MENU

News

Karla Butterfield Named 2017 NGBS Green Partner of Excellence

February 5, 2018

SWA Sustainability Director, Karla Butterfield, has been named a Home Innovation NGBS Green Partner of Excellence for 2017. NGBS Green, which is based on the National Green Building Standard™ (NGBS), has certified more homes than any other national green home certification program thanks in large part to its knowledgeable fleet of in-field verifiers. As one of an elite group of Home Innovation’s green certification program partners, Karla is recognized for her commitment to providing customers with increased value, professionalism, and relevance in the marketplace through third-party verification to the NGBS.

In addition, Karla is one of only eight professionals worldwide to hold the designation of NGBS Master Verifier. Since becoming a Verifier in 2008, she has helped 1,818 units to achieve certification, with another 1,221 units currently in the process of construction and/or NGBS registration.

“Working with the National Green Building Standard allows us to interact with builders and developers through an intuitive process” stated Karla. “Although the program is comprehensive and rigorous, it complements all types of residential construction making implementation simple. I am especially excited to be part of the 2018 NGBS consensus committee where we are developing an even stronger, more versatile tool.”

To earn NGBS Green certification, a home must meet stringent criteria in six categories: Lot & Site Development, Resource Efficiency, Energy Efficiency, Water Efficiency, Indoor Environmental Quality, and Homeowner Education. There are mandatory practices that every NGBS Green Certified home must meet, in addition to optional practices in each category that a builder can select based on the applicability to buyers or renters in their market. There are also mandatory point minimums in every category in order for a home to attain the next level of certification, which is a more extensive requirement than in any other national certification program.

This is the second consecutive year that Karla has received the NGBS Green Partner of Excellence designation. Under her leadership, the NGBS team at SWA shows no sign of slowing as it continues to ramp up certification efforts throughout the Northeast. To learn more about Karla and the green building certification services at SWA, visit swinter.com.