NGBS Green PRO Program Launches, Recognizes First Designee
Home Innovation Research Labs launched NGBS Green PRO — a professional designation that validates expertise in green, sustainable building design, construction and certification — in January 2022.
The program comprises four training modules, successful completion of which helps underscore an individual’s advanced understanding of the National Green Building Standard (NGBS) ICC-700 and the NGBS Green certification program.
The first NGBS Green PRO to successfully complete the program is Colin Walker, sustainability manager for Grubb Properties in Cary, N.C. Every new construction project by Grubb Properties — a Home Innovation Research Labs 2019 NGBS Green Partner of Excellence — achieves green building certification, so Walker was well versed in the NGBS and its benefits prior to training.
“The standards and quality control that NGBS has brought to our projects has been invaluable,” Walker told Home Innovation Research Labs. “Our assets are performing better, and our residents appreciate the responsible design, the lower utility bills and improved indoor environmental quality. Ultimately, NGBS has helped us build more resilient buildings and communities.”
The NGBS Green certification program has been steadily growing in recent years and is nearing 350,000 certified homes. As more home owners seek sustainably built homes with water- and energy-saving features, third-party certification — and a thorough understanding of it — can provide builders a marketing edge in the residential housing market.
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 efforts on Twitter.
Latest from NAHBNow
According to NAHB’s Remodeling Market Index, nearly a quarter of remodelers started an ADU project over the past twelve months; 24% indicated that they were building an addition for use as an ADU and 23% indicated that they were converting an existing space into an ADU.
The NAHB International Builders’ Show® (IBS) always features leading experts and luminaries from the housing and real estate industry. The sheer size of the event also attracts talent from other walks of life.
Latest Economic News
Private residential construction spending decreased in September 2026 driven by a steep decline in improvement (remodeling) spending. According to the latest construction spending data from the U.S. Census Bureau, private residential construction spending came in at a seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR) of $848.8 billion in September, down 5.5% from the revised August estimates and lower by 8.9% from last year.
Interior finishes (drywall, interior doors, painting, cabinets, countertops, plumbing fixtures, flooring, etc.) take more time to complete—6.4 weeks, on average—than any other major stage of single-family construction, according to results from the latest NAHB/Well Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI) survey.
Private fixed investment in student dormitories rose 2.6% in the third quarter of 2026, reaching a seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR) of $3.8 billion. This gain marked a second consecutive quarterly increase, despite continued pressures from elevated interest rates. On a year-over-year basis, investments in dorms increased 1.1%.