Achieving NGBS Green+ Certification to Stay Competitive in the Marketplace

The newly released 2025 National Green Building Standard (NGBS) provides many options for building homes more sustainably. To go a step further, builders can choose to certify their projects, which not only ensures performance levels, but serves as a differentiator in the housing market.

There have been over 785,000 NGBS Green Certified housing units to date. NGBS Green Certification provides independent, third-party verification for a home, building, or land development. New or existing residentially-used buildings can earn Certified, Bronze, Silver, Gold, or Emerald certification, depending on the number of NGBS sustainability practices followed.

Home Innovation Research Labs is the sole national certification agency for the NGBS.

“What really sets the NGBS Green apart is the rigorous third-party verification that underpins every certification," said Michelle Foster, Vice President of Sustainability of Home Innovation Research Labs. "Independent NGBS Green Verifiers conduct on-site inspections and documentation review to ensure that buildings meet the rigorous requirements of the standard. That QA process gives developers, owners, and lenders confidence in the integrity of the certification—and in the performance of the building itself."

For those who wish to provide even more value for their clients, NGBS Green+ certifications recognize NGBS Green homes that go “above and beyond” in one or more areas of sustainability.

The seven options for NGBS Green+ Certification include:

NGBS Green +LOWER CARBON

Verify carbon reduction strategies through both performance-based and prescriptive-based compliance pathways.

NGBS Green +NET ZERO ENERGY

Offer residents independence from energy bills and increased resilience during events that affect the power grid and greater energy infrastructure.

NGBS Green +RESILIENCE

Reduce a building’s vulnerability to natural disasters such as flooding, wildfires, hurricanes, and earthquakes.

NGBS Green +UNIVERSAL DESIGN

Accommodate residents with mobility and physical challenges.

NGBS Green +WATER EFFICIENT

Construct water efficient homes through plumbing systems, fixtures and appliances, and landscape features.

NGBS Green +WELLNESS

Improve human health through active & universal design; materials; pollution prevention; resident comfort; and education and awareness.

NGBS Green +ZERO EMISSIONS

Reduce carbon emissions and therefore mitigate climate change risks through both performance-based and prescriptive-based compliance pathways.

The Green+ Certification handbook is a complimentary resource that provides more details on each of these options, along with eligibility and documentation requirements.

Whether choosing one or two practices to focus on in the NGBS, aiming for NGBS Green Certification, or pursuing NGBS Green+ Certification, the many qualifying green building practices help builders stay competitive and further distinguish themselves in the ever-changing housing market.