Multifamily certification more flexible with NGBS 2025
The National Green Building Standard® (NGBS) issued its most recent update in April 2026. One of the most interesting parts of this update is the ability to earn multifamily and property-level certification.
This allows developers to certify multiple existing buildings as a single property. This certification pathway is not “easier” but is flexible for new and existing multifamily buildings.
The certification is updated to include expanded resilience practices for withstanding natural disasters, alternative energy-efficiency compliance options, flexible compliance options and more.
“Energy performance, water use and prescriptive requirements can be reviewed across the entire site, making certification more realistic for large portfolios and campus style developments,” wrote Cal Trepagnier, Program Manager, Sustainability & Green Building. “Because the final certification level for the property reflects the lowest performing building, it encourages consistency across the entire project, not just standout upgrades in one place.”
