State and Local Reporter - 07/09/2007  (Plain Text Version)

Thomas Woods, Chair
Independence, Missouri

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In this issue:
States Taking Immigration Reform Into Their Own Hands
NAHB to Launch Green Home Certification Program
NAHB State & Local Issues Fund Provides Assistance to HBAs
New Funding Grants for Local Litigation
U.S. Metro Economies Study
FEC Maps Out Finance Database of Who’s Giving to Whom
Mayors Climate Protection Efforts
State Highway Performance Ranked
Arizona Legislation Forces Major Impact Fee Reform
$1 Million Still Available in ‘Buy Now’ Grant Funds, Apply Today
NAHB Research Center to Help Move New Products Into Housing Market

Mayors Climate Protection Efforts

Last April and May, mayors of 134 cities responded to a survey conducted by the U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCOM) Climate Protection Center on climate protection efforts. The respondents represent more than 25 million people in 36 states in cities that ranged in size from Los Angeles (3,694,820) to Milan, Minn. (326).

The mayors of these cities also are among the 540 cities that have signed on to the USCOM Climate Protection Agreement.

Among the key findings are:

• Nearly nine of 10 cities require, or anticipate requiring in the next year, that new city government buildings be energy efficient, healthy and environmentally sustainable.  Specifically, 60% of the cities currently have such a policy in place; another 28% anticipate they will adopt such a policy in the next year.
  
  
• 87% of the cities require, or anticipate requiring in the next year, that city government buildings undergoing major rehabilitation be energy efficient, healthy and environmentally sustainable. Fifty-six precent have such a policy in place; another 31% anticipate they will adopt such a policy in the next year.
  
  
• Nearly three of four cities have changed, or are in the process of changing, their residential and commercial building codes and/or ordinances to encourage construction of new buildings that are energy efficient, healthy, and environmentally sustainable. Forty-one percent of cities have already made these changes and another one-third are in the process of doing so.
  
  
• Two of three cities have changed, or are in the process of changing, their residential and commercial building codes and/or ordinances to encourage that buildings undergoing major rehabilitation be energy efficient, healthy, and environmentally sustainable.  Specifically, 36% have already made these changes in their building codes or ordinances; another 31% are in the process of doing so.
  
  
• 78% of cities are undertaking efforts to encourage the private sector to construct buildings that are energy efficient, healthy and use sustainable building techniques.
  
  
• 88% of the cities are undertaking efforts to educate the public about the importance of making buildings energy efficient, healthy, and environmentally sustainable.

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