NIBS to Manage Sustainable Facilities Tool for Innovation

 The National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS) announced it has formally assumed management and development of the Sustainable Facilities Tool (SFTool), a widely respected digital platform originally developed by the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA). Moving forward, the platform will be known as the High Performance Building Guide (HPBG), a new name that reflects its expanded mission and continued evolution.

The announcement, made during the opening session of the 2025 Building Innovation conference, marks a significant strategic milestone in national efforts to modernize and strengthen the built environment supporting America’s federal missions.

This transition is more than just a change in ownership; it marks a significant expansion of NIBS’s role as the nation’s trusted facilitator of building science, innovation, and practical implementation. With the High Performance Building Guide now under NIBS leadership, federal agencies and industry partners will access improved, performance-oriented guidance to promote smarter, more sustainable decisions from design through delivery.

“We are proud to bring SFTool into the NIBS ecosystem,” said NIBS CEO George Guszcza. “This tool has already helped thousands of professionals navigate the complex process of building sustainably. Under our stewardship, it will become even more responsive to the evolving needs of federal agencies, contractors, and policymakers who are responsible for building facilities that are resilient, mission-ready, and cost-effective.”

Building Innovation is American Innovation

Federal infrastructure is under pressure from natural disasters, aging systems, workforce changes, and increasingly complex mission demands. SFTool’s transition to NIBS represents a strategic advancement in how America equips its public sector to respond.

NIBS will leverage its existing suite of national tools, including the Whole Building Design Guide (WBDG) and ProjNet, to deepen the High Performance Building Guide’s capabilities, ensure its long-term sustainability, and position it as a cornerstone resource for the design, procurement, and maintenance of high-performance federal facilities.

A Tool for National Priorities

The High Performance Building Guide will enable agencies and private sector partners to align building decisions with national priorities, including:

• Cost-effective infrastructure investment
• Increased facility resilience and operational continuity
• Domestic sourcing and “Buy American” compliance
• Long-term reduction in maintenance and operating costs
• Performance-based procurement and delivery

The High Performance Building Guide empowers users to weigh design tradeoffs, assess material and system impacts, and plan for durability, all within the context of evolving federal mandates and performance standards.

“This is about delivering infrastructure that performs,” said Guszcza. “The High Performance Building Guide helps ensure that every taxpayer dollar invested in federal buildings creates long-term value, protects mission continuity, and strengthens the systems our country depends on.”

 About the National Institute of Building Sciences

Created by an act of Congress in 1974 to be the nation’s authoritative source of findings and recommendations on the impact and improvement of the built environment for the American people.  At the National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS), we connect research, policy, and practical application to advance innovation in the built environment. Our mission is to create a safer, more resilient, and technologically advanced infrastructure that serves American communities and strengthens our nation’s future.

From shaping industry standards to guiding digital transformation, we empower building professionals, policymakers, and owners to make informed decisions that enhance sustainability, efficiency, and resilience. We convene experts across sectors to develop solutions that ensure construction, infrastructure, and disaster preparedness keep pace with evolving challenges.

Building American Innovation isn’t just our tagline—it’s our commitment. We foster collaboration between government, industry, and academia to drive forward-thinking strategies for resilient communities. Because at NIBS, we don’t just build structures, we build solutions.

For more information, visit nibs.org, [https://hpb.wbdg.org%20]hpb.wbdg.org or follow @bldgsciences on X, Facebook, and LinkedIn.