Principles of Building Science Training Event Scheduled for Nov.

The Environments For Living® green building rating program is offering a two-day training event in Phoenix on Nov. 9 and 10, featuring national building technology leader John Tooley. Participants in the class will learn key principles of building science focused on developing environmentally responsible homes that are energy efficient, durable and comfortable.

The course is designed to help building professionals compete more effectively in today's housing market by understanding green building issues of importance to home buyers. Participants will learn techniques for green home construction, including improved energy performance, indoor air quality and moisture management. The training will cover the following topics:

•Understanding why green is important to your business
•Building a tight structure
•Improving the thermal boundary
•Developing a conditioning strategy that works in your climate
•Understanding and implementing moisture management
•Offering indoor environmental quality in your homes
•Achieving water conservation without sacrificing homeowner comfort
•Developing an energy-efficient lighting plan
•Implementing and promoting sound control for enhanced quality of living
•Maximizing the power of green marketing

All interested building professionals are invited to attend. Those completing the course are eligible for Building Performance Institute (BPI) and Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET) continuing education units (CEUs).

The instructor, John Tooley, is the recipient of several awards and recognitions in the science of energy efficient building and is a prolific, nationwide trainer and author or co-author of many papers. He has diagnosed and repaired more than 5,000 residential buildings, received the Energy Efficient Building Association's Joule Award for innovative contributions to the building industry, and the State of Florida's "Governor's Energy Award" for his contributions to Florida Power & Light's duct leakage program.

To register for the Principles of Building Science training, visit www.environmentsforliving.com or call (866) 912-7233.

July Heating and Cooling Equipment Shipment Data Released

Warm Air Furnaces
U.S. factory shipments of gas-fired, warm-air furnaces in July totaled 161,301 a 13.8 percent drop compared with the same month a year ago. For the year-to-date, gas furnace shipments totaled 1,056,915, a 14.8 percent drop compared with the same period last year.

Warm Air Furnaces July 09
Oil-fired, warm-air furnaces for the same month totaled 3,057, a 11.2 percent increase compared with July 2008 totals. Oil furnace shipments for the year-to-date totaled 21,526 a 18.1 percent drop compared with the same period last year.

Storage Water Heaters
Residential electric water heater shipments for July totaled 283,854, an 18.5 percent drop from the same month a year ago. Residential gas water heater shipments totaled 269,335, a 10.6 percent decrease compared with shipments for the same month last year. For the year-to-date, about 2,183,800 residential gas water heaters have been shipped, about 11.3 percent drop compared with the same period a year ago. For the year-to-date, about 2,209,732 residential electric storage water heaters have been shipped, a 13.9 percent drop compared to the same period last year.

Storage Water Heaters July 09
Commercial gas water heater shipments for July totaled 5,523, dropping 13.5 drop percent compared with the same month last year, while commercial electric water heater shipments totaled 4,555 a 17.1 percent drop compared with the same month a year ago. For the year-to-date, commercial electric water heater shipments totaled, 33,870, 18.4 percent behind total shipments of this product during the same period last year (41,523). Commercial gas water heater shipments (45,854) for the year-to-date are down 16.7 percent, compared with the same period a year ago (55,055).

Central Air Conditioners and Air-Source Heat Pumps
Combined U.S. factory shipments of central air conditioners and air-source heat pumps for July totaled 568,197, down 16.1 percent compared with the same month a year ago. For the year-to-date, combined shipments totaled 3,353,331, down 17.7 percent compared with the same period last year.

Combined July 09
Heat pump shipments for July totaled 1,073,924, up 14.6 percent from the same month a year ago. For the year-to-date, heat pump shipments totaled 687,744, a 12.6 percent drop compared with the same period last year.

Del Webb Communities Celebrate Woodstock Fortieth Anniversary

Baby Boomers will reminisce 1969s three days of peace and music at a variety of Webbstock celebrations at Del Webb communities across Northern California.

Woodstock, the largest rock concert ever conceived and widely regarded as one of the greatest moments in popular music history, celebrated its 40th Anniversary last month.

"Woodstock has become a historic symbol with different meanings to thousands of people. To me, it sparks memories of good feelings from years ago," said Lou Reinitz, a Del Webb resident who was 32 years old at the time. "The 40th Anniversary of Woodstock makes me think back to that care-free time in my life and to all the wonderful music."

The public is invited to join Del Webb's "Webbstock Festival" celebration at the three Northern California Del Webb communities. The Club in Roseville, Glenbrooke in Elk Grove and Woodbridge in Manteca are all hosting simultaneous Webbstock events on Sat., Sept. 12th from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. All are free and open to the public.

Thirty-two of the best-known musicians of the day appeared during the sometimes rainy weekend in front of nearly half a million concertgoers at Woodstock in 1969.

"Many Del Webb residents lived through--and some even attended--the great festival," said Patrick Higgins, California Area Vice President of Sales. "For the 40th Anniversary, what better way to bring the fun of the 60s and the Woodstock festival back to life than a groovy celebration at Del Webb communities," Higgins said.

At The Club and Glenbrooke, the communities will be hosting classic rock live music from the 60s and 70s, free refreshments, a classic VW bug and bus show, themed giveaways and 60s style art project that residents can wear and take home.

At Woodbridge, the community will be featuring the "Summer of Love" Cast and Band from San Francisco who will perform tribute songs from the 60s. They will also be hosting a Hula hoop demonstration and contest, a classic VW bug and bus show, and providing delicious hot dogs.

The Club
For more information to celebrate with residents at The Club, call (916) 746-4800 or log on to www.delwebb.com/theclub. To visit, take I-80 East to Highway 65 North to the Pleasant Grove Boulevard exit, turn West on Pleasant Grove Boulevard, follow Pleasant Grove Boulevard to the Westpark Development at Pleasant Grove and Fiddyment, continue on Pleasant Grove Boulevard, turn right on Kennerleigh Parkway, turn right on Ashton Drive, turn left on Langtree Drive, and then the sales pavilion will be located at 2159 Langtree Drive.



Glenbrooke
For more information to celebrate with residents at Glenbrooke, call (916) 714-2384 or log on to www.delwebb.com/glenbrooke. To visit, take Highway 99 South, exit at Elk Grove Boulevard, turn right onto Elk Grove Boulevard West, turn left onto Bruceville Road, and then turn left onto Del Webb Boulevard.



Woodbridge
For more information to celebrate with residents at Woodbridge, call (209) 239-3099 or log on to www.delwebb.com/woodbridge. To visit, take Highway 99 to the Lathrop Road exit, travel West on Lathrop Road to Union Road, turn right on Union Road and travel North to Del Webb Boulevard, then turn left and travel West on Del Webb Boulevard to the community entrance.

West USA Realty Revelation Hosts Fourth Anniversary Celebration and Fall Festival

In honor of operating at Fulton Ranch Towne Center for three consecutive years, West USA will be hosting a Fourth Anniversary Celebration and Fall Festival on Sat., Oct. 3, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the parking lot, located near the West USA building, at the Fulton Ranch Towne Center on Arizona Ave. and Ocotillo Rd. in Chandler.

The celebration will include old-fashioned carnival games, rock climbing and a 55-foot obstacle course – giving visitors a cachet of events to indulge their adventurous side. There will also be activities for children, including a Sesame Street interactive playground, bungee races, and inflatable bouncing houses and inflatable horse races. Complimentary food and drinks will be available, with live music providing entertainment. Admission to the event is free.

Open at Fulton Ranch Towne Center since 2006, West USA Realty Revelation has a reputation of excellence, being ranked as one of the top brokerages in the Valley and in the Top 20 Residential Real Estate companies by the AZ Business Journal. The company has evolved to include 157 agents and is constantly growing.

Founded and owned by husband and wife team, Chuck and Angela Fazio, it is not surprising their award-winning business is flourishing – the duo are members of the President’s Circle Award, are in the top 1 percent of the industry and they are West USA Realty’s #1 team, amongst many other notable accomplishments. In 2005 alone, they produced an impressive 40 million in sales volume

“This is the perfect way to thank our agents and community for their support,” said Fazio. “Our fourth Anniversary Celebration and Fall Festival is wonderful way to commemorate three successful years as a franchise that is still growing.”

Franchise owners and brokers of West USA Realty Revelation, Chuck and Angela Fazio, have founded their company on strong beliefs and are committed to customer satisfaction and attribute this to the success of their company.

“I am proud and honored to congratulate West USA Realty on this impressive milestone,” remarked Stephanie B. Case, Marketing Director for Fulton Ranch Towne Center. “In our current economic climate, it takes courage and vision to prevail and Chuck and Angela Fazio are part of the reason that Fulton Ranch Towne Center is such a special destination.”

ALI Releases Revamped Website

The American Ladder Institute (ALI), the national trade association representing the North American ladder industry, has released an upgrade of its primary Website, www.americanladderinsitute.org.

ALI.org is the primary source for consumers seeking ladder safety information. Professional and in-home users can access information about ALI’s standards, basic ladder safety procedures, and the value of ALI membership. ALI’s current safety programs, such as the new ladder safety Website and the soon to be released Multimedia Training Program are featured.

Board member Tom Schmitt of Louisville Ladder gives the site a thumbs-up. "The new site looks really good," he says. "I also found it easy to navigate through the material."

ALI is the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) approved developer of standards for the ladder industry. American National Standards are intended for use by manufacturers, consumers and the general public. ALI develops the following standards:

• A14.1 - Wood Ladders
• A14.2 - Portable Metal Ladders
• A14.3 - Fixed Ladders
• A14.4 - Job Made Wooden Ladders
• A14.5 - Portable Reinforced Plastic Ladders
• A14.7 - Mobile Ladder Stands and Mobile Ladder Stand Platforms
• A14.9 - Ceiling Mounted Disappearing Climbing Systems

All standards are available for purchase from ALI at www.americanladderinstitute.org.

FMI releases Nonresidential Construction Index for Q3 2009

The NRCI index for the third quarter is 44.8 and essentially unchanged from the second quarter reading of 45.0. This result leads us to think we are seeing the bottom of this long recession for nonresidential contractors. However, there isn’t much this quarter indicating recessionary conditions, for nonresidential contractors at least, are going to end soon.

Most panelists see the short-term outlook as slightly less bad than last quarter, and we will take that as a good sign, even if a small one. A more important and telling sign is seen in this quarter’s results for the one to three year outlooks for major construction markets. Panelists have reigned in their longer-term optimism, which seems to signal they are expecting a protracted recovery.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) hasn’t yet been that stimulating for nonresidential construction and has led to a certain amount of frustration in the responses this quarter. The hope for a quick recovery has faded, and contractors are now slugging it out in the trenches trying to keep their backlogs full and facing increasing competition.

Nonetheless, this recession will end, and when it does, there is a growing sense that there will be a lot of changes in the industry. For instance, panelists expect much more work will come from the public sector than from private owners as the recession recedes, and the move to green construction continues to represent a growing trend.

NRCI Third Quarter 2009 Highlights:

* Overall Economy: Panelists sense the overall economy is improving significantly from last quarter with this NRCI component moving from 34.9 to 43.5. Note, this is still in recession territory, but moving in the right direction.

* Overall Economy Where Panelists Do Business: Looking closer at home markets, panelists are slightly less glum about the outlook than last quarter with a component index score of 37.1 compared with 34.5.

* Panelists’ Construction Business: In the early stages of the recession, when panelists were still working on long backlogs, their markets and businesses were markedly better than the overall economy. That has now changed as panelists’ backlogs have slowly declined from a median of nine months last quarter to eight months this quarter. Even though they expect those backlogs to continue to decline next quarter, they see their business as slightly improving to 35.7 compared with 32.2 last quarter.

* Cost of Materials: Although panelists still see material prices going lower, there are signs that, in general, material prices are beginning to stabilize with 60% of panelists reporting no change from last quarter, giving us a component index of 63.8 compared with 77.1 last quarter.

* Cost of Labor: Like materials costs, labor costs appear to be stabilizing and may even show some signs of rising as the index changed slightly from 54.7 last quarter to 52.2 this quarter.

* Productivity: Productivity increases remain in the positive range as contractors struggle to be more efficient in the face of greater competition and lower profit margins. The component index for productivity is down slightly to 62.4 compared with 63.3 last quarter.

* Delays and Cancellations: Delays and cancellations continue to plague nonresidential construction, and are currently unchanged from last quarter with delays running at 20% or four times a normal rate, and cancellations occurring at five times normal. As reported by one panelist, one reason this figure isn’t worse is due to projects being cancelled or delayed while still on the drawing board.

* Effects of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA): Only 21.9% of panelists are seeing some work trickle into their backlogs from the ARRA funds. Few panelists in the nonresidential construction markets expect the ARRA to stimulate their business. At best, it is helping to replace some work that would have been lost due to the recession. At worst, it may be causing delays in some publicly funded projects, creating a bureaucratic morass and leading to fierce competition in already tight markets.

WCOE announces fall meeting conference

Women Construction Owners and Executives USA has set its fall meeting for Monday, Sept. 14, 2009, at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. The all-day conference will include speakers on the Las Vegas Construction Scene as well as a panel discussion on government policies, stimulus construction spending and disaster contract terms. Cost is $200 for non-members.

For more information contact info@wcoeusa.org or call 800-788-3548