The Obama Administration is trying to foster more projects to support disaster mitigation and community resilience.
The White House Council on Environmental Quality recently held a forum on innovative insurance, mortgage, tax, and finance-based strategies to further that goal. The National Institute of Building Sciences made a presentation based on its white paper, Developing Pre-Disaster Resilience Based on Public and Private Incentivization.
The document covers many approaches including tax credits, insurance premium reductions, resilience bonds, mortgage rate incentives, and layered incentive approaches. In addition, the paper recommends the development and adoption of appraisal and bond underwriting standards that recognize the value and benefits of building resilience.
One proposal calls for contractor-based financing, whereby a general contractor develops turnkey resilience programs for small buildings. Also recommended are building code programs that encourage local governments to adopt and enforce higher standards for resilience incentivized by federal and state investment with post-disaster recovery funding.
Related Stories
Sustainability | Sep 22, 2016
Is ‘Growroom’ a glimpse into the future of urban agriculture?
Growroom’s spherical shape means it can also double as a covered outdoor public space.
Regulations | Aug 31, 2016
FEMA wants to toughen flood regulation on projects using federal funds
The proposal ‘would essentially rewrite the current 100-year flood standard.’
Sports and Recreational Facilities | Aug 22, 2016
The Hills of Governors Island reach completion one year ahead of schedule
The man made hills are the latest attraction to open on the island that has been under development since 2006.
Seismic Design | Jul 28, 2016
Risk of man-made earthquakes now factor in seismic hazard analysis
Significant risk increases seen in some areas of the U.S.
Resiliency | Jul 27, 2016
New York’s resilience plans not taking long-term view, critics charge
Continued waterfront development may be regretted later this century.
Resiliency | Jul 18, 2016
Impact fees on development proposed to fund Miami’s rising sea level resiliency plans
$400 million flood plan includes new valves, pumps, and raised roadways.
Resiliency | Jun 1, 2016
Federal agencies boost standards for more resilient construction
HUD, FEMA, GSA, Army Corps of Engineers make policy changes.
Green | May 31, 2016
Miami Beach requires developers to meet green standards or pay a fee
Applies to structures larger than 7,000 sf.
Resiliency | May 12, 2016
Resilience Building Coalition releases progress report
The coalition released a set of guiding principles to help the building industry adopt resilient design and policies. Since the initial signing, the coalition has added 19 new signatories.
Architects | May 11, 2016
AIA to create a resilience curriculum for architects
The program will teach resilient design and decision-making on hazard mitigation, climate adaptation and community resilience.