NAHB Green Builders Recognized in National Awards Program

Sustainability and Green Building
Published

With more than 1,500 homes certified through the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Zero Energy Ready Home (ZERH) program in the first half of 2020 alone, the voluntary, independently verified green program is on track to double its number of certifications this year. ZERH recognizes builders for their efforts to increase energy efficiency, improve indoor air quality (IAQ) and prepare homes for renewable energy. Since 2013, DOE has been recognizing leaders building zero-energy ready, energy-efficient homes — which have a goal of producing as much energy as they consume — with the Housing Innovation Awards.

Awardees will be recognized virtually this year during EEBA's High Performance Home Summit, Sept. 29-Oct. 9; Grand Winners in each category will be announced at the virtual conference. To qualify for the awards, builders must have homes that are certified under the ZERH program, and meet selection criteria for performance metrics, land development, design, quality construction, consumer education and more.

Robust requirements for each housing type allow leaders in the field to be acknowledged for their work in delivering energy savings, comfort, health and durability in their homes. Because housing affordability is top of mind for the industry, the Housing Innovation Awards also highlight builders who construct homes that are competitively priced with market-rate homes in addition to high-performance features and strategies. Many NAHB members have risen to the top in various categories and are being recognized in this year's awards.

NAHB members in each category include:

Attached Homes

Custom Homes for Buyer (> 3,000 square feet)

Custom Homes for Buyer (< 3,000 square feet)

Custom Homes on Spec

Production Homes

For the full list of winners, take a look at DOE's press release on the 2020 awards. Congratulations to all NAHB members who were recognized this year in this exciting award program.

To learn more about why voluntary green certification programs such as ZERH and the National Green Building Standard bring value to builders, visit NAHB's Sustainability & Green Building page.

And for more information about NAHB's sustainable and green building programs, contact Program Manager Anna Stern. To stay current on the high-performance residential building sector with tips on water efficiency, energy efficiency, indoor air quality, and other building science strategies, follow NAHB’s Sustainability and Green Building team on Twitter.

Subscribe to NAHBNow

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

Log in to subscribe

Latest from NAHBNow

Design | IBS

Jan 09, 2026

From Décor to Resiliency, IBS Design Central Covers It All

At the 2026 NAHB International Builders’ Show® (IBS) in Orlando Fla., there will be education sessions centered on design. Design Central will offer engaging presentations led by some of the industry’s top professionals, covering everything from décor to sustainability. Here are the Design Central presentations, all taking place at the Orange County Convention Center (OCCC).

IBS

Jan 09, 2026

Final Touches Underway at The New American Home 2026

Watching a new home come to life in the final stages of construction is a satisfying experience—not just for the owners, but for the builder as well. That feeling is only amplified when the home is a focal point of the International Builders’ Show (IBS)—the industry’s largest trade show.

View all

Latest Economic News

Economics

Jan 09, 2026

Townhouse Construction Share Gains Continue

According to NAHB analysis of the most recent Census data of Starts and Completions by Purpose and Design, during the third quarter of 2025, single-family attached starts totaled 46,000. Over the last four quarters, townhouse construction starts totaled a strong 179,000 homes, which is 1% higher than the prior four-quarter period (177,000). Townhouses made almost 20% all of single-family housing starts for the third quarter of the year.

Economics

Jan 09, 2026

Job Growth Slowed as 2025 Ended

Job growth continued to slow at the end of the year, reinforcing signs of a cooling labor market. Nonfarm payrolls increased by 50,000 jobs in December, while the unemployment rate edged down slightly to 4.4%.

Economics

Jan 09, 2026

Residential Construction Softens Amid Ongoing Housing Market Headwinds

The latest residential housing market report, delayed by the federal government shutdown last fall, indicates that builders have faced significant headwinds in recent months. Elevated mortgage rates earlier in the year have restrained buyer demand and weighed on home building activity, alongside persistently high construction costs.