The Treasure Coast Builders Association has launched its new website, a little over a month ahead of schedule. The new design took into consideration both a user friendliness towards current TCBA members and an attractiveness that will bring both prospective members and the public alike to the site. Advertising opportunities abound in the new website’s design with 4 button ads available on the right side of each page and one banner ad at the bottom. With links to their own websites advertisers should find this to be a valuable tool in marketing it’s brand to potential customers. The new blog and forum features offer members the ability to interact and communicate with one another as they have never been able to before, with ways to discuss up coming projects and current events going on in the industry. This is just another step in TCBA’s continuing effort to bring value and support to its members and to create a strong presence in the communities it serves. Each time someone goes to the website it builds TCBA’s presence on other search engine sites. So as you check it out tell us what you think.

The Florida Home Builders Association has a variety of committees and councils dedicated to specific industry-related issues. Each committee and council is comprised of FHBA members. Below is a complete listing of committees. A list of committee and council members can be obtained by logging onto the Member’s Only section of www.fhba.com.

ENERGY CODE: Effective June 1, the 2009 Supplement to FL Building Code increased the energy efficiency baseline by 15%. Homes permitted after June 1 must achieve HERS Index of 77 or better. EPA is developing commensurate regional Builder Option Package (BOP) for Florida and is formulating policy for 2011 guidelines that supersede HERS 77 ENERGY STAR guidelines for Florida (and other states with rigorous codes) must meet standards beyond national program requirements. Guidelines will reflect enhanced code requirements. Go to: energystarhomes@energystar.gov

Hometown Democracy (vote-on-everything initiative) now has enough signatures to be on the 2010 ballot. SB 360, signed by the governor, will streamline growth management and encourage infill by reducing transportation concurrency and eliminating the DRI process for urban areas. It also extends permits and approval by two years and expedites Comp Plan reviews. Yet another legislative victory is HB 277 that shifts the “burden of proof” to government in impact fee legal challenges.