The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that employers took 1,384 mass layoff actions in December involving 145,648 workers, seasonally adjusted, as measured by new filings for unemployment insurance benefits during the month. Each mass layoff involved at least 50 workers from a single employer.
The report notes that mass layoff events in December increased [...]

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is launching a process to engage partners in updating the ENERGY STAR® Vision and Guiding Principles document, consistent with the evolution of the program since the document was originally developed.
According to a letter sent to ENERGY STAR stakeholders by Ann Bailey, director, ENERGY STAR Product Labeling, “Over the past [...]

Remodeling sentiment rose to the highest level in five years, according to the National Association of Home Builders’ (NAHB) Remodeling Market Index (RMI) for the fourth quarter of 2011. NAHB reports that the RMI increased to 46.6 in the fourth quarter from 41.7 in the third quarter.
In the fourth quarter, the RMI component measuring current [...]

If you are a wood products company with energy efficiency in mind, you may be interested to know that WoodWorks, a cooperative venture of major North American wood associations, recently launched an online tool that estimates the carbon benefits of wood buildings. Released as a complement to the online cost calculator launched recently, the carbon [...]

Officials at Eastman Chemical Co. of Kingsport, Tenn., and Solutia Inc. of St. Louis, have entered into a definitive agreement, under which Eastman will acquire Solutia. Under the terms of the agreement, Solutia stockholders will receive $22 in cash and 0.12 shares of Eastman common stock for each share of Solutia common stock.
“Solutia board of [...]

The Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) announced that the standards of its FORTIFIED for Safer Living®, a construction program for new homes that provides specific standards and guidelines to build strong, safe new homes, will be used in the construction of the home in the St. Jude Dream Home Giveaway in Eads, [...]

Atrium Companies, the owner of Houston-based Champion Window, confirmed the hiring of illegal aliens as concluded by a federal government investigation into the hiring practices of the company and its affiliated divisions and agreed to adhere to revised immigration compliance programs and pay $2 million as forfeited funds to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). [...]

The National Lumber and Building Material Industry (NLBMDA) released its national legislative and regulatory policy agenda for 2012. The document was created to bring focus to the common interests of the industry and includes policy goals to revitalize the nation’s housing and building industry.
“With the House and Senate going into the final session of the [...]

In his State of the Union speech last night, President Obama proposed  to increase the energy efficiency of the industrial sector by providing new incentives for manufacturers to upgrade equipment to lower energy use in their facilities. The incentives would lower their energy bills by $100 billion over the next decade, the president said.
Seemingly, such [...]

President Obama highlighted Master Lock in his State of the Union address Tuesday night for moving jobs back to the United States from China. According to a company announcement, since mid-2010, Master Lock has brought back approximately 100 union jobs to its Milwaukee factory.
“We are honored to be mentioned by the President in such a [...]