Pricing
Reading and building to the standard costs nothing, always. What you pay for is the proof: an independent inspector tests the house and the GreenHome Institute reviews and records the result. Here's exactly what that costs.
The lower rate in every row below. Membership funds the 501(c)(3) nonprofit that publishes and maintains the standard for everyone. On all but the smallest projects, the discount more than covers the cost of joining.
How membership worksThe standard rate, with no membership required to certify a project. You can certify first and join later; the option is always there.
Fee schedule
Fees are per project. Multifamily is built up building by building; optional add-ons sit on top. Every price shows the member rate first, then the non-member rate.
| Certification fee | Members | Non-members |
|---|---|---|
| Single family | $425 | $500 |
| Multifamily — one building | $1,700 | $2,000 |
| Multifamily — each additional building | $850 | $1,000 |
| Multifamily — each square foot over 50,000 per building | $0.025/sq ft | $0.025/sq ft |
| Optional add-ons | Members | Non-members |
| Pre-construction plan review Optional | $500 | $1,000 |
| Badges Each | $85 | $100 |
| Recertification or advance to a higher level | Half the applicable rate above | |
The $0.025-per-square-foot multifamily rate applies only to floor area above 50,000 square feet in a given building. Fees are set by the GreenHome Institute and may be updated; your inquiry returns a firm, project-specific quote before any commitment.
Estimate it
Set the details below and the estimate updates as you go. It uses the same fee schedule above, so treat it as a ballpark. Your inquiry returns the firm quote.
One home, one certification. A GreenHome Institute member pays $425; a non-member pays $500. Add an optional pre-construction plan review to catch issues on paper, and a member's total is $925.
First building plus one additional, at member rates: $1,700 + $850 = $2,550. If a building exceeds 50,000 sq ft, add $0.025 for each square foot over. A 60,000 sq ft building adds $250.
The lower rate is for GreenHome Institute members. Membership supports the nonprofit that keeps the standard free, and it pays for itself quickly on all but the smallest projects. The higher rate applies to everyone else.
Start with the first building, add each additional building, then add the per-square-foot rate for any floor area above 50,000 square feet in a given building. The plan review and badge fees, if you want them, are on top.
Recertifying an existing GreenStar home, or advancing it to a higher level, is billed at half the applicable rate above, since you're verifying the delta rather than starting over.
No. The standard is free to read, use, and build to, forever. These fees are only for third-party certification: an independent inspector tests the house and the Institute reviews and records the result.
Tell the Institute about your project, whether single-family, multifamily, or portfolio, and get an exact price and a real plan. The inquiry is free and non-binding.
