Green/Sustainable Housing

Missouri’s state legislature recently advanced a bill that modifies provisions of existing tax credit programs in a manner consistent with the recommendations of the Tax Credit Review Commission and establishes new tax incentive programs.

The Center for Housing Policy has released a new guide that focuses on strategies and policies to improve overall housing affordability by reducing both housing and transportation costs. The guide features five policy sections which can each be adopted in order to assure housing is affordable to families of all incomes in areas with ample and reliable transportation options.

The American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE) has released a white paper entitled, “Energy Efficiency Finance 101: Understanding the Marketplace.”

On July 18, U.S. Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) unveiled a massive deficit reduction plan that calls for slashing federal spending, including for housing programs, and eliminating tax credit programs that promote affordable housing and community development, historic preservation, and renewable energy production.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has published a final rule to implement an update to the baseline Federal energy efficiency performance standards for the construction of new Federal buildings.

NH&RA Member and Council for Energy Friendly Affordable Housing Steering Committee member Recap Real Estate Advisors has issued a new study on behalf of Living Cities titled “Multifamily Utility Usage Data: Issues and Opportunities.”

NH&RA is pleased to offer .PDF versions of the PowerPoint slides presented at the 2011 Summer Institute & New Markets Tax Credit Symposium.

Recognizing the need for affordable housing near public transit, the Arizona Department of Housing has partnered with the cities of Mesa, Tempe and Phoenix, the Department of Transportation, the Metro light rail, Arizona State University, community leaders and others to create the Sustainable Communities Working Group.

The U.S. Department of the Treasury has released specific cost benchmarks for applicants to the Section 1603 grant program.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is soliciting public comments by September 18 on a proposed rule that would revise current requirements for physical needs assessments (PNAs) for public housing properties.

The National Housing & Rehabilitation Association’s, together with NH&RA’s Historic Preservation Development Council (HPDC) and Council for Energy Friendly Affordable Housing (CEFAH), sent a letter recently to the National Park Service commenting on its recently issued Illustrated Guidelines on Sustainability for Rehabilitation Historic Buildings.

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) today announced that LEED Volume Program for operations & Maintenance is now available for existing green building projects.