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NEW ORLEANS  — Randy Noel, a life director of the HBAGNO, a past president of the local and state HBA, and a past NAHB (National Association of Home Builders) Chair, recently advanced three significant resolutions at the NAHB Winter Board Meeting in Las Vegas to help address a variety of  national housing issues that also affect our local housing industry, including:

 

• Seeking a delay or replacement of a potentially hazardous refrigerant in consumer air conditioning systems recently mandated by the EPA.
• The need for a national catastrophic insurance program.
• The need for clarified definitions for contracted laborers from the Department of Labor.

 

While all three resolutions are critical to the housing industry, the refrigerant resolution is especially crucial due its potential as a consumer safety hazard. The EPA is requiring that a new refrigerant in consumer HVAC systems be used to further reduce CFC emissions. The new refrigerant, however, is flammable. Complicating matters is that it is also odorless.

 

The Home Builders SIF and the HBAGNO are both strongly pushing for a delay or replacement of this new refrigerant until a safer replacement can be approved or, at a minimum, an odorant can be added as with natural gas.

 

“The advancing of such resolutions by the HBAGNO’s board and councils is a vital part of the work we do,” said Dan Mills, CEO of the HBAGNO. “In addition to the advocacy, education and networking our association provides on the local, residential housing level, we are committed to supporting national initiatives that benefit all communities across our country. We plan to keep the communities we serve informed as this matter moves forward.”

 

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ABOUT THE HBAGNO:
Founded in 1941, the Home Builders Association of Greater New Orleans (HBAGNO) provides members with continuing education, events for networking opportunities and advocacy to protect the home building industry. The HBA is a non-profit professional organization serving nearly 1,000 builders and associate members encompassing seven parishes throughout Louisiana, including Jefferson, St. Bernard, St. John the Baptist, St. James, St. Charles, Plaquemines, and Orleans. The Home Builders Association of Greater New Orleans is currently celebrating over 80 years as the voice of the residential housing industry across the metro area.