All Construction & Building Materials Articles
  • The View from Europe: Taxing question

    Andrew Gaved Construction & Building Materials

    As the precise details of the forthcoming EU F-gas regulations are currently being hammered out in Brussels, many in the European refrigeration and air conditioning industry are bracing themselves for significant new cost to be added to the supply chain. The European Parliament has made plain its desire to effectively "penalize" those who use HFCs, by charging an allocation fee for production of the refrigerants.

  • Common mistakes that lead to adhesion failure

    Chris Lord Manufacturing

    ​One of the most critical aspects of an effective coating application is achieving proper coating adhesion to either the substrate or between coats. While there are many variables that can lead to substrate or intercoat adhesion failure, there are several common mistakes that are the culprits.

  • Fabricated green building products rapidly advancing

    Don Rosato Engineering

    Green building technology redefines how we make and live in buildings. From a plastics processing standpoint, we can both reduce a building's energy consumption and simultaneously provide for a building's energy production.

  • Biophilia: The next step in green design

    Michael J. Berens Interior Design, Furnishings & Fixtures

    As the U.S. Green Building Council gets ready to roll out LEED v4 at the ​Greenbuild conference Nov. 20-22, now is a good time to pause and reflect on how just how far green and sustainable design have come since LEED first launched in 2000. Once considered a fringe movement within A&D circles, green building and green products have helped to keep the industry afloat during the post-recession economic stagnation.

  • The View from Europe: The natural consequences of F-gas

    Andrew Gaved Construction & Building Materials

    The ATMOsphere natural refrigerant conference Oct. 15-16 in Brussels provided a good opportunity to test the potential impact of the forthcoming F-gas regulations on the world of "naturals." For the changing landscape of legislation, with upcoming potential bans on servicing high-GWP equipment, it looks highly likely that we'll see natural refrigeration techniques thrust to center stage in the European RAC industry.

  • Credit application can be the first step in getting you paid

    Nate Budde

    ​A thorough credit application is an integral part of any company's credit management policy, including companies in the construction industry. Credit applications aren't sexy to look at, but when specifically tailored to fit within the framework of your credit policy as a whole, they can greatly improve your payment funnel and increase profits.

  • Confessions of a miser: 6 tips to a strong budget

    Bob Fortune

    Budgetary decisions often times require courage because difficult financial choices affect everyone within an organization. Belt tightening, cutbacks and general business decisions are a necessary and healthy part of the business cycle, and few people cheer when a tricky budget cut or choice is made.

  • Emerging green building material technologies to watch

    Don Rosato

    "Green building" is being transformed from a buzzword to a sophisticated approach using technology that redefines how we make and live in buildings that both reduce building energy consumption and provide for building energy production.

  • Bumpy road for redevelopment getting smoother in Irving, Texas

    Bambi Majumdar

    ​The Heritage Crossing Redevelopment Project in Irving, Texas has seen more ups and downs since it was conceptualized in 2006 than perhaps any other downtown revitalization project. But plans have started moving forward recently, giving hope to this once-thriving area.

  • 5 tips for commercial property management

    Bambi Majumdar

    With the economy stabilizing, global markets settling down and the job markets opening up, there is renewed growth and hope for the commercial real estate industry. In the immediate future, construction and high-end commercial property management present intelligent buildings for new-age businesses.