Columnists: Editorial
EPA finalizes WaterSense for Homes
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released its version of the WaterSense for Homes standard in mid-December, although in the world of water conservation...
Synthetic drywall rots mechanical product
The Consumer Product Safety Commission has confirmed what many people have suspected for quite a while now Chinese-made drywall is causing corrosion of...
Sprinkler advocates beat builders again
I was going to write about how little I miss the ISH-North America Show, but then we received some exciting news. I'll get back to this at the end of...
Will home buyers pay for green features?
An interesting little controversy has sprung up over green building and, once again, it leaves me with nothing good to say about homebuilders. It seems that the National Association of Home Builders commissioned a survey that said homeowners are interested in green, as long as they don't have to pay much for it. ...
Got to be smarter than the average bear
I'm with Kevin Tindall on this one. At the recent meeting of the International Association of Plumbing & Mechanical Officials Green Technical Committee,...
NFPA study: Sprinklers don't hurt sales
Last month in this space I talked about how homebuilders are determined to kill residential sprinklers (July, p. 50). Sprinklers cost too much, the builders...
Homebuilders continue to be our nemesis
Every once in a while something comes up that reminds me of how much I dislike homebuilders. I have colleagues who work with homebuilders and I'm sure...
Water heaters, tax credits and financing
Water heating has been a commodity for way too long. Homeowners seemed unwilling to pay more than $120 at a home center for what was essentially a pot...
Giants stay giant because of their resilience
I'm no longer surprised at how well the nation's largest mechanical contractors seem to handle everything that's thrown at them. In the depths of the...
Here are some ways to fight the recession
Has the recession caught up with you? Here are some ways to not let the economy run your business. Don't wait for the phone to ring. Go out and sell water...
Use the stimulus to sell industry products
This is going to be a tough year for contractors, but now that the money and tax breaks are available, it's up to us to use them to sell the industry's products. ...
Following the money in a tough market
Contractors and manufacturers engaged in energy-saving, water-saving and alternative energy technologies are doing well. ...
GreenBuild show settles down to business
This year's GreenBuild show in Boston seemed a bit more business-like than last year's version in Chicago. Perhaps it was the recession forcing attendees to focus on the practical. ...
Where's the tradeshow for the regular Joes?
The recent ISH-North America Show in Atlanta can only be called disappointing. Attendance was sparse, and the show may be losing major sponsors. Perhaps...
Certificate program takes aim at ethics
Word of an interesting program just came across my desk, an Excellence in Ethics certificate from the American Subcontractors Association. ASA is promoting...
Is Going Green Too Expensive for Most People?
I was watching an episode of the reality television show Greensburg on the Planet Green channel where they were talking to an old ex-Marine, who declared,...
What is Green? Criteria Remain Lacking
In May of this year, Mechanical Service Contractors of America introduced its GreenStar program, a certification program that's similar to the association's...
WaterSense Needs More Backing and Teeth
We're pleased to report on page 1 and page 3 of this issue about the issuance of draft WaterSense specifications for high-efficiency urinals and for whole-house...
Take a Closer Look at Your Cast Iron Soil Pipe
You may not have noticed, but we've had a war of words going on over the issue of imported Chinese cast iron soil pipe. In our May issue, we ran a letter...
Book of Giants List Continues to be Fluid
I don't know how many of you keep copies of CONTRACTOR from year to year, but those who do might have noticed that the annual Book of Giants is a fluid list. Some of the nation's largest mechanical contractors fall off the list and some are added....
Thousands Will See Energy, Water Conservation
We’re pleased that Chicago’s Museum of Science & Industry had the foresight to slate an exhibit on green homes. As we’re reporting on page 1 of this issue, a green home — designed by architect Michelle Kaufmann and factory built by a manufactured housing firm — is being assembled on the east lawn of the Museum grounds. The exhibit opens May 8....
Builders finally figure out how to sell green
It seems like homebuilders have finally figured out how to sell energy and water conservation by calling it all green. It wasn't too long ago that plumbing-heating-cooling...
GreenPlumbersUSA is a great step forward
We're delighted that Steve Lehtonen has gotten the GreenPlumbersUSA program off the ground. As we report on page 1 of this issue, Lehtonen, executive...
Erickson provides green contracting model
I've heard it said that if you read a book on a topic, then you know more than the vast majority of people. And if you read two books on a subject, then...
What? Everybody doesnt agree with us?
Just about everybody in the industry thinks of himself as one of the good guys and the industry in general as being on the right side of the issues. After...
Recent Comments