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.