Green Approved Products

What Does it Mean if a Product is "Green Approved" by the NAHB Research Center?

Products for which the manufacturer has received a Certificate from the NAHB Research Center and the right to use the NAHB Research Center Green Approved mark are products that the Research Center has approved as being eligible to contribute points toward certification of a building under the National Green Building Standard™. Such products, when appropriately used, enable builders to earn points toward certification of the building. The NAHB Research Center Green Approved mark is intended to assist builders, designers, and specifiers in identifying products that can contribute points toward building certification. The NAHB Research Center Green Approved mark is also intended to facilitate the verification of the "green" practice incorporated into the building during field inspections by providing the accredited verifier with assurance that the product is eligible for the points claimed by the builder. All buildings for which certification by the NAHB Research Center is sought are required to be inspected by independent, third-party, accredited verifiers to confirm that the building has incorporated sufficient "green" practices to earn the points claimed for the certification level sought by the builder.

The National Green Building Standard does not define criteria for certifying products as "green." A product bearing the NAHB Research Center Green Approved mark is not certified as being "green." Rather, the product has been approved as eligible for earning points under the National Green Building Standard toward green certification of a building if the product is used in a qualifying way (for example, in sufficient quantity or under certain conditions as noted in the Certificate). Many criteria in the National Green Building Standard require the use of products with certain attributes. The Research Center has verified that products bearing the NAHB Research Center Green Approved mark do indeed have such attributes (for example, a product might meet the criterion of having recycled content exceeding 25%). Where appropriate, an independent assessment or accredited test report is required for recognition of product attributes eligible for points. Products entitled to use the NAHB Research Center Green Approved mark are approved for points only for specific practices, as indicated on the Certificate provided to the manufacturer. A copy of the Certificate should be available from the manufacturer.

Details regarding which products have been approved for specific attributes, and any additional usage requirements for earning points, can be found by clicking on the Green Approved Products link in the Green Scoring Tool. The NAHB Research Center Green Approved mark is not a representation, warranty, guarantee of product performance, or certification of code compliance. For details of the product warranty, consult the product manufacturer.

Manufacturers can find out more about having products become green approved.