research Labs, is a comprehensive and rigorous certification that recognizes homes for their commitment to sustainability. Achieving this milestone highlights the growing commitment of home owners, builders and communities across the nation to create more sustainable and resilient living spaces.

“We are thrilled to reach the monumental achievement of certifying the 500,000th green home in the NGBS Green program,” said Michelle Foster, VP of Sustainability at Home Innovation Research Labs, in a press release. “This accomplishment underscores the industry’s commitment to the design and construction of sustainable buildings that have a smaller impact on the planet and a big impact on the resident’s lives. Bluebird also showcases the positive impact that sustainable housing can have on our communities.”

Key features of this project, which achieved NGBS Silver certification, include:

In consideration of its resident population, the building has been designed with trauma-informed design strategies to provide a safe, supportive space for people who have been homeless for years. The site is also located in a central area of Boulder with easy access to bike paths, walking trails and public transportation, and each resident gets a free bus pass.

The NGBS Green program provides a framework for builders and developers to construct homes that are not only energy-efficient but also healthier for occupants and kinder to the environment. The certification process evaluates various aspects of a home, including energy performance, water usage, indoor air quality and resource efficiency. By meeting the stringent criteria set forth by the NGBS Green program, home owners can be confident that their homes are contributing to a more sustainable and resilient future.

Learn more about the NGBS Green program at homeinnovation.com. For additional resources, visit the Sustainability and Green Building section on nahb.org.

Subscribe to NAHBNow

Log in or create account to subscribe to notifications of new posts.

Log in to subscribe

Latest from NAHBNow

IBS | Leading Suppliers Council

Oct 23, 2025

IBS 2026 Exhibit Home Aims for Groundbreaking Energy-Efficiency Rating

For anyone curious about how far today’s innovative building products can take a home’s performance, The New American Home 2026 is the must-see showcase at the upcoming Builders’ Show, taking place Feb. 17–19.

Workforce Development

Oct 22, 2025

NAHB Generates Enthusiasm for the Trades During the Big Build

NAHB recently introduced thousands of students to the skilled trades during The Big Build event at the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C.

View all

Latest Economic News

Economics

Oct 20, 2025

Non-Conventional Financing for New Home Sales Loses Ground in 2024

Nationwide, the share of non-conventional financing for new home sales accounted for 31% of the market per NAHB analysis of the 2024 Census Bureau Survey of Construction (SOC) data. This is 1.7 percentage point lower than the 2023 share of 32.4%. As in previous years, conventional financing dominated the market at 69.3% of sales, higher than the 2023 share of 67.6%.

Economics

Oct 17, 2025

Better Growth, Larger Deficits: CBO Fiscal Outlook

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) is a key nonpartisan score keeper that measures the effects of policy changes by the Federal Government. With several policy changes since January of this year, including the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), stricter immigration, and higher tariffs, the CBO updated its economic projections through 2028.

Economics

Oct 16, 2025

Amid Market Challenges, Builder Expectations Rise in October

Even as builders continue to grapple with market and macroeconomic uncertainty, sentiment levels posted a solid gain in October as future sales expectations surpassed the 50-point breakeven mark for the first time since last January.