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Enjoying the results of the Civilian Conservation Corps

Cindy Belt Recreation & Leisure

Whenever we travel, we look for evidence of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). It was formed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1933 to provide jobs for young unmarried men to help bring the country out of the Great Depression. From 1933 to 1942, approximately 3 million men worked on planting trees, building roads and bridges, constructing fire towers, fighting fires, installing drainage systems, stringing telephone lines, and developing state and national parks.

Advancements in AI that are disrupting, reshaping the oil and gas industry

Joseph Zulick Science & Technology

The oil and gas industry has a reputation of being relatively slow to adopt new technologies. Within the past few years, though, it has moved beyond reliance on paper and pencil, physical labor, and machines. Volatility in world commodities markets has pushed companies to optimize efficiency and reduce costs. And because of the Fourth Industrial Revolution industry players are finding attractive solutions. This article examines the ways in which oil and gas companies are looking at AI as a tool to optimize performance.

Proposed California plastics law could be a game-changer for fighting pollution

Seth Sandronsky Waste Management & Environmental

California is the most populous state in the U.S. and the world’s fifth biggest economy. If enacted, the proposed California Circular Economy and Plastic Pollution Reduction Act could be a game-changer in reducing plastic production and promoting a clean recycling economy. "The legislation will establish a comprehensive framework to address the pollution and waste crisis, and sets a statewide goal that manufacturers reduce the waste generated by single-use packaging and products by 75% after 2030," according to a statement from state Sen. Ben Allen, D-Santa Monica.

Falling mortgage rates lift home sales

Michael J. Berens Construction & Building Materials

Prospective homebuyers took advantage of a drop in mortgage rates in May to scoop up available inventory. Entry-level and lower-income buyers were especially eager to lock in a purchase in anticipation that lower rates will cause home prices to creep upwards again. It was only the second time this year that sales of existing homes increased month-over-month. New home sales, on the other hand, plummeted for the second month in a row.

Manufacturing slowdown sparks new political strategies

Michelle R. Matisons Manufacturing

The White House's official optimistic manufacturing narrative has been seriously disjointed from real-world production and employment issues in the very important and inherently political manufacturing sector. President Trump hung his hat on increased manufacturing jobs to get elected, but a persistent trade deficit haunts his administration — increasing by $100 billion under his watch. Now that this harsh reality can’t be ignored, we see some politicians initiating new strategies to address the slowdown.

Department of Energy: Renewables create massive savings for facilities

Scott E. Rupp Facilities & Grounds

For business organizations, renewable energy can be a costly capital investment, but more companies are experiencing the successes of their efforts to reduce the energy used within their buildings and plants. One program created to help facilities leaders explore the opportunity of renewables is the Better Buildings Initiative from the U.S. Department of Energy. According to the agency, the program is meant to work "across industries to provide guidance and to document effective approaches for installing renewable technologies including solar, wind and geothermal." Per the government’s reporting on the issue, many organizations are making headway with solar.

Labor, environment shape USMCA debate

Michelle R. Matisons Manufacturing

U.S.-Mexico relations currently revolve around two distinct discourses. One discourse emphasizes separation and punishment, as President Trump seeks support for his border wall while Mexico strengthens border control. The other discourse emphasizes economic cooperation and trade relations, which we witness as tariff threats fade and renewed talk of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) passing in Congress heats up.

EPA’s Energy Star program gets updates, new building certifications

Scott E. Rupp Facilities & Grounds

There have been several updates to the Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star program, including changes to the Star score. The score ranges from one to 100, which is the current national benchmark for energy performance. Per program guidance, facility managers and users enter information about their buildings into Portfolio Manager, the EPA’s online resource management tool that is used to assess the status of the application submitted. Then, using this information, which includes key operational details and actual energy use, Portfolio Manager calculates a score that compares a building’s energy performance to similar buildings nationwide.

Pace of remodeling stays brisk, spending softens

Michael J. Berens Interior Design, Furnishings & Fixtures

Remodeling activity in the first three months of this year exceeded that of the previous quarter, continuing an upward growth trend. Industry projections and homeowner surveys indicate demand for services should remain steady throughout the remainder of the year. However, annual growth is expected to be more modest than in recent years, and homeowners plan to cut back spending on some projects. For the 28th quarter in a row, MetroStudy’s Residential Remodeling Index (RRI) posted positive growth in the first quarter of 2019, up 0.7% from the previous quarter and 4.1% over the first quarter of 2018.

What is your employee value proposition?

Lloyd Princeton Interior Design, Furnishings & Fixtures

Along with attracting the right talented people, holding onto them is one of the biggest challenges businesses face today. With unemployment at the lowest level in 50 years and employees with proven ability in high demand, promising workers a position and a modicum of job security is no longer enough to gain their loyalty. In today’s highly competitive environment, employers expect a lot from their staff. Now, employees are asking for more in return. And if they aren’t satisfied, they will look for better conditions and opportunities elsewhere.

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