MNCBIA GOING GREEN

The Maryland-National Capital Building Industry Association (MNCBIA) endorses the concept of environmental friendly and energy efficient green construction and the stewardship of our natural resources. Builders and developers in Maryland counties are building houses using more environmentally responsible and energy-efficient construction methods and materials than just a few years ago. They comply with building regulations, stormwater management requirements, landscape guidelines and green space/open space set asides that far exceed the national baseline for environmental requirements. 

To further green building practices, the MNCBIA established a Green Building Committee, which holds monthly meetings as well as offering education and training programs plus Internet links to best practices and technical information to its members. For more information about joining the committee email Annette Rosenblum.

MNCBIA's Annual Environmental Awards recognize excellence in green building and projects that excel at helping the environment. For more information click here or email Kelly Grudziecki.

The Maryland Energy Administration has a new webpage to help with the 2012 Energy Code. MEA provides an "Energy Coach" service to answer specific questions about code requirements. This service is available to builders, architects, and building officials. The Energy Coach can be reached by e-mail at [email protected], or by phone at (240) 514-2625. If you use the "Energy Coach", MNCBIA would appreciate your feedback. This webpage contains compliance provider lists for third party testing related to air leakage and ducts, as well as for the "stimulated energy performance evaluation." These lists are not considered complete. Suggest you consider using the services of associate members of MNCBIA. MEA also plans to develop some training videos. Keep checking this webpage for new courses and videos.  

  The MNCBIA is an ENERGY STAR® Partner. An ENERGY STAR home must meet guidelines for energy efficiency set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Click here to find out more. If you are a builder, go to Partner Resources.  

  The MNCBIA is a NGBS Green Partner with the Home Innovation Research Labs. The Lab administers the third-party certification program for homes and multifamily buildings constructed or remodeled to the National Green Building Standard (NGBS), which is the only residential green building rating system approved by ANSI, the American National Standards Institute, as an American National Standard. Builders, potential certifiers and home buyers can find more information by visiting Home Innovation Research Labs website. Want a green home to call your own? Or a remodeler to make your green dreams a reality? Start here.  

Rigorous ICC 700 National Green Building Standard Certification 

NGBS Single-Family Green Home Certification
The ICC 700 National Green Building Standard (NGBS) provides practices for the design, construction, and certification of new green single-family homes, including: single-family homes, townhouses, duplexes.

A new green home can be awarded a Bronze, Silver, Gold, or Emerald certification level, depending on the number of green practices successfully incorporated in its design and construction. Existing single-family homes can also attain one of the four levels of certification when remodeled according to the requirements of the NGBS. Click here for more information

NBS Green Multifamily Building Certification
The ICC 700 National Green Building Standard™ (NGBS) provides practices for the design, construction, and certification of green multifamily residential buildings, including: high- and low-rise apartment buildings, high- and low-rise condominiums, residential units in mixed-use buildings 

A new green multifamily building can be awarded a Bronze, Silver, Gold, or Emerald certification level, depending on the number of green practices successfully incorporated in its design and construction. Existing multifamily buildings can also attain one of the four levels of certification when remodeled according to the requirements of the NGBS. Home Innovation Research Labs certifies the entire building, not individual apartments. Click here for more information.

NGBS Green Home Remodeling Project Certification
The ICC 700 National Green Building Standard™ (NGBS) provides practices for the renovation and remodeling of green single-family homes and multifamily buildings, including: Single-family homes and townhouses Duplexes, quads, and garden apartments
High- and low-rise apartment buildings Residential units in mixed-use buildings Small-scale remodeling projects such as kitchens, bathrooms, basements (2012 NGBS only)

A green remodeled home or multifamily building can be awarded a Bronze, Silver, Gold, or Emerald certification level, depending on the extent of the green practices incorporated in the remodel. (There are no certification levels for small remodeling projects certified under the 2012 NGBS.) There are two options for whole-home or whole-building remodels: 1) follow practices similar to the practices in each category for new construction, or 2) show significant improvements in energy and water efficiency and meet the mandatory indoor environment practices. For more information click here.

Green Land Development Certification
The ICC 700 National Green Building Standard™ (NGBS) provides practices for the design, planning, construction, and certification of land development, including: Residential communities
Mixed-use communities

The NGBS offers four levels of green certification for site design and land development: One through Four Stars, depending on the number of green practices successfully incorporated in its design and construction. To be certified, a project must implement a minimum number of green development practices. For example, under the 2008 NGBS a One-Star Development must earn 79 points, while a Four-Star Development needs a minimum of 175 points.

All land development, regardless of size or location, is eligible to be certified under the NGBS as long as some of the parcels will eventually be developed with residential buildings. Certification of the land development is completely independent of the certification of the homes and buildings ultimately constructed within the development, although certification of the land development may help residential buildings obtain points toward certification in the Lot Design, Preparation, and Development category. Click here fore more information.