News

Alaska

State News Week of May 5, 2014

QAP Deadlines

Minnesota: Minnesota Housing announced the availability of an estimated $70 million in funding through the 2014 consolidated Request for Proposals (RFP) and $12.5 million in 2015 Housing Tax Credits (Round 1).

New York

New York City’s $41 Billion, Decade Long Affordable Housing Plan

Early this week New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced his highly anticipated affordable housing plan entitled, “Housing New York: A Five-Borough, Ten-Year Plan”.

congress-capitol

Update: Senate, House Continue to Work on Tax Extenders Legislation

Story Update April 30, 2014: This past week, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), said that he will soon have the Senate vote on the EXPIRE Act. The bill made it out of the Senate Finance Committee with broad bipartisan support on April 3, and industry experts expect it to pass the full Senate with […]

NH&RA News

NCHMA Releases Frequently Asked Questions Document for Model Content Standards

The National Council of Housing Market Analysts (NCHMA) today released a new supporting document to the organization’s Model Content Standards for Rental Housing Market Studies (Model Content). NCHMA’s Model Content offer a set of recommendations for standardized terminology, content, and level of analysis for market studies.

congress-capitol

Renters Tax Credit Legislation Introduced in House

Representative Charles Rangel (D-NY) recently introduced the Renters Tax Credit Act of 2014 (HR 4479), which would provide a tax credit to apartment owners and lenders that subsidize the cost of lower rents for low-income households.

NH&RA News

Freddie Mac to Purchase and Securitize Tax-Exempt Multifamily Housing Loans

Freddie Mac recently announced a new initiative aimed at broadening the availability of financing for affordable rental properties financed with tax-exempt bonds, in order to keep rental housing affordable for low-income families. The Direct Purchase of Tax-Exempt Loans “program” will increase the liquidity needed for more affordable housing while creating investment opportunities for investors.

Greening Work Styles: An Analysis of Energy Behavior Programs in the Workplace

This report focuses on energy behavior programs in the workplace, which are designed and conducted by building owners and renters to reduce building energy use through change in employees’ attitudes and behaviors. Download

Developing a Focus for Green Building Occupant Training Materials

With the shift from conventional to green buildings a need emerges to train staff on how to work within them. Building occupants control many of the green building technologies, which makes it necessary to educate occupants on the difference between using a green building versus a conventional building in order to secure the green building’s […]

Common Ground Community Green Behavior Programs

In addition to our commitment to green design, Common Ground works to foster and promote healthy/green living and energy efficiency among the staff and tenants of our permanent supportive housing sites. Our goal is create a culture of self sufficiency as well as healthy living/green lifestyle among our tenant populations. Specifically, we work to offer […]

Changing Household Behaviors to Curb Climate Change: How Hard Can it Be?

he residential sector contributes over 20% of energy-related carbon dioxide emissions in the U.S. In an Environment article published two years ago, Gardner and Stern identified a short list of the 27 most effective actions U.S. households could take to decrease their contributions to climate change, suggesting that altering the selection and use of everyday […]

Buildings that learn – the role of building operators

Energy efficiency in buildings is dependent on many different factors; the material quality of the building, and the various technologies implemented. Nonetheless, the use and the users of buildings are also of great significance. This paper analyses building operators and their role in making buildings “work”. Building operators may be viewed as an important user […]

A Retrofit for Sustainability: Meeting Occupants’ Needs within Environmental Limits

The terms “Sustainable Development” and “Sustainable Building” are often overused and ill-defined. A refocus on the core meaning basically results in two requirements with regard to buildings: 1) stay within nature’s limits, and 2) design according to human needs. In this context, the socio-technical system “dwellers and building” not only has to be “green” but […]

[Page 213 of 442 ]