National Green Building Standard Commentary Released

WASHINGTON, Feb. 19 — The National Green Building Standard™ Commentary, the companion publication to the ANSI-approved National Green Building Standard, is now available for purchase through BuilderBooks.com, the publishing arm for the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB).

Released at the 2010 International Builders' Show in Las Vegas last month, the Commentary provides valuable insight to the intention and implementation of the practices and provisions found in the standard. Developed with the input of members of the ICC 700-2008 Consensus Committee who developed the standard, the Commentary is a useful resource for any designer or builder using the ICC 700-2008 as a rating system for developing or renovating residential properties of all types, to reduce their relative environmental impact.

The National Green Building Standard is a scoring tool and certification protocol that assures projects have met stringent benchmarks in energy, water and resource efficiency, indoor environmental quality and lot and site design. It is the first such system to be approved by the American National Standards Institute. The standard covers single-family homes, apartments and condos, residential land development and home remodeling projects, and is administered by the NAHB Research Center, which also accredits local verifiers around the country.

"This new resource allows readers to better navigate the National Green Building Standard," said Bob Jones, NAHB Chairman and a home builder from Bloomfield Hills, Mich. "Each chapter breaks down the different components contained in the standard, allowing builders and remodelers to learn the best way to build green in their own communities."

The Commentary expands on the compliance language in the ICC 700-2008 to further explain the standard's:

• Scope and administration
• Compliance method for all applications of the ICC 700-2008 including:
  • Single-family and multifamily new construction
  • Renovations and additions
  • Green subdivision development

• Requirements and prescriptions for all chapters within the ICC 700-2008:
  • Site design and development
  • Lot design, preparation and development
  • Resource efficiency
  • Energy efficiency
  • Water efficiency
  • Indoor environmental quality
  • Operation, maintenance and building owner education

The National Green Building Standard Commentary is available for purchase ($41.95 NAHB member/$45.95 retail, ISBN 978-0-86718-659-8) at www.BuilderBooks.com or by calling 800-223-2665.