Comparison of usgbc LEED for homes and the nahb national green building program

This paper reviews the green certification of residential construction under Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) for Homes and the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) National Green Building Program, which consists of Model Green Building Guidelines and the National Green Building Standard. LEED for Homes, the NAHB Guidelines, and the Standard are applicable for single-family homes. Six of the major divisions in both LEED and the NAHB Guidelines and Standard are very similar: LEED for Homes requires prerequisites with a minimum of points in some major divisions and a minimum of total points required for each designation. The NAHB Guidelines and the Standard have some general requirements, and both require a minimum number of points for each major division for each designation level. LEED for Homes, the NAHB Guidelines and the Standard have adjustments for house size and require a minimum of two field inspections by either a Green Rater or a Verifier. Third-party inspections and testing of a building's energy efficiency appear to be critical to a project's success. The minimum additional cost to certify a green home with a base price of approximately $150,000 is approximately $7,450 for LEED for Homes, $2,550 for the Guidelines, and $2,650 for the Standard.