Achievement badges

Performance & verification

1. 01.

   Energy model demonstrating that the home produces, on an average-year basis, as much or more energy on-site than it is modeled to consume. Approved tools: DOE Home Energy Score, HERS Index, ASHRAE 90.1 modeling, WUFI Passive, or Passive House Planning Package (PHPP).

2. 02.

   Third-party testing of the building envelope (blower-door air leakage), duct leakage to outdoors, total duct leakage, and worst-case combustion spillage (where any combustion appliance remains under the multifamily exceptions).

3. 03.

   Final energy rating completed and signed by the appropriate certification body — not a draft.

4. 04.

   Base certification: project must also hold a certification through GreenStar Homes, LEED, National Green Building Standard, Enterprise Green Communities, Passive House, or equivalent.

All-electric requirement & exceptions

1. 01.

   Default: home must be all-electric. The four electrification requirements at Gold tier (heating, water heating, cooking, dryer) are prerequisites regardless of base certification tier.

2. 02.

   Renovation exception: in climate zones 4 and above, a dual-fuel heat pump system is permitted in lieu of fully electric heating.

3. 03.

   Multifamily / attached-housing exceptions: combustion fireplaces for aesthetics only, gas dryers in non-resident (shared) laundry, corridor heaters, and gas water heating in climate zones 6+ are permitted.

4. 04.

   Vehicle charging energy and special farm or manufacturing energy uses may be excluded from the model with documented justification.

Documentation & fees

1. 01.

   Stamped PV system design (or other on-site renewable system) showing array size, tilt/azimuth, and annual production estimate.

2. 02.

   Net-meter / interconnection agreement signed by the serving utility.

3. 03.

   Badge certification fee: free for GHI members and member project teams; $100 for non-member single-family homes ($10 per additional unit in multifamily).

Performance & verification

1. 01.

   All-electric construction. Operational fossil-fuel combustion at the dwelling cannot be offset under this badge — combustion appliances disqualify the project regardless of how renewables are sourced. (Same multifamily exceptions as Zero Energy Certified apply.)

2. 02.

   Existing homes: ENERGY STAR Home Energy Score of 75 or higher (requires 12+ months of utility data) — OR demonstrated 35% reduction below the regional median Energy Use Intensity for projects without sufficient utility history.

3. 03.

   New construction: energy model demonstrating operational carbon emissions of zero on an average-year basis, using grid-emissions factors for the project's eGRID region. Approved modeling tools match the Zero Energy Certified program list.

4. 04.

   Third-party verification: building envelope air leakage, duct leakage, and combustion-safety testing (the last where any combustion appliance remains under exceptions).

Renewable accounting

1. 01.

   On-site renewable generation is preferred but not required. Off-site renewables qualify if backed by retired RECs (Green-e Energy certified or equivalent).

2. 02.

   Community-solar subscriptions qualify if the associated RECs are retired on the homeowner's behalf.

3. 03.

   RECs must cover 100% of the home's modeled annual grid electricity use, measured in MWh and matched to a renewable source within the same grid region where practical.

Documentation

1. 01.

   Energy model output showing modeled annual kWh consumption, eGRID emissions factor used, and resulting tCO₂e/year — net of any on-site PV production.

2. 02.

   REC purchase certificates or community-solar subscription agreement showing the project address and the MWh allocated.

3. 03.

   Base certification through GreenStar Homes, LEED, NGBS, Enterprise Green Communities, Passive House, or equivalent.

4. 04.

   Note on evolving criteria: until GHI publishes the final DOE-ZEB-aligned criteria, this badge is reviewed case-by-case by the GreenHome Inspector. Pre-registration consultation with GHI is recommended.

Energy performance

1. 01.

   Modeled annual energy use ≤ 17.1 MBtu/year — OR ERI ≤ 20 — OR DOE Home Energy Score of 10 (existing). Approved tools match the Zero Energy Certified list: DOE HES, HERS, ASHRAE 90.1, WUFI Passive, PHPP.

2. 02.

   Envelope: blower-door air leakage testing required. Targets meeting DOE ZERH thresholds for climate zone (typically ≤ 3.0 ACH50 in zones 1-2, ≤ 2.5 in zones 3-4, ≤ 2.0 in zones 5-7, ≤ 1.5 in zone 8) are the practical compliance path.

3. 03.

   Heating, cooling, and water heating must be all-electric or dual-fuel-ready. The four electrification requirements at Gold tier apply as the practical compliance path.

Solar readiness

1. 01.

   Roof orientation and shading: at least one roof plane with ≥ 300 sq ft unshaded between 10am-4pm at winter solstice, facing within 90° of true south (i.e. ESE through WSW).

2. 02.

   Structural: roof framing designed to accept future PV array load (typically +5 lb/sq ft live load). Truss / rafter stamped sealed drawings indicate PV-ready loading.

3. 03.

   Electrical: panel with reserved 60A+ breaker space for future PV interconnection (NEC 705 backfeed) and conduit run from the panel location to the planned inverter / roof junction.

4. 04.

   Site plan and electrical drawings call out the future PV array size (kW DC), inverter location, and conduit pathway.

Documentation

1. 01.

   Final energy rating report (HERS Index, DOE Home Energy Score, or equivalent) at or below the Zero Energy Ready threshold for the project type.

2. 02.

   Stamped structural drawing or letter from the structural engineer confirming PV-ready roof loading.

3. 03.

   Electrical panel schedule with the reserved PV breaker labeled; marked-up plan showing the conduit run.

4. 04.

   Solar pathway analysis (Helioscope, Aurora, or hand-calc Sun Path output) confirming the unshaded-roof-area requirement.

5. 05.

   Base certification through GreenStar Homes, LEED, NGBS, Enterprise Green Communities, Passive House, or equivalent.

On-site supply & treatment

1. 01.

   Rainwater catchment system sized to meet 100% of annual indoor potable demand based on local average annual rainfall, roof catchment area, and modeled household demand (occupants = bedrooms + 1, per the GHI Home Water Score convention).

2. 02.

   Potable treatment train rated for the captured supply: minimum first-flush diverter + sediment filter + carbon filter + UV disinfection + NSF/ANSI 53/55-certified components. Storage cistern food-grade or NSF 61 rated.

3. 03.

   Greywater system reusing bath/shower/laundry effluent for toilet flushing and/or sub-surface irrigation, designed per local code (typically Uniform Plumbing Code Chapter 16 or IAPMO 326).

4. 04.

   Backup pathway documented: either a properly disconnected municipal connection (with backflow prevention) or a documented well-water tie-in. Storage volume sized for at least 30 days of typical demand during dry periods.

Demand reduction

1. 01.

   Project must also achieve a Home Water Score ≥ 5 (Gold tier) — captured supply only works at meaningful scale once fixture demand is cut.

2. 02.

   No conventional flush toilets above 1.0 GPF. Composting or vacuum toilets count toward the demand reduction and are encouraged.

3. 03.

   Outdoor irrigation served exclusively by greywater, captured rainwater, or drought-adapted plantings with no supplemental irrigation.

Documentation

1. 01.

   Water-balance calculation showing annual supply (captured + reused) ≥ annual modeled demand, with 30-day reserve.

2. 02.

   Plumbing permit + sign-off from local AHJ for the rainwater and greywater systems.

3. 03.

   Water-quality test results from the potable supply at first occupancy: pH, turbidity, total coliform, E. coli, and (where applicable) lead and nitrate.

4. 04.

   Photos of the catchment surface, cistern, treatment skid, and greywater diverter / surge tank.

Additional badge-specific criteria

1. 01.

   No active natural-gas or propane service to the dwelling. Existing gas meters/lines must be disconnected at the meter (utility sign-off required) or removed. A capped-but-active gas service does not qualify.

2. 02.

   All electrified appliances must be ENERGY STAR-certified or qualify for the federal IRA tax-credit list (whichever is stricter).

3. 03.

   Heat-pump water heater and heat-pump space-heating equipment must be installed by an HVAC contractor with documented HPWH/heat-pump training (NATE certification or equivalent).

Low-emission materials

1. 01.

   Interior paints, coatings, sealants, and adhesives meet GreenSeal GS-11 / GS-36 / GS-47 emissions standards (or SCS Indoor Advantage Gold, FloorScore, or GreenGuard Gold equivalents).

2. 02.

   All composite-wood panels (cabinetry, millwork, subfloor) meet CARB Phase 2 or TSCA Title VI for formaldehyde emissions.

3. 03.

   New carpet, resilient flooring, and engineered wood floors carry FloorScore, Green Label Plus, or GreenGuard Gold certification.

4. 04.

   No added flame retardants in installed furniture, mattresses, or upholstered seating where occupants control the spec (PBDEs, chlorinated tris explicitly excluded).

Advanced filtration

1. 01.

   MERV 13 minimum on all ducted HVAC return paths (MERV 16 strongly preferred and required where the Platinum tier is being claimed alongside the badge).

2. 02.

   Whole-house HEPA filtration on the fresh-air supply OR a dedicated bedroom-area HEPA air purifier rated for the served volume (CADR ≥ 2/3 of room area in sq ft).

3. 03.

   Activated carbon stage on the kitchen range-hood filter or a downstream pre-filter — required where any combustion remains in the home.

Active monitoring

1. 01.

   Continuous IAQ sensor installed in the primary living area, measuring at minimum: CO₂, total VOC, PM2.5, temperature, and relative humidity. RESET-certified sensors qualify automatically.

2. 02.

   Sensor must be readable via on-device display or app, with alert thresholds configured for CO₂ > 1,000 ppm, PM2.5 > 35 µg/m³, and humidity outside 30–60% RH.

3. 03.

   Sensor data exportable for at least 30 days of history (rolling) to support post-occupancy review.

Documentation

1. 01.

   Material spec sheets / certificates for all paints, sealants, composite woods, and flooring.

2. 02.

   Filter spec sheet showing MERV rating + photo of installed unit; HEPA unit cut sheet if used.

3. 03.

   Sensor cut sheet + photo of installed location + screenshot of a recent reading showing the measured parameters.

4. 04.

   Occupant orientation: homeowner/tenant briefed on filter-change cadence, sensor alerts, and ventilation operation.

Essential path — visitability + universal-design baseline

1. 01.

   At least one zero-step entrance to the main floor from the driveway/sidewalk, no curbs or thresholds > 1/2 inch.

2. 02.

   All doorways on the main floor at least 32 inches clear (36 inches strongly preferred).

3. 03.

   At least one full bathroom on the main floor (toilet, sink, and shower/tub) with 60-inch turning radius and reinforced walls (2x blocking) at all toilet and shower locations for future grab-bar installation.

4. 04.

   Hallway widths at least 36 inches clear; primary corridor at least 42 inches.

5. 05.

   Lever-style door hardware (not knobs) on all interior doors, and rocker or smart switches in lieu of toggle switches at standard 44-inch mounting height.

6. 06.

   Kitchen counters with at least one section at adjustable or 34-inch height, and a roll-under or pull-out sink area.

Full path — ANSI A117.1 type-A or type-B unit

1. 01.

   Project meets all requirements of ANSI A117.1 Section 1003 (Type A) or Section 1004 (Type B) for accessible dwelling units.

2. 02.

   Roll-in shower with no curb, 60-inch minimum length, and integrated bench seat.

3. 03.

   Bedroom on the main floor (entry level) with adjacent accessible bathroom.

4. 04.

   Adjustable-height vanity sinks; reachable controls (motion-activated or front-mounted) on plumbing fixtures.

5. 05.

   Lever, rocker, or motion-activated hardware throughout.

6. 06.

   Reinforced walls at all grab-bar locations + grab bars installed (not just blocking) at toilet and shower.

Documentation

1. 01.

   Marked-up floor plan showing door widths, hallway widths, zero-step entry, bathroom turning radius, and counter heights.

2. 02.

   For Essential path: photos of zero-step entry, bathroom blocking (pre-drywall photos required), lever hardware, and accessible kitchen counter.

3. 03.

   For Full path: ANSI A117.1 compliance statement signed by architect, builder, or accessibility consultant.

4. 04.

   Maintenance plan for accessibility features (e.g. grab-bar inspection cadence, threshold reseal schedule).

Wiring & circuits

1. 01.

   All branch-circuit wiring run as twisted or shielded cable (MC armor, metal conduit, or twisted-pair Romex equivalents). No untwisted parallel hot/neutral runs above the sleeping floor.

2. 02.

   No knob-and-tube wiring (already required at Certified tier for existing homes) and no ungrounded two-wire circuits.

3. 03.

   Dedicated "kill switches" — manual or smart-relay disconnects — at the electrical panel for the bedroom-area circuits, allowing occupants to de-energize sleeping areas during the night.

4. 04.

   No bedroom outlets backed against the head-of-bed wall on the opposite side (i.e. neighbor's panel, kitchen panel, refrigerator); relocate or shield where unavoidable.

Lighting

1. 01.

   No CFL lighting in sleeping areas (CFLs emit high "dirty electricity" — line-frequency harmonics).

2. 02.

   LED drivers in sleeping areas selected for low flicker (modulation < 5% per IEEE 1789) and low EMI emission (FCC Part 15 Class B or better).

3. 03.

   No magnetic-ballast fluorescent fixtures anywhere in the dwelling.

Wireless infrastructure

1. 01.

   Ethernet drops (Cat 6 minimum) to all primary work, study, and media locations — Ethernet-first as the default network path.

2. 02.

   Wi-Fi access points sited away from sleeping areas, with at least one wired-bedroom-network option offered.

3. 03.

   Smart-home hubs and any in-wall radios sited outside bedrooms (utility room, garage, or central closet).

4. 04.

   Mesh-network nodes counted as wireless transmitters and sited per the same separation rule.

Verification survey

1. 01.

   Post-construction EMF survey by a building-biologist-certified or IBE-certified rater (or equivalent), measuring at minimum: AC magnetic field, AC electric field, RF/microwave power density, and dirty electricity.

2. 02.

   Sleeping-area readings: AC magnetic field < 1 mG, AC electric field < 1 V/m, RF power density < 10 µW/m² (BBP "no concern" thresholds).

3. 03.

   Living-area readings documented (no maximum threshold required for living spaces but readings reported on the certificate).

Documentation

1. 01.

   EMF survey report from the certified rater with floor-plan-annotated readings.

2. 02.

   Electrical plans showing the bedroom-circuit kill-switch panel layout.

3. 03.

   Cable spec sheets (MC, shielded Romex, etc.) and LED driver specs for sleeping-area fixtures.

4. 04.

   Photographs of the panel kill switches, Ethernet drops, and AP / hub locations.

Hazard-specific hardening (project must address all locally-identified risks)

1. 01.

   Wildfire (where identified): Class A roof assembly, 5-ft defensible-space zone with non-combustible materials, ember-resistant vents (1/8-inch mesh), enclosed eaves, and tempered-glass windows on fire-exposed elevations. Aligns with IBHS Wildfire Prepared Home or CAL FIRE Chapter 7A.

2. 02.

   Hurricane / severe wind (where identified): IBHS Fortified Roof designation, impact-rated windows or shutters (ASTM E1996), reinforced garage door, and continuous load path framing.

3. 03.

   Flood (where identified): finished floor elevation at least 2 ft above the FEMA Base Flood Elevation, flood-resistant materials below the design flood elevation, and backflow prevention on sewer connections.

4. 04.

   Freeze events (where identified): all water lines either in conditioned space or wrapped in heat-trace + insulation rated for the local 99% design temperature; freeze-resistant hose bibs.

5. 05.

   Seismic (where identified, primarily climate zones with seismic overlay): foundation bolting, cripple-wall bracing where applicable, and water-heater strapping.

Backup power & passive survivability

1. 01.

   Backup power: battery storage (≥ 5 kWh usable) wired to a critical-loads sub-panel covering at minimum refrigerator, well pump (where applicable), one heating/cooling zone, and a charging outlet. OR a fixed automatic-transfer generator with 72-hour fuel reserve.

2. 02.

   Passive survivability: envelope and orientation must keep indoor temperature within 55–85°F for at least 96 hours without grid power at the local 99% summer and winter design temperatures. Documented via modeling (BEopt, WUFI Passive, PHPP).

3. 03.

   Operable windows on at least two opposing facades per occupied story to support cross-ventilation during outage.

Water & supplies

1. 01.

   On-site potable water reserve: at least 14 gallons per occupant in a sealed, rotated reservoir OR a rainwater catchment + potable treatment chain (see Zero Water Capable badge for spec).

2. 02.

   Sewage continuity: where municipal sewer is the discharge path, backflow prevention installed; where septic, a documented pump-out cadence and full reserve capacity verified.

Operations

1. 01.

   Occupant resilience plan delivered to the homeowner/tenant: outage operating procedure for the backup system, evacuation triggers, and an annually-tested communication plan.

2. 02.

   Site-specific go-bag inventory documented (water, non-perishable food, first aid, radio, key documents) — not provisioned by the project, but listed.

Documentation

1. 01.

   Climate Risk Assessment report (already submitted for Certified tier) used as the basis for which hardening items above are required.

2. 02.

   Passive-survivability model output showing the 96-hour indoor temperature curve under outage.

3. 03.

   Spec sheets and as-built photos for backup power, hardened roof / windows, water reserve, and freeze protection.

4. 04.

   Resilience operating manual delivered to occupants (homeowner-training requirement satisfies the format).

Excluded products (as the primary insulation)

1. 01.

   Open-cell and closed-cell spray polyurethane foam (SPF) — not permitted as wall, roof, or floor insulation.

2. 02.

   Rigid foam boards — extruded polystyrene (XPS), expanded polystyrene (EPS), and polyisocyanurate (polyiso) — not permitted as continuous exterior insulation, foundation insulation, or sub-slab insulation.

3. 03.

   Spray-applied foam at the rim joist, attic-floor air-seal layer, or basement-wall continuous layer.

Permitted alternatives

1. 01.

   Dense-pack or blown cellulose (recycled newsprint).

2. 02.

   Mineral wool batts or boards (Rockwool, Owens Corning Thermafiber) — including for continuous exterior insulation and sub-slab applications (mineral wool sub-slab is climate-zone-dependent; verify moisture strategy).

3. 03.

   Fiberglass batts (high-density, formaldehyde-free preferred).

4. 04.

   Biobased options: hemp insulation, sheep wool, wood-fiber boards (Gutex, Steico, Hempitecture), cork.

5. 05.

   Foamed-glass aggregate (Glavel, Foamglas) for sub-slab and frost-protected shallow foundation applications.

Acceptable incidental foam

1. 01.

   Factory-applied foam in window/door frames, garage-door panels, and refrigeration appliance insulation.

2. 02.

   Single-component can foam used in volumes < 0.5 cu ft per project for sealing penetrations and gaps not addressable by other sealants.

3. 03.

   Foam weatherstripping, foam tapes (e.g. EPDM gasket tape), and foam-backer rod at joints.

Performance equivalence

1. 01.

   Foam-free assemblies must meet the same effective whole-assembly R-value as the project would have achieved with foam, calculated using parallel-path or two-dimensional thermal modeling (THERM, WUFI, or equivalent) accounting for thermal bridging at framing.

2. 02.

   Where wall thickness becomes a constraint (urban infill, lot-line construction), double-stud or staggered-stud framing is the recommended path to high R-value without foam.

Documentation

1. 01.

   Insulation schedule listing each assembly (foundation, slab, wall, rim joist, roof) with product, R-value, and thickness.

2. 02.

   Product spec sheets / SDS for each insulation product, with foam-free designation visible.

3. 03.

   Pre-drywall photos showing the installed insulation in each major assembly.

4. 04.

   Whole-wall thermal calculation showing effective R-value parity with the comparable foam assembly.

Assessment

1. 01.

   Complete a Home Water Score using the GHI calculator, with all fixture inputs (toilets, bathroom aerators, kitchen aerators, showerheads, dishwasher, clothes washer) entered from measured or spec-sheet values.

2. 02.

   Occupancy assumed as (bedrooms + 1), per HWS convention — actual or estimated occupancy is not used.

3. 03.

   Missing dishwasher or clothes washer scored under HWS "worst-case" rules (assumed non-ENERGY STAR unit will be installed).

4. 04.

   Outdoor water completed via the EPA WaterSense Outdoor Water Budget Tool, with selections per the manual's guidance (e.g. xeriscape selection for adaptive/native plantings; microspray for drought-tolerant mixes; rotor/spray for non-tolerant turf).

Greywater & rainwater (optional)

1. 01.

   Greywater and rainwater catchment savings are not directly modeled by the HWS formula. Projects with these systems submit an alternative calculation for case-by-case credit.

2. 02.

   Recirculation loops in faucets qualify for a 12% waste-reduction credit on the affected fixtures — request special consideration when submitting.

Leak handling

1. 01.

   Leaks are scored as binary in the HWS model — all leaks must be fixed before submission (any leak fails the leak portion of the score).

2. 02.

   Leak test: take the required pressure-test reading, leave water off for 30 minutes, verify no pressure drop and no meter movement.

3. 03.

   Homes with installed leak-detection systems automatically qualify for the no-leaks status if the system reports no leaks at submission.

Documentation

1. 01.

   Completed Home Water Score report (or WERS, HERS H₂O, WRI, EPA WaterSense equivalent).

2. 02.

   Fixture spec sheets and/or flow-rate test measurements supporting each entered value.

3. 03.

   EPA Outdoor Water Budget tool output PDF.

4. 04.

   Photos and receipts for all water-using devices, plus the pressure-test reading and leak verification.

5. 05.

   For projects using greywater or rainwater catchment for credit: separate alternative water-savings calculation with assumptions documented.

Plantings

1. 01.

   At least 60% of new vegetated area (by sq ft) planted with species native to the project's EPA Level III ecoregion, listed in a credible native-plant database (Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, USDA PLANTS, regional native-plant society).

2. 02.

   Pollinator support: at least three native species each from spring, summer, and fall bloom periods, providing continuous bloom from last frost to first frost.

3. 03.

   No invasive species (per state invasive-species list) introduced or retained on the site.

4. 04.

   Lawn area limited to ≤ 25% of vegetated area on lots under 1/2 acre, ≤ 15% on larger lots. Where lawn is included, drought-adapted turf mixes (microclover, fine fescue, buffalograss) preferred over Kentucky bluegrass in non-irrigated zones.

5. 05.

   No use of neonicotinoid pesticides during installation or as part of the maintenance plan.

Dark-sky lighting

1. 01.

   All exterior fixtures DarkSky-approved (formerly IDA) or equivalent fully-shielded, downcast design with 0 lumens above horizontal.

2. 02.

   Color temperature ≤ 3000K (warmer is better; 2200K–2700K preferred). Blue-rich light disrupts wildlife and pollinators.

3. 03.

   Motion-activated or scheduled control on all non-essential exterior lighting (path lighting may remain on for safety).

4. 04.

   No upward-facing accent or landscape lighting.

Habitat preservation & restoration

1. 01.

   Preserve existing mature trees (DBH ≥ 8 inches) — at least 75% retained on the project parcel, with tree-protection fencing during construction.

2. 02.

   Limit site disturbance to within 5 ft of building footprint + utility/driveway corridors. Mass grading of the lot does not qualify.

3. 03.

   At least one wildlife-supportive feature installed: nesting boxes appropriate to local species, brush-pile shelters, native wildflower meadow strip, or wetland-edge buffer.

4. 04.

   Bird-strike mitigation on glazing > 4 sq ft within 30 ft of vegetation: ABC Bird-Smart-rated glass, applied film with ≥ 2x2 inch pattern density, or external screens.

Documentation

1. 01.

   Landscape plan with plant list — botanical and common names, native/non-native flag, bloom period, and quantities.

2. 02.

   Exterior lighting plan with fixture cut sheets showing DarkSky approval and color temperature.

3. 03.

   Tree-protection plan with preserved trees marked on the site survey.

4. 04.

   Photos at completion: pollinator plantings, lighting installation, preserved trees with protection markers, and any installed wildlife features.

Location score (one path required)

1. 01.

   Walk Score ≥ 70 ("very walkable") — most errands can be accomplished on foot.

2. 02.

   OR Transit Score ≥ 70 ("excellent transit") — frequent service to many destinations.

3. 03.

   OR Bike Score ≥ 70 ("very bikeable") — infrastructure makes biking practical for most trips.

4. 04.

   OR ≥ 5 of the following daily-destination categories are within 1/2 mile walking distance: grocery store, pharmacy, school, daycare, park, public library, restaurant, café, post office, medical/dental, place of worship.

Pedestrian connection from site to destinations

1. 01.

   Continuous sidewalk or shared-use path from the project parcel to the nearest neighborhood collector road — no required walking on the shoulder of a road > 25 mph.

2. 02.

   Crosswalks at any required street crossings on the routes used to reach destinations counted toward the location score.

3. 03.

   Lit pedestrian path from the project to the nearest transit stop, where transit is being claimed.

On-site bike infrastructure

1. 01.

   Secure, weather-protected bike storage on-site sized for at least one bike per bedroom (e.g. garage rack, dedicated bike shed, in-unit hooks).

2. 02.

   For multifamily: secure shared bike room at street level with 24-hour access OR per-unit storage at this density.

3. 03.

   Where the project has a driveway curb cut, the cut design accommodates rolling bike access (no curb step).

Reduced parking (encouraged, not required)

1. 01.

   Where local code permits, reduce on-site car parking below the typical 2-space-per-unit baseline (this is a reduction in surface area and embodied carbon, not a hard requirement).

2. 02.

   EV charger (required at Platinum tier) and bike storage are credited regardless of car-parking count.

Documentation

1. 01.

   Walk Score / Transit Score / Bike Score report from walkscore.com (or equivalent) showing the qualifying score at the project address.

2. 02.

   Map (Google Maps screenshot or equivalent) showing 1/2-mile walking radius around the project with daily-destination categories marked.

3. 03.

   Photos of pedestrian connections — sidewalk continuity from parcel to nearest collector road and the route to any claimed transit stop.

4. 04.

   Site plan showing bike-storage location, capacity, and access path.

Automated load coordination

1. 01.

   At least four of the following major loads must support automated, scheduled, or demand-response control: HVAC, heat-pump water heater, EV charger, electric dryer, dishwasher, pool/spa pump, irrigation pump. Smart-home hub or utility-controlled DR interface required.

2. 02.

   Heat-pump water heater operating in load-shift mode (heat-up scheduled to off-peak hours, holding through peak) — verified by 7-day load profile.

3. 03.

   EV charger configured to charge during off-peak hours by default, with the schedule documented in the EV-app or charger configuration.

4. 04.

   HVAC setpoint pre-cooling (summer) or pre-heating (winter) during shoulder hours to reduce peak-hour cycling.

Storage (where present)

1. 01.

   If battery storage is installed, system must operate in time-of-use arbitrage mode (charge off-peak, discharge during peak) — not just backup mode. Self-consumption-only mode does not qualify.

2. 02.

   Minimum usable capacity: 5 kWh dispatchable per peak event.

3. 03.

   Storage inverter must be programmable from a homeowner-accessible interface — utility-controlled-only systems require documented homeowner override capability.

Utility programs

1. 01.

   Project must be enrolled in a utility Time-of-Use rate plan where one is available (state retail-choice projects: enroll with a TOU-equivalent retail supplier).

2. 02.

   Where the local utility offers a demand-response or direct-load-control program covering the controlled loads, enrollment is encouraged but not strictly required.

Verification

1. 01.

   Submit a 7-day load profile (15-minute interval data from utility meter, AMI portal, or whole-home monitor) showing peak-hour kW demand reduction of at least 30% vs. baseline off-grid-naive equivalent.

2. 02.

   Baseline calculated from the home's modeled energy use (HERS, BeOpt, equivalent) assuming flat dispatch.

3. 03.

   12-month true-up acceptable for renovation projects without a settled baseline.

Documentation

1. 01.

   Smart-appliance inventory listing model numbers, DR capabilities (CTA-2045, ENERGY STAR Connected, OCPP for EV chargers), and schedule configuration.

2. 02.

   Utility statement or screenshot confirming TOU rate enrollment.

3. 03.

   7-day or 30-day load profile data export from the utility AMI portal or whole-home monitor.

4. 04.

   Storage configuration screenshot showing TOU arbitrage mode active (if applicable).

Design storm capture

1. 01.

   Site is designed to retain or infiltrate the first 1 inch of rainfall on impervious surfaces — captured volume calculated as: (impervious area in sq ft × 1 inch ÷ 12) ÷ 7.48 = required storage in gallons.

2. 02.

   OR the project meets the local stormwater management ordinance's "green infrastructure first" or "low impact development" pathway, whichever is more stringent.

3. 03.

   Existing-home renovation pathway: at least 50% reduction in net stormwater discharge from the site, measured pre/post by impervious-area change or modeled in a tool such as EPA's National Stormwater Calculator.

Acceptable practices

1. 01.

   Bioretention / rain gardens sized at ~5–10% of contributing impervious area, with native plants suited to alternating wet/dry conditions.

2. 02.

   Permeable paving (pavers, porous concrete, porous asphalt) on driveways, patios, and walkways — counted as pervious in the design-storm calculation.

3. 03.

   Rainwater cisterns (above- or below-grade) sized for the design storm and either irrigation-discharged or used for non-potable indoor uses (toilet flushing, laundry — local code dependent).

4. 04.

   Dry wells or infiltration trenches for downspout discharge, sized using local infiltration rate (perc test required where soils are clay-heavy).

5. 05.

   Vegetated swales, dry creek beds, and stepped check-dams where slope and area permit.

6. 06.

   Green roofs or roof gardens — counted as impervious area reduction equal to the modeled retention coefficient (typically 0.4–0.7).

Site-specific requirements

1. 01.

   No discharge of captured stormwater within 10 ft of the foundation or onto adjacent properties.

2. 02.

   Sediment forebay or pre-treatment required for cisterns and infiltration features receiving runoff from parking or driveway surfaces.

3. 03.

   Where greywater or rainwater is reused indoors, system must meet the same plumbing-code requirements as for the Zero Water Capable badge.

Documentation

1. 01.

   Stormwater management plan showing impervious areas, drainage paths, design-storm calculation, and each retention/infiltration feature with sizing.

2. 02.

   EPA National Stormwater Calculator output (or equivalent local model) showing pre- and post-development runoff volumes.

3. 03.

   Soil infiltration / percolation test results for sites relying on dry wells or infiltration trenches.

4. 04.

   As-built photos of installed features at completion.

Points pathway — achieve at least 8 points across the categories below

1. 01.

   [2 pts] At least 25% by cost of structural framing lumber is FSC- or SFI-certified (or reclaimed). +1 pt per additional 25% (max 4 pts for fully certified/reclaimed framing).

2. 02.

   [2 pts] Subfloor / sheathing is FSC-certified or reclaimed.

3. 03.

   [1 pt each, max 3] Reclaimed material as a primary finish — flooring, doors, fixtures, cabinets, exterior siding, interior brick/stone.

4. 04.

   [2 pts] Insulation is biobased (cellulose, hemp, wool, wood-fiber) OR carries a Cradle to Cradle (C2C) Bronze+ certification.

5. 05.

   [1 pt each, max 3] Concrete mix design uses ≥ 30% supplementary cementitious materials (slag, fly ash, calcined clay) at the slab, foundation, OR exposed elements.

6. 06.

   [2 pts] Project compiles Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) for at least five major material categories.

7. 07.

   [2 pts] At least three products in the project carry Cradle to Cradle Silver+ certification.

8. 08.

   [1 pt] No tropical wood anywhere in the project (this is already required at Gold tier for new construction — point applies for retrofits and as a baseline confirmation).

9. 09.

   [2 pts] Project documents a construction-waste diversion rate ≥ 75% (by weight) with hauler tickets or waste-audit report.

Exclusions

1. 01.

   No use of tropical wood (matches the Gold-tier requirement).

2. 02.

   No vinyl (PVC) flooring or wall coverings as a primary finish in occupied rooms.

3. 03.

   No products on the Living Building Challenge Red List as primary finishes where a viable Red-List-free alternative exists.

Documentation

1. 01.

   Materials submittal log listing each contributing product with category, cost, certification number, and source.

2. 02.

   Certification documents (FSC chain-of-custody, C2C certificate, EPD PDFs) attached to the log.

3. 03.

   Photos of reclaimed-material applications and certification labels at the source where available.

4. 04.

   Construction waste tracking sheet + hauler tickets if claiming the waste-diversion points.

5. 05.

   Tally sheet showing earned points across categories — verifier signs the ≥ 8 pt threshold.