As part of the standard development process laid out by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), the NAHB Research Center must open the draft for 45 days of comments.

The NAHB Research Center is the secretariat, or administrator, of the standard development process, and the standard is being updated by a committee of home builders, remodelers, energy and green building experts, code officials, building product representatives and other members of the home building industry.

A PDF version of the draft standard — which includes all changes that were approved by the Consensus Committee — can be downloaded by clicking here.

Instructions for submitting comments are also available at www.nahbrc.com/NGBS. All comments must be submitted by Nov. 7.

The Consensus Committee, chaired by Don Pratt of Auburn Hills, Mich., will meet during the week of Jan. 23 at the National Housing Center in Washington, D.C, to discuss and then take formal action on the public comments.

Once the committee has completed its work, the newly updated National Green Building Standard will be submitted to ANSI for approval in 2012.

Initiated originally in 2007 by the International Code Council and NAHB, the 2008 National Green Building Standard was developed by a 42-member Consensus Committee and approved by ANSI in January 2009, making it the first point-based rating system for green residential construction, remodeling and land development to be approved by the national standards body.

As an ANSI-approved standard, the document is subject to periodic updates to ensure that advances in building codes, technology and other developments can be considered for incorporation.

For additional information and to learn about other updates to the 2012 NGBS development process, visit www.nahbrc.com/NGBS.

For information on the public comment period or any part of the standards development process, email standards@nahbrc.com.