The NAHB Research Center has started designating products as “Green Approved” and linking them to “green practices” in the NAHB scoring tool of their standard. This product approval serves as a first step toward certification under the new National Green Building Standard. The approval indicates that the product is eligible for earning points if the product is used according to the requirements in the standard. Manufacturers pay a fee to have their products listed as “Green Approved”. But it is important to note too that a residential building can receive certification without using any Green Approved products. Having the approval does simplify the process and reduce the cost of having products verified by other third-party organizations.