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The luxury home market’s ‘meteoric’ rebound

Michael J. Berens Interior Design, Furnishings & Fixtures

In what may foreshadow a boost in demand for interior design services late this spring and through the summer, sales of luxury homes soared during the first quarter of this year. Declining sales last year had caused prices to drop and properties to linger on the market for months. With economic conditions more favorable and supply starting to dwindle, that trend has reversed itself. Both sales and prices have soared in recent months.

Is luxury the only market left for interior designers?

Lloyd Princeton Interior Design, Furnishings & Fixtures

As consumers’ appreciation of and desire for good design have increased in the past decade or so, competitors of all sorts have rushed in to try to fill the gap between what consumers want and what they can afford. This has put pressure on designers to lower their fees and work with smaller budgets, thereby reducing their profitability. With little indication that this situation will change anytime soon, it begs the question as to whether the luxury market is the only viable one left for today’s designers.

Developing a sustainable cooling industry for the future

Andrew Gaved Manufacturing

The present view from the cooling industry in Europe has something of an air of déjà vu about it. There are tightening markets, and therefore significantly rising costs for higher-GWP refrigerants like R404A. The industry is dealing with general consternation from end-users that they are having to pay more than they forecast even a year or two ago, and mild panic from AC contractors that R410A is no longer available from some wholesalers. These views were all represented, or reported, at RAC’s recent F-Gas Question Time.

Housing slips as market tightens

Michael J. Berens Construction & Building Materials

A strengthening economy and steady employment figures were not enough to combat market pressures last month in the housing industry. Indicators for both home sales and home construction dropped, following positive gains in March. Despite high demand, low inventories, high prices and rising interest rates are making it difficult for many would-be buyers to find a desirable, affordable home.

Waterless and low-flow toilets save more water than money

Scott E. Rupp Facilities & Grounds

Waterless urinals and low-flow toilets are an increasingly pervasive investment being made by facilities managers and building owners throughout the world, mostly because they help save water. However, there are arguments about the amount of money they save. The waterless units really do operate without water, but when making the case for their investment, the best argument might be a green one — as in the environment and not cash — as a corporate responsibility effort.

Pay your staff what they’re worth

Anne Rose Business Management, Services & Risk Management

How do you calculate what to pay your staff? Anticipated revenues? Operating costs? What the market will bear? Why not pay your staff what you think their job is worth? How much does the success of your business depend on the successful functioning of this person? When you take advantage of someone and pay them the minimum expected or legally allowed, regardless of their value, guess what? You’ll get the minimum expected work out of that employee in reciprocity as retribution.

Emerging plastics technologies highlighted at NPE and ANTEC shows

Don Rosato Engineering

Recently, the global plastics industry community was welcomed to a great National Plastics Exposition (NPE) that took place May 7-11, along with the equally impressive ANTEC from May 7-10 in Orlando, Florida, at the Orange County Convention Center. Let’s highlight some emerging plastics technologies at NPE and ANTEC, starting with what’s leading the 3-D printing plastics revolution. In the traditional 3-D printing area of fused filament fabrication, novel open-source software has come to the forefront.

Urban design gone wrong: Parks

Lucy Wallwork Facilities & Grounds

Ever since someone described parks as the "lungs of the city," cities have been competing to declare themselves as "green" by allocating space for public parks in urban redevelopment initiatives. This race to boost the percentage of green space for city brochures is typical of this age of "competitive cities." In many ways it is welcome — parks have even been shown to not only make us healthier but even make us smarter. But parks should not be judged on quantity, but quality.

Can educators make trade school an easier choice for students?

Sheilamary Koch Education

In response to soaring higher education costs and widespread shortages of skilled workers to fill jobs, the topic of vocational training has become increasingly popular. The reduced training time and cost of trade school compared to university is a key benefit highlighted by advocates. Why then, despite the obvious benefits, are high school graduates — especially those likely to find a career in the trades fulfilling — still opting for an expensive college education instead of trade school?

California’s new home construction law embraces solar power

Michelle R. Matisons Waste Management & Environmental

The year 2020 marks a sunny turn for solar enthusiasts in California. That is the year that solar panels are required for all newly constructed single-family homes and small multifamily apartment-style buildings of three stories or less. When the California Energy Commission recently voted unanimously to make solar panels mandatory for these construction projects, the room was packed to capacity. But there was little debate that this is a good idea.

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