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budget authority for these contracts if the existing HAP contract is terminated early by mutual agreement. NAA and NMHC offered input on the standards on December 15, emphasizing overall that we support the concepts contained in the guidance. For example, we noted that we are pleased that it provides flexibility to move a contract to a new project, to a neighboring project requiring repairs or from a building to be demolished to an existing building. Our comments also provided detailed questions highlighting vital issues that HUD needs to address to make the program less burdensome.
NAA JOINS PANEL OF EXPERTS TO DISCUSS ENERGY BENCHMARKING An expert energy panel has determined that issues over data quality, adequate training and outreach are concerns shared by both local governments and building owners in the rollout of mandated energy benchmarking and disclosure ordinances. The panel was part of a larger workshop hosted by Resources for the Future, an environmental policy think tank in Washington. NAA was invited to share the rental housing industry’s view on energy benchmarking. In advance of the panel discussion, NAA surveyed members in cities that require benchmarking of multifamily buildings. The survey findings include concerns about cost, time, staff and limited expertise to implement the required programs. This is on top of the general lack of interest on the part of residents, inadequate training by the mandating government and a lack of focus on transparency in the development and implementation of benchmarking and disclosure programs. Alison Berry of NAA was joined by representatives from the EPA, U.S. Green Building Council and two private sector energy-efficiency consultants for a session focused specifically on strengths and weaknesses of benchmarking as a value-add to buildings for owners, investors and residents. Aside from the need for more information and training by the mandating government body, the quality of data being gathered was a topic of concern. Data quality issues are present in every city with mandatory benchmarking, even though compliance rates are in the 80 percent to 90 percent levels. With so much of the collected data being deemed unusable, it is questionable whether building owners or cities can use the data to make informed decisions about operations or energy use. ABODE
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