3rd party verification plays a vital role in the process of green building. Green Verified Homes are listings of homes from across America that meet the strict qualifications and testing to be called a "Green Home". Over the years many certification programs have been created to help guide the construction of these homes. We've listed a few of the more prominent programs below.
All homes certified as part of National Green Building Certification will be measured against the best existing definition of green and sustainable home construction. The certification program is based on the NAHB Model Green Home Building Guidelines and the ICC 700-2008 National Green Building Standard. The Standard includes provisions that define green attributes for developments, multi-unit dwellings, remodeling projects, additions and single-family homes. There are three green home certification levels available in the NAHB Model Green Home Building Guidelines – Bronze, Silver, and Gold. The National Green Building Standard includes an additional level, Emerald. The green levels and certifications address key green construction areas including – Lot & Site Development, Resource Efficiency, Energy Efficiency, Water Efficiency, Indoor Environmental Quality, and Homeowner Education. To learn more about the NAHB program visit here. 
LEED is a nationally recognized, third-party certification system that’s based on measurable results. As such, LEED recognizes the highest quality in green homebuilding. LEED-certified homes are energy efficient, use non-toxic building materials, are water-smart, and respect the environment in which they’re constructed. LEED was created and is administered by the U.S. Green Building Council, a nonprofit environmental organization with more than 14,000 member organizations dedicated to sustainability in building design and construction. The certification system has been in use for more than seven years in commercial construction, and includes more than 3.2 Billion square feet of real estate currently seeking LEED certification. You can explore case studies on a variety of LEED-certified homes at www.thegreenhomeguide.org.
ADDED CONFIDENCE
Home buying is complex enough without having to know all the details of energy-efficient construction. Instead, look for the government-backed ENERGY STAR label to easily identify homes that are truly energy efficient. Find the house of your dreams and enjoy peace of mind knowing that it also meets strict energy efficiency guidelines.
LOWER OWNERSHIP COST
Compared with standard homes, ENERGY STAR qualified homes use substantially less energy for heating, cooling, and water heating-delivering $200 to $400 in annual savings. Over the average 7 to 8 years you may live in your home, this adds up to thousands of dollars saved on utility bills. Additional savings on maintenance can also be substantial. Financing your home purchase using an energy efficient mortgage can also lead to savings.
BETTER PERFORMANCE
Properly installed energy-efficient improvements deliver better protection against cold, heat, drafts, moisture, pollution, and noise. An energy-efficient home helps ensure consistent temperatures between and across rooms, improved indoor air quality, and greater durability.
SMART INVESTMENT
To date, more than 6,500 home builders have partnered with EPA to construct nearly 940,000 ENERGY STAR qualified homes. The trend is clear. By choosing a home with the ENERGY STAR label, you can be confident that it will have an increasingly valued feature when the time comes to sell.
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
Did you know that your home can be a greater source of pollution than your car? In fact, 16 percent of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions are generated from the energy used in houses nationwide.
Energy used in our homes often comes from the burning of fossil fuels at power plants, which contributes to smog, acid rain, and global warming. Simply put, the less energy we use in our homes, the less air pollution we generate.
EarthCraft House is a green building program that serves as a blueprint for healthy comfortable homes that reduce utility bills and protect the environment. The aim of the program is to help home builders be leaders in smart growth management and environmental stewardship.
Building an EarthCraft House is about constructing a healthy, more valuable home while minimizing environmental impacts. EarthCraft House follows a systems approach to home building that stresses an understanding of how the different components of a home work together. This approach results in a home that performs better, is more economical for the homeowner and costs little more to build than a comparable home built with standard construction practices.
Any size or style of home at any price point can achieve EarthCraft House certification by meeting these criteria . These guidelines are flexible to allow for a variety of approaches to environmental construction. EarthCraft House guidelines address energy efficiency, durability, indoor air quality, resource efficiency, waste management, and water conservation.
