Full Circle - January 2006

An e-Newsletter for the Clients and Friends of C.T. Hsu + Associates, P.A.

Industry News

• What do Americans Think? AIA Poll Shows Voters Deeply Concerned About Energy, Environmental Issues - Voters across the nation are troubled by energy issues and their economic, environmental and national security implications. In addition, they are not particularly pleased with the job government is doing in handling many issues that involve the built and natural environments. Among the poll’s findings:

80% of voters believe that architects and engineers hired by government agencies to design and construct public buildings should be selected based on qualifications, then negotiate the best possible fee.
85% believe “the federal government should make the kind of massive national commitment to make the U.S. independent of foreign oil through energy conservation and development of alternative energy sources in the same way it committed itself to winning World War II and landing a man on the moon.”
90% said they would be willing to pay an additional $4,000-$5,000 for a house that uses less energy and protects the environment.
64% gave negative ratings to “state and local government’s efforts to repair dilapidated school buildings.”

The bipartisan survey was conducted in January 2006, with a nationwide scientific sample of 1,000 voters. (Source: The AIA Angle. January 18, 2006)

• AIA Members Lobby Congress - On February 9, more than 700 AIA members visited Capitol Hill to let Congress know where architects stand on issues of importance to the profession. Among the AIA-supported legislation is the Community Restoration and Revitalization Act intended to make current historic rehabilitation tax credits more useful for community revitalization by giving special benefits to “difficult to develop areas” and allowing the credits to be combined with low-income tax credits. The AIA also supports market-based incentives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions nationwide, including a “cap-and-trade” system similar to the one used to reduce sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions. (Source: The AIA Angle. January 26, 2006)

C.T. Hsu + Associates, P.A.
820 Irma Avenue • Orlando, FL 32803 • 407 423 0098 • Fax 407 423 4793
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