History

Although GreenPoint Rated has only recently made its public debut, it's hardly a new kid on the block. In fact, GreenPoint Rated is an outgrowth of successful green building programs and resources that have been serving Californians since 2000. Its origins lie in the Green Building Guidelines first developed by Green Building in Alameda County and now managed by Build It Green to serve the entire state.

The Guidelines, and the rating and third-party verification system that grew out of them, were developed and repeatedly refined by a diverse set of residential building stakeholders, including production builders, contractors, architects and designers, multifamily home developers, state and local government leaders, regional and national building-science experts, product manufacturers and suppliers, and green building advocates. In the past six years, numerous local governments have adopted and use the Guidelines, and many encourage or require third-party rating.

Made for California

Recommended measures in the Guidelines and the performance benchmarks in GreenPoint Rated were specifically developed to address climate and market conditions in California, are endorsed by credible third-party sources, and are backed by sound building science. Builders and home buyers can feel confident that the measures underlying GreenPoint Rated have been tried and tested in the field and proven to be effective. And the process for updating the program over time is controlled by California decision makers and stakeholders, not by interests outside of the state.

GreenPoint Rated is truly a community-based program, made in—and for—California.