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2009 Media Releases & Alerts

For Immediate Release
Contact: Anne Holtz

NAHB Research Center Issues First "Green Approved" Product Seals of Approval

March 20, 2009, Upper Marlboro, Md. - The NAHB Research Center recently introduced its "Green Approved" product seal of approval. The Green Approved mark provides third-party evidence that building products meet specific scoring criteria for homes seeking certification to the National Green Building Standard™ (the Standard), a consensus-developed standard that was approved by ANSI in January 2009.

Engineered wood products and solid sawn lumber from iLevel by Weyerhaeuser were the first to receive this new product designation. Now certain tubular skylights from ODL, Inc., as well as specific fiberglass and foam insulation products, sheathing, veneers, and duct insulators from Owens Corning, have become Green Approved. And there are many more manufacturers anxious to attain this pre-approval for National Green Building Certification points.

The Green Approved mark indicates third-party documentation and approval by the NAHB Research Center that a building product contributes to compliance of specific green practices for National Green Building Certification to the Standard. (Green Approved products are not evaluated for points per the NAHB Model Green Home Building Guidelines.) Green Approved products carry a certificate from the Research Center that identifies the specific sections of the National Green Building Standard under which the products can earn points. The Green Approved mark helps bridge the gap between manufacturers who make products that are appropriate for green building applications and builders and designers who want to use them. Green Approved products can be found from links on the Green Scoring Tool, as well as on their own Green Approved Products website.

Michael Luzier, president of the NAHB Research Center, believes Green Approved Products will have a significant impact on the future of National Green Building Certification. "Having these products pre-approved for points will streamline and enhance the certification process for everyone involved, without compromising the integrity of the certification process at all," he said. "Builders and designers will be able to more easily specify products they know are eligible for certification points; verifiers will not have to seek further documentation of these products’ eligibility; and manufacturers will know their Green Approved products are being seen by builders who are serious about providing Green Certified homes to their customers."

Manufacturers interested in having products become Green Approved should send a message via the Contact Us form on the GreenApprovedProducts.com website, or call the National Green Building Program Hotline at (877) NAHB-GRN.

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03/09

ABOUT THE NAHB RESEARCH CENTER: Located in Upper Marlboro, Md., the NAHB Research Center promotes innovation in housing technology to improve the quality, durability, affordability, and environmental performance of homes and home building products. Created over 40 years ago as a subsidiary of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), the NAHB Research Center has established itself as the source for reliable, objective information and research on housing construction and development issues. Through its various testing and certification services, the Research Center seal is internationally-recognized as a mark of product quality and an assurance of product performance.

NOTE TO EDITORS ON STYLE USAGE: To identify this company and its work correctly, first reference should be "NAHB Research Center." If clarification of the acronym is necessary, the phrase, "a subsidiary of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)," can follow. In subsequent mentions, "Research Center" is the only acceptable and accurate alternative reference.