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Housing Affordability Registers Slight Uptick in First Quarter
Rising wages and moderating home prices offset a rise in mortgage interest rates to give housing affordability a slight boost in the first quarter of 2017, according to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)/Wells Fargo Housing Opportunity Index (HOI) released today.
Composite Steel, Concrete Structures Focus of June BSSC Webinar
The National Institute of Building Sciences Building Seismic Safety Council (BSSC) will host the fourth webinar in its 2017 series sponsored by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The free webinar, “Seismic Design of Composite Steel and Concrete Structures,” will be held Friday, June 2, 2017, from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm ET (11:00 am to 12:00 pm PT).
AWWA encourages getting the lead out during Drinking Water Week
As Drinking Water Week continues, the American Water Works Association and water professionals across North America are encouraging households to identify and replace lead-based water pipes and plumbing.
AWWA encourages ‘getting to know and love’ tap water during Drinking Water Week
The American Water Works Association and water professionals across North America are kicking off Drinking Water Week today with the theme “Your Water – To Know It Is To Love It”.
Alliance To Save Energy Honors Morocco, U.S. Senators With Energy Efficiency Visionary Awards
The Alliance to Save Energy honored King Mohammed VI of Morocco and U.S. Sens. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., and Rob Portman, R-Ohio, with EE Visionary Awards recognizing pioneering leadership in energy efficiency.
National Institute of Building Sciences Becomes ICC Preferred Provider
As an authoritative source of innovative solutions for the built environment, the Institute offers many continuing education opportunities for code officials and other members of the building industry to expand their awareness
New NAHB Publication Shows Builders and Remodelers How to Earn Greater Profits
BuilderBooks, the publishing arm of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) recently released a new publication, Finding Hidden Profits: A Guide for Custom Builders, Remodelers, and Architects.
Energy Department Challenged on Biased Grid Study
Six groups today sent a letter to Secretary of Energy Rick Perry challenging the biased premise of a recently announced study of grid reliability. Theoretically an investigation into the retirement of baseload power plants, the proposed study is better understood as a political attack on renewable energy, including current modest incentives for wind and solar.
Plastic Pollution at Four Coastal California Hotspots Violates Clean Water Act
San Francisco Bay and at least three other California coastlines suffer severe plastic pollution that violates the federal Clean Water Act, according to an appeal the Center for Biological Diversity has filed with the California State Water Resources Control Board.
Alliance To Save Energy Opens Global Efficiency Conference
The Alliance to Save Energy opened the 10th Energy Efficiency Global Forum Monday with the release of a new blueprint for achieving significant increases in building efficiency by focusing on building systems.
BOMA 360 PERFORMANCE PROGRAM WELCOMES LARGEST FIRST QUARTER CLASS OF DESIGNEES
The Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) International’s BOMA 360 Performance Program®? welcomed the largest first quarter class of designees in the program’s history, conferring designations upon 78 commercial
CONSTRUCTION EMPLOYMENT INCREASES BY 5,000 IN APRIL TO HIGHEST LEVEL IN NINE YEARS; BUT...
Association Officials Note that Many Firms Report They Are Struggling to Find Qualified Workers to Hire, Urge Greater Investment in Career and Technical Education and Other Construction Prep Programs
Commercial/Multifamily Borrowing Up 9 Percent from Last Year
According to the Mortgage Bankers Association's (MBA) Quarterly Survey of Commercial/Multifamily Mortgage Bankers Originations, first quarter 2017 commercial and multifamily mortgage loan originations increased 9 percent compared to the same period last year, and in line with the seasonality of market, first quarter originations were twenty-seven percent lower than the fourth quarter of 2016
Mortgage Credit Availability Decreases Slightly in April
Mortgage credit availability decreased in April according to the Mortgage Credit Availability Index (MCAI), a report from the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) which analyzes data from Ellie Mae's AllRegs® Market Clarity® business information tool.
Municipal Clean Water Utilities Find Plenty to Support in Newly-Passed Omnibus Spending Bill
The National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA) applauds Congress and the Trump Administration on the Omnibus spending bill passed today to keep the Federal Government funded through September, as it includes funding for several of the public clean water sector’s most important priorities.
SEIA Applaud’s Sen. Wyden’s Technology-Neutral Legislation
The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) today commended Finance Committee Ranking Democrat Ron Wyden (D-OR) for reintroducing his legislation to provide a technology-neutral approach to smart, job-creating incentives for the deployment of clean energy. Following is a statement from SEIA’s president and CEO, Abigail Ross Hopper:
Solar Industry Applauds Florida Legislature for Passing Pro-Consumer Solar Legislation
The Florida Legislature passed Senate Bill 90, sending the bill to Governor Rick Scott. The measure implements Amendment 4 of 2016, which Florida citizens approved with 73 percent of the vote last August. The measure reduces tax barriers for Floridians who want to go solar, while also ensuring proper consumer protections are in place.
IBTS to Deliver Mobile Workshop on Super Storm Sandy Recovery
The Institute for Building Technology and Safety (IBTS), a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, will deliver a mobile workshop during the 2017 American Planning Association’s (APA) National Planning Conference. This workshop will provide a firsthand look at one of the communities most acutely impacted by Super Storm Sandy and the processes involved in its rebuild
Statement from NAHB Chairman Granger MacDonald on House Passage of Health Care Bill
Granger MacDonald, chairman of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and a home builder and developer from Kerrville, Texas, today issued the following statement after the House passed H.R. 1628, the American Health Care Act of 2017
Builder Confidence in the 55+ Housing Market Remains Positive Despite Drop in the First...
Despite a 12-point drop from the previous quarter, builder confidence in the single-family 55+ housing market remains in positive territory for the first quarter of 2017 with a reading of 55, according to the National Association of Home Builders' (NAHB) 55+ Housing Market Index (HMI) released today. This is the 12th consecutive quarter with a reading above 50, which means that more builders view conditions as good than poor.
