Fannie Mae’s green bond program to spur efficiency upgrades may be falling far short of its goals, according to analysis by Grist.
A Grist report says that about 1,600 of the 3,800 properties that had loans packaged into “green” mortgage-backed securities saw improvement in their energy scores within a median period of about two years. But more than 800 properties that the online publication examined saw lower or identical energy scores in the most recent data year compared to their scores at loan issuance.
“Whether or not Fannie Mae’s green bonds program is driving significant decarbonization and efficiency improvements is very much an open question,” Grist says. “The value of the program is unclear even in cases where energy savings did improve: About a fifth of the buildings enrolled from 2016 through 2019 performed worse than the median U.S. building even after fulfilling program requirements.”
Another criticism: Participation is highest in states and cities that already have stringent building energy efficiency codes. That means some of these building owners may have pursued green improvements without Fannie Mae’s incentives.
Related Stories
| Sep 1, 2011
Project Aims to Automate Code Compliance Assessment
FIATECH, a consortium of owners from the industrial, power, and retail markets that build large structures, launched a project this year to validate the use of automation technology for code compliance assessment, and to accelerate the regulatory approval process using building models. Long-term objectives include the development of an extensive, open-source rule set library that is approved by industry and regulatory bodies for use by technology developers and code officials.
| Sep 1, 2011
EPA Says Additional Lead Paint Cleaning Rules Not Necessary
The EPA has concluded that current Lead: Renovation, Repair, and Painting Program (LRRP) cleaning requirements and lead-safe work regulations are sufficient to protect the public from lead dust hazards. “Our members have been instrumental in contacting legislators to detail the detrimental impact of the current LRRP," says Richard Walker, American Architectural Manufacturers Association’s president and CEO. “This collective industry voice has prompted the EPA to make the responsible decision to refrain from adding further, unnecessary costs to homeowners under the current economic climate."http://www.aamanet.org/news/1/10/0/all/603/aama-commends-its-members-congress-for-vacating-lrrp-clearance-rule
| Aug 11, 2010
Best AEC Firms of 2011/12
Later this year, we will launch Best AEC Firms 2012. We’re looking for firms that create truly positive workplaces for their AEC professionals and support staff. Keep an eye on this page for entry information. +