January 1, 2008

Best Practices

Jan 18, 2008 12:49 PM, BY GREG NIEMI

As a business manager or owner, do you know how to assess your business and your plan to determine if you are progressing toward success — or even traveling down the right road? Selecting the road and staying steady on its path requires regular analysis and fine-tuning of your business progress based on six ...

The great (inadvertent) 401(k) rip-off

Jan 18, 2008 1:00 PM

Raise your hand if your company has a qualified retirement plan (QRP). Your QRP can be a 401(k), profit-sharing plan, SEP-IRA, pension plan or any one of the many other QRPs. If so, listen up. Chances are this column is going to make you and your employees money — lots of money....

Church turns to ‘neighbors’ to solve heating woes

Jan 18, 2008 1:42 PM

BOYERTOWN, PA. — When Good Shepherd UCC Church here needed to replace its obsolete 1960s-era heating system, it wasn’t unusual for the congregation to reach out for help locally. ...

Cleaning out my New year’s closet

Jan 18, 2008 1:50 PM

It’s that time of year when I take a deep breath and pray upon the past year, throw darts at a dartboard to get my net profit goal for next year and roll a single die to determine what percent of salary ...

One of North America's greenest buildings could serve as model for northern states

Jan 25, 2008 3:27 PM

The Canadian developers of a cutting-edge green building designed specifically for cold weather climates visited the Minneapolis-St. Paul area in late October to share their visionary project with local engineers and students during the University of Minnesota’s “Green Building North” event ...

Non-residential construction to continue growth in 2008

Jan 25, 2008 4:34 PM, Special to CONTRACTOR

Single-family residential construction was expected to finish 2007 down 25% from 2006 and should rise modestly by 2% in 2008, FMI Management Consultants predicted in its annual 2008 U.S. Markets Construction Overview. The non-residential sector will continue its strong growth in 2008, FMI said, led by the healthcare and educational markets. ...

Santa Clara Valley Water wins EPA conservation award

Jan 18, 2008 2:39 PM

SAN JOSE, CALIF. — Santa Clara Valley Water District, which helped county residents and businesses save more than 18 billion gallons of water a year, has received a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 2007 Water Efficiency Leader Award. ...

Save water, earn LEED points

Jan 18, 2008 4:27 PM

Mechanical and plumbing contractors can earn five LEED points for water conservation, 17 points under the energy and atmospheres section and 15 points for indoor environmental quality. ...

State penalizes California contractor

Jan 18, 2008 4:32 PM

SAN FRANCISCO — The California Department of Industrial Relations, Division of Apprenticeship Standards, which oversees apprentices in public works projects, has issued an order prohibiting Christopher J. Augusto Plumbing Co. of Marin County from bidding on or receiving any public works contracts for three years. ...