Wildfire threat score now available for all U.S. homes

The non-profit First Street Foundation has made publicly available a database that assesses the wildfire risk of all U.S. homes.

The organization’s model uses multiple data points including property tax data and satellite imagery to assign a wildfire risk score to each home. It factors in construction type, roof type, weather, and exposure to natural fuels like trees and grass.

The information can guide homebuyers in their purchases. More than 71% of recent homebuyers took natural disasters into account when considering where to move, according to a recent survey. About half of respondents said they were more concerned about natural disasters today than they were five years ago.

Wildfires have been tracked by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration since 1980. Since then, 66% of property damage has occurred in the last five years. Insured damage from wildfires last year totaled $5 billion.

Faster delivery of buildings isn’t always associated with sustainability benefits or long-term value, but things are changing. An instructive case is in the development of steel structures that not only allow speedier erection times, but also can reduce embodied carbon and create durable, highly resilient building approaches.

Building Team | Nov 7, 2022

U.S. commercial buildings decreased energy use intensity from 2012 to 2018

The recently released 2018 Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey (CBECS) by the U.S. Energy Information Administration found that the total floorspace in commercial buildings has increased but energy consumption has not, compared with the last survey analyzing the landscape in 2012.

Codes and Standards | Nov 2, 2022

New York City construction official wants to boost design-build

The new associate commissioner of alternative delivery in New York City’s Department of Design and Construction aims to encourage more design-build project delivery in the city.

| Nov 1, 2022

Updated Florida building codes helped newer homes withstand Hurricane Ian

Newer homes seemed to fare much better than older structures during Hurricane Ian, suggesting that updated Florida building codes made a difference.

Data Centers | Oct 31, 2022

Data center construction facing record-breaking inflation, delays

Data center construction projects face record-breaking inflation amid delays to materials deliveries and competition for skilled labor, according to research from global professional services company Turner & Townsend.