Each year, as required by law, the National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS) submits a report to the President and Congress which addresses current issues and opportunities before the building industry. The report allows the building industry to express collectively the most pressing concerns and greatest prospects to advance the built environment. NIBS is inviting members of the building industry to identify challenges and opportunities, along with potential solutions for the 2014 report. Submissions are due by Thursday, July 15, and should highlight specific actions to be taken by the industry itself or policymakers, primarily at the federal level, but also how federal policy can help drive state and local policies.

NRMCA plans to submit input on the following areas:

• Life Cycle Economic, Health and Environmental Impacts of Community Disaster Resilience

• Life Cycle Economic and Environmental Impacts of Building Resilience

• National Standard for Disaster Resilient Design

• Life Cycle Economic and Environmental Impacts of Energy Efficient Buildings and Communities

• Economic Benefits of Disaster Mitigation (Disaster Resilience)

NRMCA’s recommendations to NIBS can be found at www.nrmca.org/resilience. NRMCA suggests members submit similar recommendations by clicking here and completing the form by July 15. Most of these topics are related to work being undertaken at the MIT Concrete Sustainability Hub.