Dive summary:

• Last year saw publication of an updated standard for residential green building, the 2012 ICC 700 National Green Building Standard, and the American National Standards Institute now has approved the process of creating the new rules and the result.
• Supporters of the new standard, a revision of the original 2007 version, say the new one is easier to use as well as using updated energy standards that raise the bar for green home building.
• Other changes that will benefit green builders are new sections on selecting well-designed building lots and on renovation and remodeling as steps toward higher green scores.

From the article:

"This is a huge deal for our industry," says NAHB immediate past chairman Barry Rutenberg, a builder from Gainesville, Fla. ...