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Pillar
Tier
Project
Materials & Environmental Impact

Accessibility

Universal design features — zero-step entries, wider doorways, accessible bathrooms — supporting aging in place.

Accessibility (placeholder seal) A PLACEHOLDER

Description

The Accessibility badge recognizes homes designed under universal-design principles — features that allow the home to be used by occupants of any age and ability, and that defer the typical aging-in-place renovation by decades. The badge sits in the Materials & Place pillar because the decisions are mostly about layout, hardware, and durable finishes rather than mechanical systems.

Two compliance paths are recognized: the "Essential" path (visitability + minimum universal-design baseline, suitable for most single-family homes) and the "Full" path (full type-A or type-B accessible unit per ANSI A117.1, suitable for projects where aging-in-place or wheelchair use is the explicit design intent). Achieving either path earns the badge.

Required standard requirements

To earn this badge, the project must meet all of the following existing GreenStar requirements:

Additional badge criteria

Beyond the required standard requirements above, the project must also satisfy:

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).

Verification by tier

Evidence the project team submits at each certification tier. Cumulative — higher tiers include everything below unless noted otherwise.

  1. Certified

    Self-attestation
    • 01.

      Owner-signed floor plan annotated with door widths, hallway widths, zero-step entry, and main-floor bathroom layout.

    • 02.

      Photo of the zero-step entry from the public approach.

  2. Silver

    Documents + photos
    • 01.

      Pre-drywall photos of bathroom blocking at every toilet and shower location.

    • 02.

      Lever-hardware and rocker/smart-switch spec sheets; kitchen-counter section drawing showing 34-inch accessible run.

  3. Gold

    Third-party test
    • 01.

      On-site inspection by an accessibility consultant or certified universal-design pro at substantial completion.

    • 02.

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

  4. Platinum

    Post-occupancy verification
    • 01.

      Maintenance plan delivered to occupants covering grab-bar inspection cadence and threshold reseal schedule.

    • 02.

      Annual occupant self-report confirming the accessibility features remain in usable condition.

Materials & Environmental Impact Required from Silver Accessibility Resilience

Building Maintenance Instructions

Create written instructions documenting how to maintain the building, equipment, and finishes.

Scope

Written documentation of how to maintain the building, equipment, and finishes — handed off to the homeowner or tenant at project completion.

Requirements

  1. 01.

    Create a building maintenance manual covering: HVAC filter changes, water heater service intervals, gutter cleaning schedule, exterior caulk inspection, smoke/CO detector battery replacement, recommended deep-cleaning cadence for finishes.

  2. 02.

    Include manufacturer warranties, model numbers, and contact information for major appliances and systems.

  3. 03.

    Document the GreenStar certification level and which requirements were met (so future owners understand the home's features).

Documentation

Evidence the inspector / Institute will need.

  1. 01.

    Completed maintenance manual (PDF or printed binder) delivered to the homeowner/tenant.

  2. 02.

    Homeowner/tenant signature confirming receipt.

Guidance

Why this is a Silver requirement, not Certified

The most well-designed green home will quietly degrade if the owner doesn't know which filter to buy or that the HRV needs filter changes too. The maintenance manual is the bridge between certification day and 10 years later — the difference between a home that holds its performance and one that drifts toward average.

Note

Many builders use a generic builder warranty book and bury the maintenance information. A standalone "GreenStar Owner's Manual" with the home-specific equipment list and a 1-page seasonal maintenance calendar is more likely to actually be used.

Resources

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Materials & Environmental Impact Required from Silver Accessibility Resilience

Homeowner / Tenant Training

Train the homeowner or tenant on how to operate and maintain the building.

Scope

In-person walkthrough and training session with the homeowner or tenant at project handover.

Requirements

  1. 01.

    GreenHome Inspector or builder must conduct an in-person training session with the homeowner/tenant covering: thermostat programming, HVAC filter location and changing, water shutoffs, electrical panel orientation, smoke/CO detector locations and testing.

  2. 02.

    Walk through the maintenance manual together and answer questions.

  3. 03.

    Demonstrate any complex systems (HPWH controls, smart appliances, HRV/ERV).

Documentation

Evidence the inspector / Institute will need.

  1. 01.

    Training agenda + sign-in sheet with homeowner/tenant signature.

  2. 02.

    Optional: photo or video of the training session for the project record.

Guidance

Why this matters more than people think

A heat-pump water heater set to "electric resistance only" defeats its energy savings. A thermostat with a wide deadband (8°F+) wastes energy and creates discomfort. An HRV with a clogged filter circulates dust instead of removing it. Many efficiency features fail at the user-interface level — and a 30-minute training session prevents most of those failures.

Note

Recording the training (with the homeowner's permission) and providing them with the video is increasingly common — homeowners watch it again 6 months later when they've forgotten something.

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