Feature writing
EIFS Gets Some Relief From Critics
EIFS (Exterior insulating finishing systems) can no longer be called “alternate” exterior cladding products. With their recent acceptance by the ICC and high-performing test results in energy efficiency and moisture resistance, these products are making a comeback.
This article originally ran in the June 2009 issue of Architectural Products magazine.
EIFS Gains Some Relief From Critics
Time Is Money: How Proper Scheduling Can Help Your Bottom Line
Too often, building pros can fall back on informal, back-of-an-envelope schedules that make progress tracking impossible—and can make delays almost inevitable. A strategy built on realistic estimates and software-based tracking can help put an end to late project delivery, and help ensure customer satisfaction. This article was originally published April 2009 on the LowesForPros website.
Time [...]
Understanding the Unseen
The work electrical contractors do every day poses some obvious, inherent safety risks. After all, few jobs are riskier than those involving live electrical wires. However, electrical contractors also face a number of hidden hazards that, over time, could be every bit as deadly as arcing current. Understanding potential dangers in the environment of a [...]
One Word: Plastics
The presence of wooden electric utility poles is, by now, such a familiar part of the U.S. landscape that many of us barely notice them anymore. For electric utilities, however, those faithful powerline supports can pose numerous problems, so some companies are looking more seriously at a modern-day alternative. Like Benjamin Braddock in the film [...]
Passive Solar Design: A Cool Idea for Hot Savings
Solar panels are getting a lot of attention lately as a way to turn the energy of the sun into electricity we can use in our homes. With another solar technology, passive solar design, builders also can create homes that require significantly less energy to heat and cool. This article was published originally in April [...]
Courting Green Design
Government agencies at all levels have made more efficient and environmentally friendly construction the law of the lad for courthouses. Meeting these demands requires a careful balancing of both green-building goals and facility-specific requirements. This article was published originally in the April issue of Architectural Products magazine.
Courting Green Design
The Power of a Pillow
Today’s pillows mean business. Whether you’re a snorer, a side-sleeper, pregnant or in need of aromatherapy, the pillow aisle holds the solution to better sleep.
This article originally ran in Spring 2008, in HomeStyle, a home and garden feature section syndicated to 100-150 newspapers across the U.S.
The Power of a Pillow
Your Solar Energy Options
Even if you’ve never previously thought about solar (PV or thermal) as an option for your building, it’s a good time to investigate your solar-power options.
This article is one of a continuing series in the Electrical Design Library published by the National Electrical Contractors Association.
Your Solar Energy Options
Getting Your Gear in Gear
Today’s two- and three-car garages now often offer more square footage than any other room in the house. So, in today’s difficult real-estate environment, homeowners are exploring ways to make use of this previously overlooked area as a way to expand living space in an existing home. This article was published originally in the Spring [...]
Sustaining Your Business With Sustainable Design
There’s no doubt that green building is in the black, even as the overall housing market hemorrhages red ink. The value of green-building construction climbed from $10 billion in 2005 to between $36 billion and $49 billion in 2008, according to a recent McGraw-Hill Construction report. Builders in the field agree with this assessment, but [...]
