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Travel2020: 100% solar hotel marks milestone in green-build practices
Lark Gould Facilities & GroundsA small, unassuming hotel in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, is making big news these days. It's the first and only U.S. hotel at present to be fully powered by the sun. The Courtyard by Marriott hotel recently completed a 135,200-square-foot solar installation that will be able to serve all the power needs of this 133-room hotel with efficiency and cost-containment. Such planning may mark the beginning of a trend in hospitality in an era that has hotel developers asking about the impact climate change will have on their businesses and fielding concerns from a more planet-conscious traveling population.
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How Louisville’s airport is planning for the future with a new name,…
Matt Falcus Transportation Technology & AutomotiveLouisville, Kentucky's airport is in the early stages of planning a major overhaul to help put improvements in place to its aging facilities and create a more favorable first impression to travelers. The Kentucky airport is currently implementing a name change following a vote in January, which has seen it become Louisville Muhammad Ali International in honor of its native son and sporting legend in the hope of increasing its global appeal. Now, the plan is to undertake a $100 million renovation of the airport, which will greatly improve the airport’s passenger terminal, as well as other infrastructure.
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As citizenship question reaches high court, a look at how census data is…
Michelle R. Matisons Civil & GovernmentYou may have heard about the Supreme Court’s census case, expected to be ruled on this summer. The case has broad-reaching implications. Additionally, census forms are scheduled to be printed in June, so it’s best for the court to make a hasty decision on the matter. United States Department of Commerce v. New York, No. 18-966, is focused on whether it’s constitutional to ask about a respondent’s U.S. citizenship status when collecting other data. On that note, how is census data actually used?
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Unsafe firms imperil US workers, occupational safety group report says
Seth Sandronsky Facilities & GroundsEmployers can and should do a better job of ensuring U.S. worker safety, according to a new report from the National Council for Occupational Safety and Health (NCOSH). Titled "The Dirty Dozen," it details how 12 firms put workers and communities at risk with unsafe labor practices. The report marks Workers’ Memorial Week, which honors Americans who have died and suffered injuries and illnesses on the job. "Too many workers become ill, injured and die each year under the watch of their employers who, in some cases, are repeat offenders and among the world’s most profitable companies," said Marcy Goldstein-Gelb, co-executive director of NCOSH.
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Housing still searching for the sweet spot
Michael J. Berens Construction & Building MaterialsHousing activity flip-flopped in March, with sales of existing homes plunging while the market for new homes heated up. Declining home prices and mortgage rates helped to lure buyers, especially at the lower end of the price scale, but there was not enough low-priced inventory to go around, stifling sales. Even with a strong economy and more favorable borrowing conditions, the industry is still struggling to find the right mix of inventory and affordability to help it reach escape velocity from the ongoing cycle of alternating months of positive and negative growth.
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How construction contractors can avoid or handle nonpaying customers
Aki Merced Construction & Building MaterialsWhen construction contractors do business with clients, there is a fair expectation of payment for materials, labor, and services supplied. But sometimes, a client is unable to pay due to their financial difficulties and other situations, for reasons honest and otherwise. Regardless of the circumstances, however, not getting paid will hurt any business. Construction contractors need to have a strategic approach to collecting money and preventing nonpayments from constricting their cash flow. Here are some approaches that construction contractors can use to avoid and handle nonpaying customers.
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How to turn your brand into a phrase that pays
Fred Berns Interior Design, Furnishings & FixturesBranding has become big business among interior design professionals as they strive to get heard above the noise and stand out in an increasingly crowded marketplace. There are nearly as many interior design "brands" out there as there are interior designers, but the most effective of these — the ones that create the most buzz and attract the most business — have one word in common: "Only." Nothing differentiates your design firm more dramatically and spells out your specialness more effectively than that word.
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Pace of remodeling activity expected to pick up after slow start to 2019
Michael J. Berens Interior Design, Furnishings & FixturesComing off a strong period of sustained growth, demand for remodeling services softened somewhat in the first quarter of the year. Although growth remained positive, industry professionals reported lower levels of business activity and shortened periods of project backlogs compared with the previous quarter. Nonetheless, remodelers are optimistic that better business conditions in the second quarter will revive demand. Early forecasts had predicted that industry growth in 2019 would remain positive but at a more modest pace than in the past several years.
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Demand for design services currently a mixed bag
Lloyd Princeton Interior Design, Furnishings & FixturesAs I talk with clients around the country, I'm hearing quite divergent views of how business is going these days. The picture that emerges is something of a mixed bag. Some designers are keeping quite busy and have future projects lined up. Others are reporting a decrease in client requests and inquiries. Some of this appears to be sector-driven and some of it regional. What's not clear yet is whether this is a temporary blip or the start of a general slowdown in the industry.
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Green-collar jobs in the spotlight
Michelle R. Matisons Facilities & GroundsWhen referring to occupations, the word "collar" usually refers to class/income or gender designations. "White collar" is used for professional jobs, "blue collar" for manual labor/working-class jobs, and the phrase "pink collar" is used for fields predominantly occupied by women, such as teaching and nursing. But there’s a new collar color on the horizon that cuts across these class and gender distinctions. "Green collar" jobs include any occupation related to environmental issues: the category encompasses lower-wage solar panel installation positions all the way up to high-paying research and executive positions.
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