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NIBS Releases 2025 Moving Forward Report: A Call to Retrofit for Resilience

On June 2, 2025, the National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS) Consultative Council published its much-anticipated 2025 Moving Forward Report, addressing a critical issue: the increasing financial and human toll of extreme weather events. Over the last few decades, the United States has seen catastrophic losses due to hurricanes, wildfires, and severe storms, with disaster-related costs climbing to an alarming $3 trillion since 1980. Only in 2024, there were 27 major disasters resulting in damages over $1 billion, highlighting the urgent need for resilience-focused measures.

In a statement, George Guszcza, President and CEO of NIBS, emphasized the broad benefits of disaster mitigation. He noted, “Everyone benefits from mitigation or outright prevention of damage from a wildfire, earthquake, or storm. Insurance companies face fewer claims; government agencies reduce emergency aid payouts; property owners deal with minimized damage; and families throughout the nation become safer.” The pressing necessity for communities to fortify themselves against the escalating frequency and severity of natural disasters is underscored by this report’s recommendations.

The 2025 report, sequentially titled “Retrofitting for Resilience,” urges an immediate investment in disaster mitigation techniques. Notably, research from the 2019 NIBS Mitigation Saves Study indicates that each dollar dedicated to resilience efforts can yield a significant return, saving up to $13 from avoided losses. This statistic amplifies the report's call to action for policymakers, industry leaders, and the public, enhancing the safety and security of communities nationwide.

Key Recommendations for Resilience Retrofitting

The report outlines several pivotal recommendations designed to catalyze widespread resilience improvements:

1. Shared Costs: To encourage public-private partnerships, the report advocates for distributing retrofitting costs among various beneficiaries, including insurers, lenders, and governmental entities. This collaborative approach is essential for maximizing resources while ensuring broad participation.

2. Invest in Innovation and Technology: The NIBS encourages dedicated investments into research and development of advanced building materials and innovative construction methodologies, urging support from federal agencies such as the Department of Energy and NIST.

3. Tax Incentives and Grants: The report proposes federal, state, and local tax benefits, such as credits and direct grants, to facilitate property owners in making essential resilience upgrades to their buildings.

4. Certifications and Education: Expanding training programs for contractors alongside the implementation of public outreach initiatives will raise awareness of resilient building practices. Educating contractors and investors about these strategies is vital to fostering a culture of resilience.

5. Updated Building Codes: Advocating for modernized, resilience-oriented building codes is another cornerstone of the report’s recommendations, aiming to lower long-term disaster recovery costs.

The NIBS Consultative Council’s 2025 report does not merely present data and projections; it outlines a roadmap to safeguarding lives and properties in the context of worsening extreme weather. By adopting these recommendations, communities can create a robust infrastructure that withstands the test of time and increases safety against potential disasters.

In light of these findings, the NIBS urges all stakeholders—policymakers, builders, and community leaders—to immediately implement these measures in preparation for the inevitable challenges posed by climate change. The focus is not just on surviving disasters but thriving despite them through proactive, resilience-oriented strategies.

For more details, the full 2025 Moving Forward Report can be accessed at nibs.org.