This Spring, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) in partnership with the International Code Council (ICC) is publishing the first National Green Building Standard (NGBS). The Manufactured Housing Institute (MHI) and National Modular Housing Council (NMHC) have been active participants in the development of the NGBS to ensure the interests of the factory built sector are represented. That participation has lead to the inclusion of manufactured and modular housing definitions in the NGBS to make clear that it covers manufactured and modular housing and that the unique construction efficiencies that are realized in factory construction are given special credit for resource efficiency. In total, the National Green Building Standard (NGBS) covers six broad areas: 1) Lot Design, Preparation and Development; 2) Resource Efficiency; 3) Energy Efficiency 4) Water Efficiency; 5) Indoor Environmental Quality; and, 6) Operation, Maintenance and Building Owner Education. Each home literally received a score in each of these six areas, and the points must add up to a minimum total in order to be considered a green home.

Complying with the National Green Building Standard (NGBS) will present unique challenges for factory built housing vs. those for site built housing. Since a manufacturer generally does not have control over most aspects of the construction process outside of the factory, it will be left up to the retailer or builder to ensure that the site elements, homeowner education, and perhaps other provisions are met if the home is to be green certified. The critical issue for manufactured and modular housing will be to develop a certification program that seamlessly connects what occurs inside the factory to what occurs on the jobsite. This varies from site building where you have one entity, the general contractor or builder, controlling the entire process.

Considering all of these factors, MHI and the National Modular Housing Council (NMHC) have determined that the best approach for the factory built industry to capitalize on green building is to develop a separate green building program for manufactured and modular homes based on the National Green Building Standard.

MHI and NMHC together with the assistance of the Manufactured Housing Research Alliance (MHRA) is now developing the model for such a certification program that will include a protected and proprietary green brand and label. This initiative will be focused on three fundamental components: 1) labeling and branding materials for marketing and promotional activities; 2) guidance materials on how to comply with the NGBS that will include checklists and companion documents for builders and retailers; and, 3) the certification program itself detailing the qualifications, fees, inspections and other administrative provisions that must be followed in order to certify a green home. MHI and NMHC together with MHRA hope to have a program in place later this year. The three organizations are committed to developing an effective certification program that takes into account the unique advantages the factory-built housing industry brings.