Illinois Residential Energy Code

October 27th, 2009

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On Friday August 28th, Illinois Governor Patrick Quinn signed into law a new statewide residential energy code.  The Energy Efficient Building Act requires most new residential buildings throughout Illinois to meet the minimum standards of the 2009 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC).  The new requirement will take effect early 2010.  In a conversation with Lisa Mattingly of the Illinois Capital Development Board, the CDB is currently in the process of writing the administrative rules, which includes a period for public comment prior to the effective date.

To comply with the 2009 IECC, a home will be required to be more energy efficient than currently required in most municipalities.  Read the rest of this entry »

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Suburban Status Quo?

October 23rd, 2009

suburbia

Being an avid reader of Dwell magazine,  I come across many interesting topics regarding architecture, design and housing, but what always catches my attention are the editorials written by those in the design community.  It is fascinating to read about what is going on the field outside of our own backyard.  At times it confirms your feelings of what is going on around you is happening elsewhere too, and at times it lets you in on how differently things might be done in other parts of the country or globe.

One such editorial caught my eye in the most recent publication.  It was from Jeff Oberdorfer, a director of a nonprofit housing builder and developer in California.  Read the rest of this entry »

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Are appraisals slowing the return of the housing market?

October 13th, 2009

foreclosure

Right now, one of the biggest hindrances to residential construction appears to be the appraisal.  Good homes are being weighted against the values of short sell and foreclosure properties, which undermines the true value of a well designed and built home. Unfortunately, the appraisal does not truly reflect the cost to build or remodel, but does affect the ability to finance the project.

Recently NAHB (National Association of Home Builders) conducted a summit concerning the effect of low appraisals on the home building industry.   Read the rest of this entry »

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