Building stronger and building greener are not competing goals. They are complementary ones. A home that is destroyed in a storm takes enormous resources to rebuild. A building that loses its roof also loses its insulation, its HVAC investment, and its energy performance. Resilience protects the investment in sustainability.

SHA's position is straightforward: build to withstand damage first, then pursue energy efficiency and green construction. FORTIFIED construction is the foundation. Once a property is resilient, energy-efficient upgrades deliver lasting value rather than being wiped out by the next severe weather event.

Start with Resilience

FORTIFIED Home™ and FORTIFIED Commercial™ are proven beyond-code construction standards that strengthen homes and commercial buildings against severe weather, including hurricanes, high winds, and hail. For properties in fire-prone areas, the IBHS Wildfire Prepared Home™ designation provides a comparable framework for reducing wildfire risk. Building to these standards before layering in energy upgrades means those upgrades are protected. Several green and sustainable construction programs also award credits or points for buildings that meet FORTIFIED standards, making the two approaches complementary in practice as well as in principle.

Energy Codes

The International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), developed by the International Code Council (ICC), sets minimum requirements for the design of energy-efficient building envelopes and the installation of energy-efficient mechanical, lighting, and power systems. It is designed to optimize resource use across all community types. SHA supports adopting strong energy codes alongside resilience standards as part of a comprehensive approach to building performance. Learn more about building codes.

Green Building and Energy Efficiency Programs

Several established programs can help homeowners, builders, and communities pursue energy-efficiency and green-construction goals.

EarthCraft

EarthCraft is a green building certification developed by Southface that provides a framework for healthy, comfortable, high-performance construction across the Southeast. EarthCraft homes use, on average, 30% less energy than a typical new home, with independent third-party verification confirming performance. Programs are available for single-family homes, multifamily buildings, light commercial buildings, and historic preservation projects. Learn More.

ENERGY STAR

ENERGY STAR has been identifying and promoting energy-efficient products, homes, and buildings since 1992. It covers everything from individual appliances to new home construction and commercial buildings, and serves as a baseline requirement for several higher-level certification programs. Learn More.

LEED

LEED certified buildings are resource-efficient, using less water and energy while reducing operating costs. LEED is one of the most widely recognized green building rating systems in the world and applies to virtually all building types and project sizes. Learn More.

National Green Building Standard (NGBS)

The National Green Building Standard is the only ANSI-approved green building standard developed specifically for residential construction, covering single-family homes, multifamily buildings, remodeling projects, and land development. Administered by Home Innovation Research Labs in partnership with NAHB and ICC, the 2025 NGBS includes a +Resilience certification track that recognizes above-code resilience practices, including FORTIFIED, as part of a comprehensive high-performance building approach. Learn More.

DOE Zero Energy Ready Home

The DOE Zero Energy Ready Home program sets rigorous efficiency and performance criteria for high-performance residential construction, verified by a qualified third party. Certified homes are so energy-efficient that a renewable energy system could offset most or all of the home's annual energy use. Certified homes are eligible for the federal 45L tax credit of up to $5,000 per home for homes acquired before July 1, 2026. Learn More.

Resources

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