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For well-being, natural is almost as good as nature
Michael J. Berens Interior Design, Furnishings & FixturesNumerous research studies have shown that people experiencing stress, fatigue, trauma, and recovery from illness respond positively to natural settings, natural elements (such as indoor plants and water features), and views of nature. But what of nature imagery or patterns similar to those found in nature? Does exposure to sensory stimuli that remind us of being in a natural setting produce a similar effect? Several recent studies indicate that they do.
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New home sales rebound as resales dip
Michael J. Berens Construction & Building MaterialsIn a pattern all-too-familiar to builders and realtors, housing market activity flipped again in June, with the scales tilting up for new homes and down for resale homes. Sales of new homes surged in June following two consecutive months of dismal declines. On the other side of the market, tight inventories and rising prices put a dent in sales of existing homes, which similarly had trended upward in May after two previous months of negative growth. Despite mortgage rates remaining relatively low, affordability and availability continue to be the primary factors influencing consumers’ willingness to purchase a home.
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A climate of change: What should your organization do?
Linda Popky Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementThe data show the earth is getting hotter — hotter now than it’s been since records were first kept in 1880. The rise in temperature affects animal and marine life and causes potentially devastating dangers for people. What should we do about it? How involved should businesses and associations be on this issue? Will support one way or the other help or hurt your business? Here are a few points to consider.
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Remodeling activity expected to slow in third quarter
Michael J. Berens Interior Design, Furnishings & FixturesHaving held relatively steady during the first half of the year, growth in home remodeling and renovation activity is expected to decrease somewhat in the months ahead. Fewer existing home sales and supply-side challenges such as a lack of skilled labor and rising costs have lowered demand for new projects. Unless those conditions improve, analysts say, the long-range forecast predicts a significant reduction in annual growth in 2020.
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3 ways AR and VR are reshaping efficient work
Joseph Zulick Science & TechnologySome people believe that the entire concept of "work" will be reimagined and reexamined in the near future. In fact, "work" is already changing, and augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) are playing a significant role in that change. There are already large corporations and small businesses that are preparing for this shift, too. Here are some of the ways in which AR/VR will change the way work gets done in the near future.
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Interior design activity trends positively in spring
Michael J. Berens Interior Design, Furnishings & FixturesComing off a slow start at the beginning of the year, interior design business activity surged in early spring. At present, activity is trending above that of last year, although modestly. Designers overall are optimistic conditions will remain positive going into the third quarter of the year. After three months of negative growth, the American Society of Interior Designers’ Interior Design Billings Index (IDBI) spiked more than 14 points in March, to 60.4.
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Airports across the US to benefit from $495 million in infrastructure grants
Matt Falcus Transportation Technology & AutomotiveU.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao has announced a major round of infrastructure funding to airports across the United States to help with much-needed rehabilitation and construction projects. In all, 358 grants have been awarded to 327 airports around the country in 46 states and several island territories. These range from smaller regional and general aviation facilities to large hub airports like Dallas-Fort Worth International, George Bush Intercontinental, San Diego International, and Las Vegas McCarran.
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A guide for facilities decision-makers on going solar
Scott E. Rupp Facilities & GroundsImplementing a solar energy project has many legs and can move in many directions. However, guidance, development of the project, the site, and goals need to be set well before actual work can be done. Planning can help a facility carry out the solar implementation project, but facility managers should also look for innovative ways to aggregate procurements to benefit from economies of scale and to reduce transaction costs. Federal agencies, for example, are moving toward solar power capabilities, as are private organizations. But no matter the agency or sector, interest is there for generating solar plans.
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Does location impact your interior design business?
Lloyd Princeton Interior Design, Furnishings & FixturesRecently, a client approached me with an intriguing business dilemma. They felt their firm could be commanding higher fees and earning more revenue if they moved to a more prosperous location. They wanted to know if I could help them determine where that location might be. It turned out that while there is not information about specific businesses, there is data showing some interesting patterns that firms may want to take into consideration when determining their location and evaluating how well they are performing.
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US economy adds 224,000 jobs; unemployment rate ticks up to 3.7%
Seth Sandronsky Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementWhat a difference a month can make. In June, U.S. payrolls grew by 224,000 jobs, a sharp rebound from 75,000 new hires in May, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. June’s rate of unemployment ticked up to 3.7% from May’s 3.6%. The jobless rates for major worker groups, the number of long-term unemployed persons, and the labor-force participation rate remained nearly the same in June from May, the BLS reported. The June employment-to-population ratio was 60.6% for the fourth straight month.
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