As the price of board lumber reaches an historic high, the National Association of Home Builders has increased pressure on the Biden Administration to rein in lumber costs.
The recent jump in prices has added nearly $36,000 to the price of an average new single-family home and $119 a month to rent a new apartment, according to NAHB estimates. NAHB officials recently met virtually with White House staff from the Domestic Policy Council, National Economic Council, and the Office of the Vice President.
The discussion included mill capacity issues, mill worker shortages, and the impact of lumber prices on the housing affordability crisis. NAHB said the Biden Administration was noncommittal on the requests, but open to future discussion.
NAHB previously held discussions with congressional leaders and administration officials, and the organization has encourage local chapters to lobby on a grassroots level. The lumber shortage and high costs are expected to persist until new sawmills come online and existing mills re-open and ramp up to full capacity.
Related Stories
Affordable Housing | Mar 11, 2024
Los Angeles’s streamlined approval policies leading to boom in affordable housing plans
Since December 2022, Los Angeles’s planning department has received plans for more than 13,770 affordable units. The number of units put in the approval pipeline in roughly one year is just below the total number of affordable units approved in Los Angeles in 2020, 2021, and 2022 combined.
Codes and Standards | Mar 7, 2024
Public comments sought on measuring lifecycle of greenhouse gas emissions of buildings
ASHRAE and the International Code Council seek comments on their jointly developed document, Proposed ASHRAE/ICC Standard 240P—Quantification of Life Cycle Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions of Buildings.
Green | Mar 5, 2024
New York City’s Green Economy Action Plan aims for building decarbonization
New York City’s recently revealed Green Economy Action Plan includes the goals of the decarbonization of buildings and developing a renewable energy system. The ambitious plan includes enabling low-carbon alternatives in the transportation sector and boosting green industries, aiming to create more than 12,000 green economy apprenticeships by 2040.
Codes and Standards | Mar 1, 2024
NIBS report focuses on how commercial buildings access and use water resources
The National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS) issued a new report, Clean Water, Sanitation, and the Built Environment, focusing on how commercial buildings and residential buildings access and use water resources.
Windows and Doors | Feb 28, 2024
DOE launches $2 million prize to advance cost-effective, energy-efficient commercial windows
The U.S. Department of Energy launched the American-Made Building Envelope Innovation Prize—Secondary Glazing Systems. The program will offer up to $2 million to encourage production of high-performance, cost-effective commercial windows.
MFPRO+ Special Reports | Feb 22, 2024
Crystal Lagoons: A deep dive into real estate's most extreme guest amenity
These year-round, manmade, crystal clear blue lagoons offer a groundbreaking technology with immense potential to redefine the concept of water amenities. However, navigating regulatory challenges and ensuring long-term sustainability are crucial to success with Crystal Lagoons.
Building Tech | Feb 20, 2024
Construction method featuring LEGO-like bricks wins global innovation award
A new construction method featuring LEGO-like bricks made from a renewable composite material took first place for building innovations at the 2024 JEC Composites Innovation Awards in Paris, France.
AEC Tech | Feb 20, 2024
ABC releases technology guide for AI in construction
Associated Builders and Contractors has released an artificial intelligence (AI) technology guide for the U.S. construction industry. AI in Construction — What Does It Mean for Our Contractors? outlines definitions, construction use cases, and considerations for the implementation of AI in construction.
Codes and Standards | Feb 20, 2024
AISC, AIA release second part of design assist guidelines for the structural steel industry
The American Institute of Steel Construction and AIA Contract Documents have released the second part of a document intended to provide guidance for three common collaboration strategies.
Sports and Recreational Facilities | Feb 19, 2024
Sports stadium developers sweeten projects with affordable housing to gain support
In recent years, sports stadium developers have been including affordable housing in their projects to win support from local governments and community activists.
