Yearly Archives: 2016

The Mortgage Industry Standards Maintenance Organization (MISMO®) has released a new proposed data standard for the exchange of rent roll information on commercial property. The proposed standard is open for public comment. The public comment period will remain open from Monday, December 12, 2016 through Friday, January 13, 2017. The proposed rent roll standard is expected to be elevated to Candidate Recommendation status shortly thereafter

The National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty (the Law Center) announced a major victory that will create housing for people experiencing homelessness by using surplus federal property. The Law Center worked with a bipartisan coalition in Congress on the Federal Assets Sale and Transfer Act of 2016 (FAST Act), which reforms how the federal government disposes of its property, including property for homeless services under Title V. The FAST Act (H.R. 4465) passed the U.S. House of Representatives in May of 2016, and then passed the U.S. Senate by unanimous consent on December 10, 2016. The bill is expected to be signed into law.

The United States solar market just shattered all previous quarterly solar photovoltaic (PV) installation records. According to GTM Research and the Solar Energy Industries Association’s (SEIA) Q4 2016 U.S. Solar Market Insight report, 4,143 megawatts (MW) of solar PV were installed in the U.S. in the third quarter of the year, a rate of one MW every 32 minutes. That pace is even faster today, as the fourth quarter will surpass this past quarter’s historic total.

The Fisher House offers unique accommodations when a family member is receiving treatment at a VA medical center or military hospital. Located near the medical center or hospital, Fisher Houses offer the comforts of home at no cost to families while treatment is underway. To enable Fisher Houses to expand their good work, Department of Veterans Affairs’ Secretary Robert A. McDonald recommended 14 VA medical centers become priority sites for future Fisher Houses

The National Institute of Building Sciences Building Seismic Safety Council (BSSC) will host, under the sponsorship of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), a new 2017 webinar series focused on construction materials addressed in the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP) publications.

Take part in a special session to help build the future workforce during Building Innovation 2017—the National Institute of Building Sciences Fifth Annual Conference & Expo. On Day 1 of the Conference, Monday, January 9, 2017, at 3:30 pm, attendees can participate in a presentation of the Institute’s Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Education Program and the Future Workforce Program to discover ways to inspire, engage, educate and employ the next generation of building industry professionals.

U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), ranking member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, made the following statement on the formation of Breakthrough Energy Ventures, an investor-led fund that will invest more than $1 billion in early stage and growth companies for clean technologies

The Justice Department filed a lawsuit today against Culpeper County, Virginia, alleging that the county violated the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act of 2000 (RLUIPA) when it denied a sewage permit application to the Islamic Center of Culpeper (ICC), effectively preventing the ICC from building a small mosque on land that it had purchased in the county.  The land is located in a zoning district where religious land use is permitted by right

U.S. Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz released the following statement regarding the announcement by the Breakthrough Energy Coalition (BEC) that the investor group has officially established a new investment fund. The fund, called Breakthrough Energy Ventures (BEV), will invest more than $1 billion of patient capital in early stage clean energy

The Bowser Administration announced major enhancements to the District’s homebuyer programs, including increased financial assistance and longer loan payback periods, giving District residents who are first-time homebuyers more purchasing power and a greater pathway to homeownership.

The National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC) just released Opportunities to End Homelessness and Housing Poverty in a Trump Administration—a transition memo to the incoming administration on steps it should take to end homelessness and housing poverty in America.

U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Julián Castro today announced that five communities across the U.S. will receive more than a combined $132 million to redevelop severely distressed public or assisted housing and revitalize surrounding neighborhoods.

The Board of Directors of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) selected Ron Miller and Katharine Weymouth to serve as Public Directors. In their new roles, Miller and Weymouth will provide knowledge and advice to the AIA Board

Acting Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy David Friedman announced that the American Institute of Chemical Engineers will lead the tenth Manufacturing USA Institute to be stood up during the Obama Administration. This announcement represents a critical step in the Administration’s effort to double U.S. energy productivity by 2030. Acting Assistant Secretary Friedman announced the new institute at the U.S. Council on Competitiveness’ 2016 National Competitiveness Forum

U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), ranking member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, urged her colleagues to encourage the U.S. House of Representatives to take up the consensus agreement on energy and natural resources legislation

If you plan to stay over in Washington, D.C., next month to attend Building Innovation 2017: The National Institute of Building Sciences Fifth Annual Conference and Expo, Collaborating for a High-Performing Future, January 9-12, 2017, at the Mandarin Oriental, today is your last day to reserve your room and guarantee the low rate and availability.

On December 3, a devastating fire damaged and destroyed many homes in Cambridge.  Just-A-Start, our partner in affordable housing and community development, owns St. Patrick's Place, an affordable housing development that was damaged by the fire. Unfortunately, 32 families living in this development were affected, many of whom lost everything in the fire.