flexiblefullpage -
billboard - default
interstitial1 - interstitial
catfish1 - bottom
Currently Reading

Home values and local tax revenues at risk from high tide flooding, scientists group says

Codes and Standards

Home values and local tax revenues at risk from high tide flooding, scientists group says

Analysis of property data identifies communities prone to frequent flooding.


By Peter Fabris, Contirbuting Editor | June 20, 2018

A new report by the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) pinpoints portions of the U.S. at greatest risk of declining residential and commercial property values, and diminished city and county tax revenue due to flooding attributed to sea level rise.

The areas impacted face worse high tide flooding due to the effects of climate change, UCS says. The findings are the result of peer-reviewed analysis that used ZIP-code-by-ZIP-code data from Zillow Property Data.

The states found to be most at risk of flooding from rising seas are: Delaware, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, and Virginia. As much as 70% of some municipalities’ property tax bases could be at risk.

The analysis also provides risk assessment according to:

— Number of homes and commercial properties (by state and zip code).

— Current values of properties.

— The amount of money the properties contribute in annual property taxes, which fund schools, roads, and emergency services.

— How many properties could be spared if warming is limited to below 2 degrees Celsius.

— Near- and long-term impact projections, including within the next 30 years.

— Identification of areas where coastal property owners might experience recurring flooding so severe it limits their ability to live or work in these properties.

Related Stories

| Nov 3, 2011

Sierra Club Critical of Albuquerque Mayor’s Push to Weaken Green Code

The mayor’s plan to move to a less environmentally friendly code would mean confusion for people in the construction industry and a loss of energy efficiency and money for consumers, said Shrayas Jatkar of the Sierra Club.

| Nov 3, 2011

Lax Code Enforcement Blamed for Deaths in Turkey’s Earthquake

Despite tough safety codes approved a decade ago after earthquakes killed 18,000 people, lax enforcement led to hundreds of deaths after a recent earthquake in Turkey.

| Nov 3, 2011

International Green Construction Code Will Provide Template for Local Codes

A uniform code for green construction is being readied for publication in March.

| Oct 31, 2011

NIST issues new code requirements

Buildings taller than 420 feet are now required to include an extra exit stairwell or a specially designed elevator that occupants can use for evacuations.

| Oct 28, 2011

Los Angeles County mulling building codes for improving health

An ordinance would amend county building codes to promote better walking environments, encourage more bicycling, improve access to healthy foods (farmers markets, community gardens), and enhance project review requirements to ensure that developers include healthy-lifestyle components in their building plans.

| Oct 28, 2011

Bipartisan opposition to federal 3% withholding for contractors

Both major political parties and the Obama Administration support repealing a law that would withhold 3% of all government contracts.

| Oct 28, 2011

OSHA requires training module on top causes of construction deaths

The Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) now requires a training module on the top four causes of death for construction workers.

| Oct 28, 2011

New York City requiring building energy use to be posted online

Owners of every New York City commercial and residential building larger than 50,000 sf will have to post each building’s energy use online by 2013.

| Oct 28, 2011

New ISO standard for escalator safety

A new ISO standard specifies safety requirements for escalators and moving walks.

| Oct 20, 2011

LEED 2012 to require real-time energy, water use reporting

The LEED 2012 rating system, set to launch in November 2012, will contain features to make sure buildings function as intended, and improve over time.

boombox1 - default
boombox2 -
native1 -

More In Category


MFPRO+ News

ENERGY STAR NextGen Certification for New Homes and Apartments launched

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently launched ENERGY STAR NextGen Certified Homes and Apartments, a voluntary certification program for new residential buildings. The program will increase national energy and emissions savings by accelerating the building industry’s adoption of advanced, energy-efficient technologies, according to an EPA news release. 



halfpage1 -

Most Popular Content

  1. 2021 Giants 400 Report
  2. Top 150 Architecture Firms for 2019
  3. 13 projects that represent the future of affordable housing
  4. Sagrada Familia completion date pushed back due to coronavirus
  5. Top 160 Architecture Firms 2021