NLBMDA News: U.S. Green Building Council Introduces LEED for Homes Affiliate Program

On August 20, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) announced the introduction of its new LEED for Homes Affiliate Program. The program allows regional green home building programs to promote the growing green residential market by partnering with USGBC as a LEED for Homes Affiliate. This new program is designed to work flexibly and smoothly with other third-party green home providers. According to USGBC, the objective of this new program is to increase the availability of the green homes stock through collaborations with local green home building programs across the country by further promoting sustainable design and energy-and-resource efficiency in all dwellings.

"This is an important step forward as we advocate for full marketplace adoption of green home building. One of the greatest benefits of the LEED green home certification program is its continual progress and flexibility," said Nate Kredich, Vice President, Residential Market Development, USGBC. "Through the LEED for Homes Affiliate Program, green residential programs can partner with us to further promote green homes."

To address the need for knowledgeable green home building professionals, the Green Building Certification Institute implemented specializations for its LEED professional credentialing. The LEED Accredited Professional + Homes specialty allows LEED AP candidates to specialize as a green building expert in the residential field, advancing the construction of green homes by employing green building professionals.

The first two green home building programs that have signed-on to be LEED for Homes Affiliates are the Home Builders Association of Greater Dallas and Minnesota GreenStar. USGBC and HBA Greater Dallas have previously teamed up through Green Built North Texas, a voluntary partnership of local home builders, industry supporters and sponsors committed to green homes in North Central Texas. Minnesota GreenStar, a third-party green home building certification system, recognizes that its challenging climates require residential energy efficiency. Read more.