Home Innovation Research Labs Begins Preparations for 2018 National Green Building Standard Update

Home Innovation Research Labs, in its capacity as an ANSI-approved standard developer, has announced preparations for the development of the 2018 version of the National Green Building Standard (NGBS) are now officially underway. Home Innovation will again act as the secretariat, or administrator, of the standard development process. Once completed, the updated standard will again be submitted to ANSI for approval.

The 2018 version of the National Green Building Standard (NGBS) will be the fourth iteration of this national residential standard. It was originally developed by a Consensus Committee and approved by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) in January 2009, making it the first green standard for residential construction, remodeling, and land development to be approved by ANSI. As an ANSI-approved standard, the document is subject to periodic updates as a way to ensure that advances in building codes, technology, and other developments can be considered for incorporation. The NGBS was last updated in 2015 and again approved by ANSI in March 2016.

To be eligible for ANSI approval, the development of the standard must follow an ANSI-approved process, which is now officially underway with Home Innovation Labs issuing a call for members of the Consensus Committee [link disabled upon application deadline] that will be charged with developing updates to the NGBS. Similar to the make-up of the committees convened to develop previous versions of the standard, the committee for the 2018 updated version will include government officials, advocacy groups, home builders, product manufacturers, and other affected industry stakeholders in residential construction.

The committee members and other interested parties will be assigned to task groups, each specializing in a different area of the NGBS — such as energy efficiency, indoor environmental quality, or lot and site development. Those who would like to apply to serve on the Consensus Committee or a Task Group must submit their applications online [link disabled upon application deadline] by February 6, 2017. (NOTE: The first meeting of the Consensus Committee is planned for April 18-19, 2017, in Washington, D.C.)

Home Innovation is also announcing a call for proposed changes to the 2015 edition of the NGBS. Individuals and groups can submit proposed changes to the NGBS online [link disabled upon submission deadline] by March 12, 2017 (original deadline - March 1st; extended to March 12th).

"ANSI rules for standards development provide checks and balances based on the principles of openness, consensus, balance, and due process, lending to the unmatched credibility of the National Green Building Standard in the residential industry," said Michael Luzier, president and CEO of Home Innovation Research Labs. "Because the ANSI process requires a balanced representation of stakeholders on the Consensus Committee and consideration of the views of all participants, this update provides an important opportunity for all those with an interest in bona fide green home building."

The entire Consensus Committee will hold two hearings in Washington, D.C., in 2017.

• At the first hearing (April 18-19), committee members will initiate the review of all proposed changes to the NGBS, which will include input from members of the relevant Task Groups.
   
• At the second hearing (Fall 2017, dates TBD), Consensus Committee members will consider, discuss, and take formal action on all proposed changes.

Once the committee has completed its work, the newly updated National Green Building Standard will be submitted to ANSI for approval in 2018.

To date, nearly 100,000 homes have been NGBS Green Certified to the National Green Building Standard by Home Innovation Research Labs, and tens of thousands are currently in the certification pipeline.

For additional information and for all future updates on the 2018 NGBS development process, visit www.HomeInnovation.com/NGBS.

# # #

ABOUT: Home Innovation Research Labs, located in Upper Marlboro, Md., is a full-service research, testing, and consulting firm determined to improve the quality, durability, affordability, and environmental performance of single- and multifamily homes and home building products – in short, we aim to perfect the home. Founded in 1964 as a subsidiary of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), our team has been integral in solving many of our client’s most difficult product and technology issues, and helping to introduce some of the most groundbreaking innovations in construction. Through an interdisciplinary research approach – including market research, building science analysis, laboratory testing, and standards development – we help to find a home for innovation in the construction industry.

NOTE TO EDITORS ON STYLE USAGE: To identify this company and its work correctly, first reference should be "Home Innovation Research Labs." In subsequent mentions, “Home Innovation” should be used; we are not identified by an acronym. Prior to February 12, 2013, the company was known as the NAHB Research Center.