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ULI to Use National Survey to Help Local Leaders Better Understand Resident Preferences, Build...
The Urban Land Institute (ULI), a global research and education institute dedicated to leadership in land use, is launching a new initiative to help four U.S. cities – Charlotte, N.C.; Detroit, Philadelphia and San Jose, Calif. – better understand what people value in their communities in order to build more livable, successful cities. The initiative will connect the national results of ULI’s biannual survey of consumers regarding housing, transportation and communities to local data and regional trends for each of the cities to help them plan for the future.
NHC encourages states to use energy efficiency in affordable housing to meet federal goals
With the federal Clean Power Plan rule coming soon, states will have to begin planning for how to meet federal requirements to reduce carbon emissions. Housing should play a role in those plans because the built environment offers ways to not only reduce pollution but also reduce energy costs, improve health and make housing more affordable. The National Housing Conference (NHC) urges states and housing stakeholders to ensure that energy efficiency in affordable housing becomes a part of every state’s plan.
Formerly homeless seniors thrive at affordable housing community
EAH Housing and Community Solutions are working together to change the lives of formerly homeless residents at Bella Terra apartments. "It's a big difference from then to now. It's like going from nothing to making your life better and that's all I've been doing. Living here is a whole big change, I feel free," said William Miller, 58, who spent more than a decade living homeless.
Peoples’ Self-Help Housing Appoints New IT Administrator
Davis Foley has been appointed as the Information Technology (IT) Help Desk Coordinator/Systems Administrator at the nonprofit Peoples’ Self-Help Housing for its operations in San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Ventura counties, PSHH President/CEO John Fowler has announced. PSHH is an affordable housing and services provider headquartered in San Luis Obispo
Wind energy lowest-cost solution for meeting the Clean Power Plan
American wind power can help states affordably and reliably comply with the pending Clean Power Plan to cut carbon pollution from power plants, with independent studies confirming wind will play the largest role in the lowest-cost compliance mix.
BOMA INTERNATIONAL CELEBRATES 25 YEARS OF ACCESSIBILITY IN COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE
The Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) International is pleased to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). In the more than two decades since the landmark legislation was signed into law, prohibiting discrimination on the basis of disability and guaranteeing the rights of people with disabilities, BOMA International has continued to serve as an industry leader in supporting the efforts of building owners and managers to improve the accessibility of commercial properties.
Refinance Applications Increase in Latest MBA Weekly Survey
Mortgage applications increased 0.8 percent from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association's (MBA) Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending July 24, 2015
Industry Pans GAO Plan for HUD to Oversee LIHTC
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report on July 23 recommending that HUD and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) jointly oversee the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program. The recommendation came as GAO criticized the IRS’ lack of oversight of the program. This includes the fact that the IRS has only conducted seven audits of the 56 state housing finances agencies that administer the program.
Pending Home Sales Dip in June
After five consecutive months of increases, pending home sales slipped in June but remained near May's level, which was the highest in over nine years, according to the National Association of Realtors®. Modest gains in the Northeast and West were offset by larger declines in the Midwest and South.
CHAPA Action Alert! Contact your Legislator to Help Override Governor Baker’s Vetoes of Affordable...
Last week, Governor Baker signed the FY2016 State Budget(link is external). He also issued vetoes(link is external) affecting important affordable housing, community development, and homelessness prevention programs.
Existing-Home Sales Rise in June as Home Prices Surpass July 2006 Peak
Existing-home sales increased in June to their highest pace in over eight years, while the cumulative effect of rising demand and limited supply helped push the national median sales price to an all-time high, according to the National Association of Realtors®. All major regions experienced sales gains in June and have now risen above year-over-year levels for six consecutive months.
American wind power continues to ramp up in 2015
With 1,661 megawatts (MW) of newly installed wind turbines coming online during the second quarter of 2015 and more than 13,600 MW under construction, American wind power continues to increase its contribution to the U.S. electric power grid. The approval in May of Florida’s first purchase of wind energy, from a wind project in Oklahoma, added to the growing trend of Southeastern states purchasing wind power, as did the recent announcement of the first utility-scale wind farm to be built in North Carolina.
HUD AND DEPARTMENT OF LABOR LAUNCH TRAINING CURRICULUM FOR HIV/AIDS HOUSING AND SERVICE PROVIDERS
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Office of HIV/AIDS Housing, in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), today unveiled a new training curriculum for HIV/AIDS housing and service providers focused on employment services.
USGBC Announces International Rankings of Top 10 Countries for LEED Green Building
the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) announced its international rankings of the Top 10 Countries for LEED, the world’s most widely used and recognized green building rating system. The Top 10 list highlights countries outside of the U.S. that are making significant strides in sustainable building design, construction and transformation, illustrating the ever-growing international demand for LEED green buildings. The announcement comes at a time of increased international focus on climate change mitigation in the lead up to the United Nation’s COP21 climate negotiations this Decembe
CONSTRUCTION BEGINS ON PERMANENT HOUSING FOR HOMELESS VETERANS IN DANVILLE
Dr. Jacobsen Patient, Cloydia Larimore 1/23/14(DANVILLE, Ill.) – Mercy Housing Lakefront, Danville Housing Authority, and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs joined with community members and supporters to celebrate the ground breaking of new permanent supportive housing for homeless veterans.
Existing-Home Sales Rise in June as Home Prices Surpass July 2006 Peak
Existing-home sales increased in June to their highest pace in over eight years, while the cumulative effect of rising demand and limited supply helped push the national median sales price to an all-time high, according to the National Association of Realtors®. All major regions experienced sales gains in June and have now risen above year-over-year levels for six consecutive months.
IBTS Announces the Release of NREL’s SAPC Best Practices in PV System Installation
In partnership with the Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory, IBTS led the Solar Access to Public Capital (SAPC) working group to develop the SAPC Best Practices in PV System Installation. The working group consists of over 425 industry leaders, including solar developers, financiers and capital managers, law firms, rating agencies, accounting and engineering firms and other involved in solar asset deployment.
News IBTS Awarded Role in HUD’s Manufactured Home Dispute Resolution Program
WASHINGTON, D.C. - December 17, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Institute for Building Technology and Safety (IBTS) is proud to announce our role in HUD’s Manufactured Home Dispute Resolution Program. On October 7, 2014, IBTS participated in the official kickoff of this contract.
IBTS Is Recognized With A 2014 ENERGY STAR® Certified Homes Market Leader Award
WASHINGTON, D.C. - April 16, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- Institute for Building Technology and Safety (IBTS) is pleased to announce that it has been recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with as a 2014 ENERGY STAR Certified Homes Market Leader. This award recognizes the important contribution IBTS has made to energy-efficient construction and environmental protection by verifying more than 1,500 ENERGY STAR certified homes in 2013. Collectively, these homes will save homeowners approximately $450,000 on utility bills and reduce 5.6 million pounds of carbon dioxide each year
IBTS teams with Vanguard Emergency Management: Housing Inspection Services
WASHINGTON, D.C. - March 11, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has awarded a contract to Vanguard Emergency Management: Housing Inspection Services (Vanguard) to provide nationwide inspection assistance for residential buildings affected by disasters. Vanguard has selected the Institute for Building Technology and Safety (IBTS) as a subcontractor on this project. IBTS will be responsible for Quality Control and will conduct inspections that Vanguard will use to verify that initial inspections are compliant with Vanguard’s quality standards and FEMA’s expectations. Working with applicants and FEMA staff, IBTS will help to verify property loss – both real and personal. FEMA staff will conduct joint monitoring, accompanying IBTS on most, if not all, inspections
