Cover Your Build (and Your Back): The Power of NGBS Green QA
By Michelle Foster
Published Monday, April 21, 2025
When builders commit to earning green certifications, there is immediately a higher expectation placed on their projects. Many builders pursue certification as an alternative pathway to code compliance or to qualify for incentives, federal tax credits, or other regulatory programs. The consequences of improper documentation or certification failure can be severe – not just financially, but legally. Increased regulatory scrutiny means that the legal and financial risks of improper documentation or certification failure can be severe. Builders and developers need to have confidence that their certifying organization is engaging in proper oversight and quality assurance, and that’s where the NGBS Green certification program shines.
How Does NGBS Green Protect You?
One of the defining strengths of the NGBS Green Certification program lies in its comprehensive and builder-aligned approach to quality assurance. In an industry where visibility into third-party performance and confidence in final certifications are paramount, NGBS Green sets itself apart by offering a structure that prioritizes transparency, accountability, and consistency at every stage of the verification process.
Every project is reviewed by an accredited NGBS Green Verifier. Verifiers are held to uniform, rigorous standards nationwide and must undergo ongoing accreditation, oversight, and evaluation to ensure that verifications and reporting remain reliable and up-to-date. Due to this strict oversight, builders can rest assured that their experience will be consistent, trustworthy, and streamlined with any NGBS Green Verifier. The verification process also gives builders a straightforward chain of responsibility to know who is responsible for the certified home’s performance.
Certifications are subject to onsite visits from NGBS Green QA Reviewers, as well as virtual audits (Home Innovation staff virtually observing onsite inspections) and desktop audits (Home Innovation staff reviewing and double-checking documentation and reports). Over the past year, NGBS Green has increased the frequency of each of these activities, further strengthening our commitment to quality. These efforts have already had a tangible impact—resulting in proactive actions to ensure home compliance and uphold certification integrity.
How Can You Protect Yourself with NGBS Green?
For builders concerned with data accuracy, inspection consistency, or the continuity of certifications when transitions occur, NGBS Green offers peace of mind through our centralized infrastructure and seamless project handoff tools. Our online portal offers clear reporting on certification activity and gives builders insight into exactly where their project stands in the certification process. Homes in progress remain protected, and builders can trust that certification remains on track even amid Verifier changes.
In addition, NGBS Green creates space for builder engagement within the QA process. Builders work directly with accredited NGBS Green Verifiers, so they can initiate quality reviews and collect compliance data directly from the source. Verifier training content is also accessible to builders and other program partners. Builders have the opportunity to deepen their understanding of compliance pathways and take proactive steps toward solving recurring issues without waiting for top-down intervention.
Our Ongoing Commitment to Quality
Looking ahead, NGBS Green continues to evolve, with several key QA enhancements scheduled to roll out this year. These upcoming improvements reflect the program’s ongoing commitment to quality, transparency, and accountability—delivering a certification experience that is not only technically sound but also builder-friendly and responsive to real-world needs.
Now is the time for builders to take full advantage of this strengthened QA framework. Engage with NGBS Green, leverage the tools and transparency now available, and partner with a program that’s fully invested in your success—from groundbreaking to certification—because when compliance matters this much, there’s no room for uncertainty.