Navigating the 2025 NGBS: 2 New AIA-Approved Courses
By Michelle Foster
Published Friday, December 5, 2025
The ICC700-2025 National Green Building Standard is the most comprehensive update since its debut in 2008. It strengthens energy performance pathways, clarifies water efficiency strategies, and adds new compliance options that provide more flexibility for multifamily and mixed-use projects. To help project teams understand what is new and how to apply the standard effectively, Home Innovation is launching two new AIA-approved education sessions.
Both courses will be available for 2026 with scheduling open now.
Course 1: 2025 NGBS Overview for Project Teams and Design Professionals
This session offers a clear walk-through of the most important changes in the 2025 NGBS. It covers updates in energy efficiency, water efficiency, indoor air quality, and the new ventilation and performance testing requirements. The course is designed for architects and designers who need a solid grasp of how the revised practices influence design decisions, documentation, and project coordination. It also equips project teams to determine whether the 2020 or 2025 NGBS is the better fit for a given project.
The goal is to give firms a realistic understanding of how the 2025 standard diverges from the 2020 standard, where it increases flexibility, what the new mandatory practices are, and why early design integration will matter more for many projects. Attendees will also hear about the new 2025 NGBS certification options for Wellness, Resilience, Lower Carbon, and Zero Energy.
Course 2: Using the 2025 NGBS for Property Certification
The NGBS Green Property Certification offers a practical way to verify environmental performance at the property level, making it well-suited for existing multifamily, mixed-use, and student housing communities. This course introduces owners, operators, and design teams to the certification’s structure, verification process, and documentation requirements.
Participants will learn how the certification evaluates energy, water, and indoor environmental quality using a property-wide assessment rather than a building-by-building approach. By the end, attendees will understand how to apply the NGBS framework to existing assets, support capital planning decisions, and align outcomes with ESG and lender-driven performance expectations.
Why These Courses Matter
Many firms want a clear understanding of what the 2025 standard introduces so they can make informed decisions about whether to pursue certification under the 2020 or 2025 NGBS for future projects. These courses give teams a practical way to understand what has changed and how to align design, documentation, and consultant coordination early in the process.
For owners and operators managing existing portfolios with uneven performance baselines, the property certification course offers a straightforward framework for understanding how NGBS Green can support priorities around performance, durability, resilience, and long-term operating costs.
Scheduling opens in December. Both courses can be delivered virtually or in person. Contact us to reserve a session for your team.