Sales of newly-built, single-family homes fell 7.6% on a monthly basis in August to a 609,000 seasonally adjusted annual rate according to estimates from the Census Bureau and HUD. However, the monthly change masks the fact that the August pace of new home sales was the second strongest since the end of the Great Recession.
Read more at NAHB Eye On Housing
As 2017 budgeting shifts into high gear, data, metrics, and measures–new as well as proven–become critical guides to survival and thriving.
Read more at BUILDER
This past spring the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) approved revisions to the NFRC 100 and 200 standards that incorporates a new optional simplified simulated door rating method for U-factor, SHGC, and Visible Transmittance (VT). These revisions will be held in abeyance until NFRC’s 2018 ANSI document updates. In the meantime NFRC is seeking input on program implementation requirements for the SDR method. NFRC is asking its certification program participants as well as members to provide their feedback by responding to specific survey questions by no later than Friday, September 30th. The survey link can be found in NFRC’s September 23rd Bulletin.
The Simplified Door Rating (SDR) Method was developed by NFRC’s Door Task Group, of which WMA is a member, and involves modeling doorglass assemblies and door slabs separately. This provides a pre-hanger with a simplified means of obtaining a rating for a side-hinged exterior door system (SHEDS) that uses a doorglass assembly from one supplier and a door slab from another. Products eligible for the SDR method are skinned doors slabs; wood stile and rail doors; sidelite slabs; and composite assemblies comprised of a door slab with a sidelite slab within a single frame.
In this section we highlight the WMA 2016 Exhibitors featuring Door products.
At the conclusion of its meeting, the Federal Open Market Committee announced it decided not to raise interest rates in September.
While the committee said that the case for an increased has strengthened, they decided to wait for further evidence on continued progress towards its objectives.
Read more at HOUSINGWIRE
U.S. home prices increased 0.5% in July, according to the monthly House Price Index released Thursday morning by the Federal Housing Finance Agency. Data used in the FHFA House Price Index are compiled from mortgages sold to, or guaranteed by, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and are available with a two-month lag.
Read more at BUILDER
NAHB’s analysis of August regional employment data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) shows that states with the highest annual growth rates of total construction employment are Iowa (18.68%), Hawaii (12.25%), and Colorado (11.31%). The total number of workers in construction reached 6.7 million nationwide, up by 3.13% annually. At the same time, the largest construction jobs gains happened in California (29,300), Florida (22,000), and Colorado (16,800).
Read more at NAHB Eye On Housing
According to EDIE (Environmental Data Interactive Exchange), “Energy and building sector professionals from across Europe have united to forge a ground-breaking new initiative which offers better borrowing rates on mortgages for homebuyers that commit to purchasing more energy-efficient homes or carrying out energy-saving retrofits within properties.” A new European Energy Efficiency Mortgage was launched yesterday (September 20th) at the World Green Building Council’s “Build Upon” summit in Madrid, Spain. The project is being spearheaded by the European Mortgage Federation – European Covered Bond Council (EMF-ECBC), and includes such partners as the European Regional Network of Green Building Councils, E.ON, and SAFE Goethe University Frankfurt. EDIE reports that according to the World Green Building Council (WGBC) “offering such a private financing mechanism to encourage energy efficiency improvements for households could prove crucial in helping the EU to meet its energy-saving target of 20% by 2020.” Read More in EDIE >
In ConstructionDIVE, editor Hallie Busta reports that the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) along with a coalition of other industry groups including Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) filed a lawsuit on Tuesday, September 20th, against the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) for its Overtime Rule. The lawsuit “claims that the DOL overstepped its statutory reaches by raising the minimum salary for exempted employees.” The final overtime rule was released May 18th. Industry groups as well as local and state governments are saying the rule will limit employers pay flexibility, and will ultimately force them to cut hours rather than pay out more. Read More in ConstructionDiIVE >
For the third year in a row, the launch of Climate Week NYC will be marked by the Empire State Building turning green on the evening of Monday, Sept. 19. The iconic moment has become a core part of Climate Week NYC, drawing the city’s attention to the various events taking part in New York throughout the week, according to The Climate Group.
The building, completed in 1931, has recently undergone an energy efficiency retrofit, leading to energy savings of 38 percent and $4.4 million annually and the lights that will illuminate the top floors of the famous tower are computer-driven light-emitting diode (LED) system. Read More at Proud Green Building
World Millwork Alliance (WMA) 54 TH Annual Convention & Tradeshow will hold its’ premier event at the Memphis Cook Convention Center from September 11-15, 2018. WMA will offer Veterans and Students complimentary access to the exhibit hall during Millwork Career Day on Friday, September 14, 2018 during the show hours of 10:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
WMA welcomes Veterans and Students to explore a career in the millwork industry. Learn from worldwide millwork professionals while viewing the finest millwork products. Meet with industry distributors and manufacturers about the opportunities in a millwork career.
Pre-registration for a name badge is available by completing a WMA Registration Form. Any local Student or Veteran who has pre-registered will pick up their complimentary “Expo – One Day Pass” with a valid student ID or Veteran ID at the WMA registration desk in the Memphis Cook Convention Center.
Veterans must show a Veteran’s Administration (VA) identification card to receive an “Expo-One Day Pass” and to gain entrance into the exhibit hall on Friday, September 14, 2018.
Students must show a valid Student photo I.D. card to receive an “Expo-One Day Pass” and to gain entrance into the exhibit hall on Friday, September 14, 2018.
Pre-registration is open until August 13, 2018; thereafter, registration is onsite at the WMA registration desk in the Memphis Cook Convention Center.
