Yearly Archives: 2016

On March 29, the U.S. General Services Administration’s (GSA) Public Buildings Service (PBS) Commissioner Norman Dong announced the disposal of the Cotton Annex, a property in a prime location in the District of Columbia. GSA is an economic catalyst for cities and communities across the country. Moving underutilized properties out of the federal inventory allows for local use that may better promote economic growth

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) are honoring 149 businesses and organizations in 35 states for their commitment to saving energy and protecting the environment through superior energy efficiency achievements. Recipients of the 2016 Energy Star Partner of the Year Award include Beazer Homes, The Home Depot and Verizon.

Housing Development Center is pleased to welcome Meredith Bowie as director of finance and operations (as we say a fond goodbye to her predecessor, Deb Constans, who will retire at the end of this week). Previously director of finance and operations for the Monterey Museum of Art in California, Meredith brings extensive knowledge and experience in nonprofit accounting and fiscal and operations management to this essential leadership role.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is honoring Kenton County School District in Ft. Wright, Kentucky for their commitment to saving energy and protecting the environment through superior energy efficiency achievements. The school system is one of 149 businesses and organizations in 35 states to receive the honor. Recipients of the 2016 Energy Star Partner of the Year Award include Beazer Homes, The Home Depot and Verizon

Think of spring break and high school students think of time off to relax away from their daily studies or participate in extracurricular activities. On Tuesday, March 29, 32 8th–12th graders from Montgomery and Prince George’s counties are spending part of their spring break at WSSC’s Engineering Academy, diving head first into the world of water – a water utility, that is.

KTGY represented the project through the City’s Design Review process including preparation and processing a Specific Plan Amendment, Design Review Committee Review, and outreach to neighbors, students, historic advocacy groups, and community leaders

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced today the award of $784,421 in Specially Adapted Housing Assistive Technology (SAHAT) Grants to eligible individuals, researchers, and organizations to develop new technologies that would enhance Veterans and Servicemembers’ ability to live in specially adapted homes. The SAHAT Grant Program was authorized by Congress to design assistive technologies to expand home modification options for Veterans who apply for VA’s Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) benefit. Grants of up to $200,000 have been issued to four selected grantees.

With the installation of 900,000 communicating electric meters and 100,000 gas communication modules, Consumers Energy continues to invest in new technology to benefit its residential and business customers. The project will be completed next year, when 1.8 million customers have access to more information and control over how they use their energy

The National Institute of Building Sciences Building Seismic Safety Council (BSSC) will host a webinar Thursday, April 28, from 2:00 to 3:00 pm ET, highlighting content in the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program’s (NEHRP) 2015 NEHRP Recommended Seismic Provisions and ASCE/SEI 7-16, Minimum Design Loads for Buildings and Other Structures.

Last week, House Financial Services Committee Ranking Member Maxine Waters (D-CA) introduced the Ending Homelessness Act of 2016, H.R. 4888, which would provide $13.27 billion over five years to housing and services programs with the goal of ending homelessness in America. Announcing her new legislation, Representative Waters argued that homelessness is not an insurmountable problem but requires “the political will to put the necessary resources behind the solutions we know will work” and called on DemocrAn independent group of housing industry experts recently released a report proposing a plan for overhauling the Government-Sponsored Enterprises (GSEs) Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

Last week, House Financial Services Committee Ranking Member Maxine Waters (D-CA) introduced the Ending Homelessness Act of 2016, H.R. 4888, which would provide $13.27 billion over five years to housing and services programs with the goal of ending homelessness in America. Announcing her new legislation, Representative Waters argued that homelessness is not an insurmountable problem but requires “the political will to put the necessary resources behind the solutions we know will work” and called on Democrats and Republicans to come together to end the homelessness crisis through increased resources.

On March 24, the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC) released its 2016 report focusing on the gap between the number of extremely low-income (ELI; households with incomes at 30 percent of area median income or less) and the number of affordable housing units available to them. According to NLIHC’s The Affordable Housing Gap Analysis 2016, there are just 31 units affordable and available to every 100 ELI households nationwide—a shortfall of 7.2 million units.

On March 25, 2016, the District of Columbia Housing Finance Agency (DCHFA) closed a tax exempt bond transaction that supports Mayor Muriel Bowser’s goal “to make homelessness, rare, brief and nonrecurring by 2020” by providing a portion of the $17.5 million cost to rehabilitate N Street Village (NSV).

Background: OSHA's continuing partnership with the association, which represents more than 800 union and non-union construction companies throughout Missouri, eastern Kansas and parts of Nebraska, will emphasize reducing injury and illness in the top four construction industry hazards - falls, struck-by, caught-in/between and electrocutions*. The initiative also places emphasis on training workers to recognize amputation and machine hazards at contractor-associated fabrication shops. These are among the most frequently cited OSHA violations.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency awarded $329,650 to the University of Nevada, Las Vegas to research human and ecological health impacts associated with water reuse and conservation practices. Nationally, $3.3 million was awarded to five institutions nationwide for water reuse and conservation research.

The National Institute of Building Sciences Off-Site Construction Council (OSCC) conducted a survey in the summer of 2015 to identify the types, frequency of use and effectiveness of software platforms being utilized by the off-site construction sector. TheReport of the Results of the 2015 Off-Site Construction Industry Survey of Software Usage, which OSCC released this week at World of Modular in San Diego, California, is now available for download.

The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) announced today that it has hired Evelyn Butler to run the trade association’s Codes & Standards work. Butler comes to SEIA after serving as business development director of Solar/PV, energy and power technologies for UL, a company where she has held several leadership roles for more than 25 years. There, she managed a team that worked with senior internal and external executives to successfully develop business strategies for the energy sector

The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) announced the creation of the Task Force for a Future Secondary Mortgage Market. This Task Force was created with the objective of developing a proposal that will address the future of the Secondary Mortgage Market, and in particular, an end-state model that can also fulfill an affordable housing/duty to serve mission. The Task Force anticipates completing this proposal by the end of the year

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency awarded $749,631 to the University of California, Riverside to study the human and ecological health impacts of water reuse and conservation practices. University researchers will use the funds to measure levels of contaminants in vegetables irrigated with treated wastewater. Nationally, $3.3 million was awarded to five institutions nationwide for water reuse and conservation research.

This morning a federal court upheld an Oregon law restricting motorized gold mining in and along sensitive salmon streams. The District of Oregon court held that the State of Oregon has the right to regulate both state and federal land to protect water quality and fish habitat, and that it has done so in a manner that does not conflict with federal law.