Vinyl Windows Dealer Association

Louisville, Kentucky

Serving Metro Louisville and Southern Indiana

When the 107th Congress adjourned in December, any hope of passing an energy bill ended too. Although both the House and the Senate included tax incentives to encourage the use of energy efficient fenestration in new and existing homes, they died along with the bill itself. Although both parties paid lip service to the importance of passing a comprehensive energy bill in the 108th Congress, observers suggest that we shouldn't hold our breath. With a possible war with Iraq on the horizon, and with a host of other pressing priorities, it seems unlikely that any legislation will be passed in

The home building industry enjoyed its strongest year last year in 16years, with 1.7 million new units built across the country. According to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), the best production since 1986 included 1.36 million single-family units and 345,000 multifamily units. The single-family total is the best in 24 years, NAHB reported, while the multifamily total is the best in four years. And the latest stats from both NAHB and the federal government suggest the boom will continue in 2003. According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, housing starts and permits in December remained high, while NAHB's Housing Market Index came in at 64 in January, just a point shy of December's two-year high of 65. "Our latest builder surveys show that the single-family market remains strong in January, and we're looking for 2003 to be another excellent year," said NAHB Chief Economist David Seiders.