Like politics and religion, you can add trade tariffs to the list of taboo topics at the dinner table. Supporters believe we need to take tough action against China’s abuse of trade barriers and intellectual property ownership. Opponents believe we can only thrive through free and open trade on a global basis. I see merits […]

In case you missed it, New York City recently announced a new law that mandates carbon emission limits for approximately 50,000 of the city’s buildings, in an effort to achieve its aggressive 80% carbon reduction plan by 2050. Failure to comply by 2024 will result in annual fines for every metric ton of carbon dioxide […]

Last week I once again had the opportunity to attend WDMA’s annual Legislative Conference on Capitol Hill. Each year, I am impressed by the organization and its balanced views and support of our industry at the federal level. This year was no different. It’s always inspiring to see an organization create such a strong voice […]

The first 3D printer was constructed in the early 1980s to help speed up prototyping for manufacturers. It came at a price tag of more than $300,000. Today, the technology has evolved to a point that the average person can feasibly own one for personal use and applications have expanded beyond manufacturing into the actual […]

The last time I wrote about the Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) program, I was happy to report that the program continued to see significant growth over the past five years. If you’ve followed this blog, then you know that I’m a supporter of this important and often overlooked program. As a refresher, PACE funding […]

I have been watching coverage of the Green New Deal in the media as it has unfolded over the last couple weeks. As a strong believer in reducing greenhouse gases and creating more energy-efficient buildings, I find the proposal from Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Sen. Ed Markey to be admirable. But what is the likelihood […]

We all know that housing starts have a major impact on our economy—and our industry. When a young adult buys his or her first entry-level home, that means someone else is likely moving up. But what happens when entry-level homes are not single-family homes at all? We’re in the process of finding that out. Last […]

The International Code Council (ICC) recently introduced the 2018 version of the International Green Construction Code (IgCC), this time in collaboration with the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) and the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES). Yes, that’s a lot to put into an introductory paragraph, but it’s […]

I’d like to think that you anxiously await my blog articles every other week, but I’m also a realist. We’re all busy professionals, so maybe you missed one or two. It’s okay. Each new year, I like to take a moment to reflect on where our industry has been in the last year, along with […]

Washington, D.C., might soon embark on the nation’s most aggressive renewable energy target: 100 percent by 2032. The CleanEnergy DC Omnibus Amendment Act of 2018 passed a city council vote in November and has since become a topic of great debate. As a result, I find myself asking: Has the quest for energy efficiency gone […]