Frequently Asked Questions

A green home incorporates energy and water efficient products and practices; is constructed with renewable, recycled and/or more durable materials; and is designed for improved indoor air quality. Green building is a practical response to a variety of issues that affect all of us—including increasing energy prices, waning water resources, and changing weather patterns.

NAHB Green is a certification program from the National Association of Home Builders that allows home buyers to easily locate homes that have been built to nationally-recognized green building criteria. Since many of the processes and technologies that go into a green home happen behind the scenes and behind the walls, the NAHB Green certification mark is an important identifier for buyers seeking more environmentally responsible homes. NAHB Green certification means, for example, that a bronze-level green home in Greensboro is at least as energy efficient as a bronze home in Seattle and a bronze home in St. Louis. It doesn’t mean that they have the same features or that they even look the same. It does mean that they all meet a minimum, nationally recognized level of performance.

There are four green home certification levels available in the National Green Building Standard –  Bronze, Silver, Gold and Emerald. The green levels and certifications address key green construction areas including – Lot & Site Development, Resource Efficiency, Energy Efficiency, Water Efficiency, Indoor Environmental Quality, and Homeowner Education.

Potential benefits can include lower operating costs, reduced maintenance needs, and lifestyle and health improvements. The renewable, recycled, and more efficient building products used in green home construction can help to reduce a home's impact on the environment and natural resources. NAHB Green certified homes are inspected by trained experts and have the backing of an accredited certification agent, the NAHB Research Center. Additionally, NAHB Green homes are scored to the National Green Building Standard™ —the foremost green rating system for residential construction in the United States.

A Certified Green Professional (CGP) is an individual in the home building industry who has been trained in the fundamentals and best practices of sustainable residential construction.

Some green features do cost more, but there are also inexpensive ways to go green. Because some green components are less expensive to operate and may last longer, they can even pay for themselves over time. NAHB Green allows home buyers and builders to choose among dozens of options to achieve thresholds in seven key areas. This flexibility allows regionally appropriate green homes to be built at any price point.

In addition to the many benefits of living in a green home, there are often financial incentives that can help make green homeownership even more affordable. www.dsireusa.org is a searchable web database for green building, energy efficiency and renewable energy incentive programs. You can research local utility and manufacturer rebates, or ask your builder or realtor about other available offers.