GREEN, GREEN, GREEN……
Finding Operational And Maintenance Improvements
Have you heard enough about going green in your building? Do you look at your building and think the only way to get it to be green is to tear it down? Do you scratch your head when you see incentives to go green but know that a major overhaul just isn’t feasible with the economy in such a state?
Equipment Leasing and Finance Association
September New Business Volume Up by 25 Percent Year-over-year, Month-to-month and YTD
The Equipment Leasing and Finance Association’s (ELFA) Monthly Leasing and Finance Index (MLFI-25), which reports economic activity for the $628 billion equipment finance sector, showed overall new business volume for September was $7.1 billion, up 25 percent from volume of $5.7 billion in the same period in 2010. Volume was also up 25 percent from the previous month. Year-to-date cumulative new business volume is up 25 percent as well.
Interior Sustainability
Where do you start when making choices for “green” interiors?
You start with questions. The single most important part of selecting finishes is finding out what aspects of green are important to your client. Today, sustainability is a top priority for many architects and designers in the commercial construction, renovation and design industry. Fortunately, you can be sure that no matter what attribute your client is seeking, there is a growing selection of commercial products to meet the need.
International Housing Affordability
How Land Costs And Restrictive Land Uses Challenge Affordability
Housing affordability has steadily decreased in the United States and abroad over the past decade. This decrease is due in large part to strict land use regulations, known by a variety of names; such as compact city policy, growth management, smart growth and prescriptive land use. Metropolitan areas such as Sydney, Australia, and Auckland, New Zealand, once defined by modestly priced, quality middle class housing, are now among the most unaffordable housing markets in the English-speaking world.
Construction Forecast
Slow Growth Is Better Than No Growth
It is a presidential election year in the U.S., so what will that mean for the economy? Most experts on such matters expect another record-breaker for campaign costs, in the $5 billion to $6 billion range. That might be the best stimulus we are going to get in 2012. However, the CEO of Starbucks, Howard Schultz, has recently called for a halt on campaign donations until we get the current office holders to start working for the American people and not just special interests and huge campaign donors. At least it suggests not everyone is scraping the bottom of the barrel for funds. There is also approximately $1 trillion to $2 trillion dollars in corporate coffers from record profits not being invested in new capital or jobs or even dividends. When will those funds decide that low or no returns are better than looking for new ideas and business?
