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Louisa Padilla is a new homeowner. She’s a single mother who recently purchased a manufactured home. Louisa was unfamiliar with manufactured homes, and a skeptic. But seeing the house allayed any of her concerns.

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changes from 2006

Measures with new names

Five measures appearing in the 2006 DRC have been renamed in the 2007 DRC because they either draw from new data sources, or the traditional data sources have changed their methodology. The name changes are meant to signal users of past and current report cards that direct comparisons over time may not be valid. Renamed measures include:

Private Sector Layoffs: Formerly mass layoffs, the measure was renamed because the BLS data no longer include agriculture and government layoffs.  As a result, the measure data from DRCs prior to 2007 cannot be compared with the 2007 data.

Use of Alternative Energy: Formerly renewable energy, the measure was renamed because the data now include ethanol as an alternative energy source. As a result, the measure data from DRCs prior to 2007 cannot be compared with the 2007 data.

Rate of Recycled Waste: Formerly recycling rate, the measure was renamed because the data collection methodology changed and reports only on actual tons of municipal solid waste  (MSW) and not estimated tons of MSW.  As a result, the measure data from DRCs prior to 2007 cannot be compared with the 2007 data.

Affordable Urban Housing: Formerly cost of urban housing, the measure was renamed because of a change in data and data calculation methodology.  New OMB guidelines that designate metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) were implemented in HUD’s data collection and reporting.  As a result, the measure data from DRCs prior to 2007 cannot be compared with the 2007 data.

Air Pollution:  Formerly air-quality non-attainment, the measure was renamed because of a change in data reporting and collection source.  As a result, the measure data from DRCs prior to 2007 cannot be compared with the 2007 data.

New measure:

Broadband Access:  This measure captures a different aspect of innovation assets and serves as an indicator of household access and use of innovative technologies in the 21st century economy. 

Discontinued measures:

Households with computers is no longer included as a measure of Innovation Assets.

Sewage treatment needs is no longer included as a measure of Infrastructure Resources.

The change in renewable energy trend indicator was removed due to a change in the data collection methodology.