Emerging Green Building Professional Spotlights Innovative Takeaways from IBS
The NAHB IBS Sustainability and Green Building Scholarship aims to provide emerging green builders exposure to the world of high-performance homes and help jump-start their professional journey by attending the International Builders’ Show (IBS). The 2026 scholarship winner was Grace Weger, a green builder making a meaningful impact in the world of affordable housing. She attended IBS in February in Orlando, Fla.
As Vice President of Construction at Bend-Redmond Habitat for Humanity, Weger oversees the full construction process of affordable, high-performance housing developments. She is deeply committed to integrating sustainable building practices into homes that serve low- to moderate-income families, balancing technical excellence with meaningful community impact.
Each year, the scholarship winner receives $1,800 for IBS travel expenses and full registration to maximize their experience. Attending IBS was an opportunity for Weger to grow as a leader while connecting with innovative industry professionals at the forefront of green building.
“I was honored and deeply grateful to receive the Sustainability and Green Building Scholarship,” said Weger. “My work focuses on building affordable homes that are durable, energy efficient, and healthy for the families who live in them. Attending IBS through this scholarship felt like an investment not just in my professional growth, but in the communities we serve.”
Scholarship winners have access to numerous networking events, learn about the newest products on the market, attend green building education seminars, earn continuing education units and tour green buildings in the area. This all gave Weger new tools and knowledge to enhance the work she does back home.
"My favorite part of IBS was the opportunity to hear directly from builders, designers and building science experts who are actively pushing the industry forward," said Weger. "The sessions combined technical knowledge with leadership and customer experience insights, which made the learning immediately applicable. I also appreciated the chance to see new products, construction methods and design ideas on the show floor that could influence how we approach future projects."
In addition to winning a trip to IBS, she also received complimentary access to Home Innovation Research Labs’ NGBS Green PRO designation course, a roughly $450 value, to support the National Green Building Standard (NGBS).
Weger is excited with how NGBS aligns with Habitat’s mission of long-term affordability. “I plan to continue integrating high-performance building principles into our projects to ensure homes are comfortable, resilient, and reduce long-term energy costs for home owners,” she said.
Her passion for building began while living on an off-grid homestead, where she learned firsthand how power systems, water catchment and passive design work in real time. That experience sparked a lasting interest in building science and catapulted her into an unexpected green building career. She channels that passion into education and recently began teaching a course called “Introduction to Sustainable Homes and Careers” for Heart of Oregon Corps, designed to help young people discover pathways into high-performance building.
“It's incredibly rewarding to mentor others while building community capacity around green construction, especially because it brings me full circle,” Weger said.
After getting her start through an AmeriCorps service year, she discovered her purpose at the intersection of passion, skill and community need. In 2023, she was honored with the NEEA Rising Star in Energy Efficiency award, recognizing her dedication to building a more sustainable future.
NAHB is proud to recognize and invest in emerging green builders like Weger. Through her work, Weger is not only building homes, she is strengthening communities and inspiring the next generation of green builders.
Read more about Weger's IBS 2026 takeaways in her Ask the Green Building Experts Q&A.