Green/Sustainable Housing

President Obama will release his administration’s FY-2013 budget proposal on Monday, February 13. In addition to proposing funding levels for critical affordable housing programs like Section 8 and HOME, the budget typically provides insight into administration policy proposals for the upcoming year.

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has released a report entitled “Better Buildings Through Executive Action” which is the second phase of a major effort by the organization and partners to encourage the Obama Administration to make full use of all available legal tools to improve the energy efficiency and sustainability of multifamily and commercial buildings.

Governor Jerry Brown of California recently released his proposed 2012-2013 budget for the State of California. In the budget, Brown proposed a major reorganization of the state’s Business, Transportation, and Housing (BTH) Agency which would separate the state’s transportation and housing initiatives.

NH&RA member firm, Gallagher Evelius & Jones LLP, has drafted an excellent summary of notable 2011 affordable housing policy changes for the Maryland Affordable Housing Coalition. The memo summarizes a number of federal and local policy changes impacting the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC), compliance issues, the New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC), New Issue Bond Program (NIBP) as well as Maryland specific programs. The entire text of the memorandum is provided below.

Maryland’s Public Service Commission (PSC) has ordered the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) to become the sole provider of weatherization and energy retrofitting programs for low income households throughout the state.

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) recently released a report which examined the effectiveness of the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP). The American Recovery & Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009 provided $5 billion to WAP to help low-income families make long-term energy efficiency improvements to their homes.

The U.S. Department of the Treasury yesterday updated its frequently asked questions regarding the beginning of construction for projects seeking payments through the Section 1603 program.

President Obama recently announced new commitments under the Better Buildings Initiative totaling nearly $4 billion in public and private investments. Unveiled by the Obama Administration in February 2011, the goal of the Better Buildings Initiative is to improve energy efficiency in commercial buildings by 20 percent by 2020.

HUD has issued a proposed rule to revise the energy audit requirements applicable to HUD’s public housing program. The rule clarifies the requirements, as well as identifies energy-efficient measures that need to be addressed in the audit and procedures for improved coordination with physical needs assessments.

NH&RA is pleased to present the PowerPoint presentations from the recent 2011 Fall Developers Forum (November 14-15) in Boston, Mass.

The California Tax Credit Allocation Committee (CTCAC) released a memo that announced updates have been made to the California Utility Allowance Calculator (CUAC), has answered some frequently asked questions regarding using the calculator for newly constructed tax credit developments and has updated submission requirements.

The Arkansas Development Finance Authority (ADFA) has published the Final 2012 Housing Credit Program Qualified Allocation Plan (QAP).