Displays focus on installations
Peculiar, MO. I am just now reading your article in the November issue of CONTRACTOR magazine. I found it very interesting that the quote in the middle...
Following the money in a tough market
Contractors and manufacturers engaged in energy-saving, water-saving and alternative energy technologies are doing well. ...
Voice recognition program saves time, boosts productivity
Dragon NaturallySpeaking 10, a voice recognition program created by Nuance Communications (www.nuance.com), integrates seamlessly with most popular PC...
Thank you to all the ladies
Who do you think calls me the most to do their estate plan or ask me for my opinion on their completed estate plan? Men. Nine out of 10 of them are married,...
Here we go again
Remember when gasoline was $5 a gallon everyone was screaming bloody murder SUV sales fell off a cliff, fuel oil was just under $5 a gallon, crippling...
The largest, greenest job I've ever done, Part 2
The residential system is laid out as 22 individual zones of heating and cooling, which is a record for our company for the most zones of heating and...
Three productivity-enhancing solutions
Interfacing seamlessly, Quickduct CAD and Quickduct CAM (www.shopdata.com) streamline the drawing of sheet metal duct layouts and the lay out and cutting of metal ductwork based on drawings. By sharing information, these two programs can boost productivity dramatically and substantially minimize waste of sheet metal. ...
Change order myths demystified
I have often thought that without changes and change orders, I would never had developed a law practice concentrating on construction. The general belief...
Do you want your business to continue?
Most successful business owners (Joe, the business owner from Kansas, will be our example) have two loves in their life: their family and their business....
How to start a commercial estimating department
In my September column, I outlined what not to do when trying to set up a commercial HVAC/plumbing estimating department. Using the worst remembered anecdotes...
Marketing lessons from a tailless neutered cat
We have many contractors call here for marketing help saying, “We need the leads,” “We want to boost our image” or “We're losing too many customers.” We counsel them to make sure they're ready for this change within the other systems. Here are the four business systems that every owner needs to check...
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. ...
Surviving the aftermath of the economic flood
As I write this, the first major effects of the economic flood, drowning our U.S. economy and other national economies, are being felt. From the home...
Marketing lessons from Tony
Hello Mr. and Mrs. Hudson. Right this way, the friendly matre d' said as he whisked us to a pair of leather chairs. Charles will take care of you both...
Hot Stuff in Antarctica
The sun rose here on Oct. 23, and it won't set again until mid-February. It's summer in Antarctica! This is my crazy idea of going south far south for...
Inverters Invade the U.S.
Every now and then, I get pretty riled up over an issue that gets under my skin. According to my bride, that occurs just about every third second! Well,...
Software calculates HVAC loads
With energy prices continuing to rise, the costs of heating and cooling commercial buildings are straining the operating budgets of many commercial enterprises....
The largest, greenest job I've ever done
Our company recently set a new corporate record for the largest residential job we have ever performed. It just also happens to be the greenest job we...
But I was just trying to say thanks
With the trial of Senator Ted Stevens of Alaska in the news and the admission from his friend, the contractor, that he gave Stevens improvements to his...
My take on the future of your liquid capital
This article was written while burning the midnight oil because about 95% of this column's readers, who call me just to ask a question or actually become clients, have investments, and a significant portion of their wealth has been pummeled by the Wall Street meltdown. ...
Bidding software provides breakdowns
Accubid (www.accubid.com) offers a family of scalable estimating solutions for different types and sizes of projects. Each program comes with a comprehensive...
The color of green, Part 4
In last month's article, I promised that we would look into the intricacies of the safety controls that are common to solid fuel-fired appliances. As...
Cubic feet of infiltration is the enemy
Did you know that for every 100 Btu of fossil fuel, one cubic foot of air is required for adequate combustion? We've always known about the need for providing...
What good are liens if the bank forecloses?
I have had many columns that touch on the various nuances of mechanic's liens because mechanic's liens are an essential part of the fabric of the world...
Some advice to the presidential candidates
Politicians - the Washington gang, including the House, Senate and President - are forever talking about raising or lowering the income tax rate. It's...
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