PRIVATE CONSTRUCTION
Spending on private construction was at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $827.4 billion, 1.7 percent below the revised February estimate of $842.0 billion.

Residential construction was at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $445.0 billion in March, 4.6 percent below the revised February estimate of $466.7 billion. Nonresidential construction was at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $382.3 billion in March, 1.9 percent above the revised February estimate of $375.3 billion.

PUBLIC CONSTRUCTION
In March, the estimated seasonally adjusted annual rate of public construction spending was $296.2 billion, 0.6 percent above the revised February estimate of $294.5 billion.

Educational construction was at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $84.1 billion, 0.3 percent above the revised February estimate of $83.9 billion. Highway construction was at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $79.7 billion, 0.8 percent above the revised February estimate of $79.0 billion.

"This is a continuation of our disciplined approach to capital allocation that we outlined last year. We will invest in our core retail business, in this case our existing stores, which drive our most profitable sales. Our capital efficiency model will also provide improved returns for our shareholders through dividends and share repurchases," said Frank Blake, chairman and CEO.

The company said the store closings will impact approximately 1,300 associates. The store managers and assistant store managers will be offered other store management positions within the organization. The Company will work to place the rest of the associates in other comparable store positions where available.

Home Depot said it still plans to open 55 new stores (36 in the U.S.) in the current fiscal year.

The RMI measures remodeler perceptions of market demand for current and future residential remodeling projects. Any number over 50 indicates that the majority of remodelers view the market conditions as improving. The RMI has been running below 50 since the final quarter of 2005.

"The remodeling market continues to show weakness, following the downturn in the overall housing market," said NAHB Chief Economist David Seiders. "We expect there to be some further erosion in 2008, with a gradual recovery in 2009."

Nationally, the RMI components for major additions and alterations during the first quarter increased to 44.15 (from 42.28). Minor additions and alterations decreased to 41.57 (from 41.76). Maintenance and repair remodeling work increased to 39.68 in the first quarter (from 38.11). The amount of work committed for the next three months decreased to 29.63 (from 33.15 in the fourth quarter) demonstrating a decline in the backlog of remodeling jobs.

"While remodeling is down nationally, some markets continue to churn with activity," said NAHB Remodelers Chairman Lonny Rutherford, CGR, CAPS, CGP, a remodeler from Farmington, N. M. "Many remodelers are seeing smaller jobs and have a shorter backlog, but we expect activity to increase because necessary home repairs cannot be postponed for a long time."

Regionally, current market expectations dropped in the first quarter in the Northeast to 36.4 (from 38.6), and in the South to 42.2 (from 45.0). The Midwest however increased to 44.1 (from 41.1) and the West was up slightly to 42.9 (from 42.2).

The 2,452 square foot Dorchester home was fully decorated by Jason Craigo of Pottery Barn with the helpful insight of onsite agent Patty Shipley.

Each room within the two-story Dorchester home features items from Pottery Barn which can be purchased for approximately $5,000. When deciding what furniture and accessories to feature in the home, Craigo said he chose items that were hot sellers at Pottery Barn, such as the Chesapeake dining table located on the patio in the backyard.

Said Craigo, "While I did choose many of Pottery Barn's most popular items, I also wanted to stay right around $5,000 per room. That way, if a buyer decided he wanted everything he saw in the living room, he could go to Pottery Barn and have it all for approximately $5,000. I think it works out well for both companies – obviously Pottery Barn would love for buyers to purchase their new home furnishings from us, and Bowen Family Homes is a reputable company that is sincerely trying to help new buyers realize the full potential of their home, and assure them it isn't necessarily going to cost them an arm and a leg to do so."

Learn more at: bowenfamilyhomes.com

The monthly training sessions will be held the second Tuesday of every month at 1:30 p.m. ET/10:30 a.m. PT. They will cover crucial topics for remodelers and other home-improvement industry professionals, such as sales, advertising, lead generation, management, Web site how-to's, business software, legal information and more. A variety of spokespeople will helm the Webinars, providing expert advice and industry insights.

Upcoming Webinar dates and speakers:

--May 13: "Turning GLOOM into BOOM! Succeeding and growing in today's troubled market," with speaker Rick Grosso, an expert in sales psychology and training, and a sales consultant for companies worldwide

--June 10: "Setting MORE and BETTER appointments from your leads," with speaker David Yoho, Jr., one of America's leading sales, marketing and management consultants to the remodeling industry since 1978

--July 8: "Close with confidence: The best of Phil Rea's 32 sales closes," with speaker Phil Rea, founder of R2R Associates, one of the best coaching and training teams in the home services industry

"Research surrounding our past Training Tuesdays revealed that these events are very much sought-after—and that Atrium is the only supplier offering such a timely training service," said Russell Nirella with the Marketing Department at Thermal Industries, Inc., one of Atrium's replacement window facilities. "This is a value-add opportunity and we encourage all of our dealers and customers to take advantage of these complimentary Webinars to grow their businesses' bottom lines."

To register for Training Tuesdays, participants are encouraged to go to www.trainingtuesdays.com and sign up for each separate Webinar. Session confirmations and reminders will be sent via e-mail to participants. Spokespeople for the remaining training dates also will be announced on the Web site.

Gross profit for the first quarter totaled $77.8 million, down 25% from $103.8 million in the prior-year period, reflecting lower unit volume associated with the decline in housing starts.

For more information, visit: BlueLinxCo.com

--The Austrian operations consist of 26 aggregate plants (7.1 million metric tons of volume sold in 2007) and 39 ready-mix plants (2.0 million cubic meters of volume sold in 2007). These assets generated revenues of approximately US$274 million in 2007.

--The Hungarian assets are comprised of 5 aggregate plants (1.8 million metric tons of volume sold in 2007), 31 ready-mix plants (0.8 million cubic meters of volume sold in 2007) and 5 paving stone plants. 2007 revenues from these assets were approximately US$84 million.

--The UK assets include the Floors, Roof Tiles and the Rail Products businesses, which generated combined sales of approximately US$98 million in 2007.

The proceeds from the potential assets sale will be used for debt reduction.

"This announcement further signifies our commitment to properly serving customers by expanding and enhancing upon our existing distribution," explains David Wynne, vice president, market development of Coffman Stairs. "Huttig's outstanding reputation and distribution network is an excellent fit to regain our market share and make our high-quality products available throughout the northern New England area."

Learn more at: www.coffmanstairs.com

HGTV has become nothing short of a home improvement phenomenon, and now you can be a part of the action if your remodeling project is accepted.

Learn more here

Donald R. Horton, Chairman of the Board, said, "Although market conditions in the homebuilding industry remain challenging, we continue to focus on reducing inventory and generating cash flow from operations. We reduced our homes in residential inventory to approximately 15,100 homes at the end of March, down approximately 13% from the end of December. We generated approximately $450 million of cash flow from operations this quarter and exceeded our fiscal year goal of at least $1 billion in only six months. We ended the quarter with a homebuilding cash balance of $519 million. We also maintained our focus on controlling our costs, reducing our homebuilding SG&A expenses by approximately $88 million in our quarter ended March 31, 2008, compared to the year ago quarter."

The homebuilder sold 7,528 homes during the latest quarter, compared with 9,983 homes for the same quarter of fiscal 2007. The Company's cancellation rate for the second quarter of fiscal 2008 was 33%.

"We have opened a new urban division with an office in San Francisco to address – in part - the city's initiatives toward higher density housing," said Joseph Perkins, HBANC President & CEO. "Policy issues that impact urban builders are unique to environments like San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose where there's a premium on space. Infill, mixed-use, multi-family, and transit-oriented development is the preferred method of growing our supply of residential housing. Since we are also a source for consumers to learn about current housing issues, it makes sense for us to be in the city."

The new division's goals are also synergistic with San Francisco's own Building Inspection Commission's move to adopt the greenest building codes in the country by 2012. Urban infill is compatible with the concept of green building – by reducing land acquisition needs, Bay Area counties can focus legislative efforts on cleaning up former military bases and toxic sites, and reducing people's transit requirements shrinks overall energy consumption.

For details go here

"Kohler is one of the most recognized and respected brand names in our industry," said Charles Schneider, chairman and CEO of Builder Sourcing. "We are excited to offer a program with Kohler products and to have our builder members be able to further distinguish their homes. It is another example of how our size creates advantages for the independent builder."

Builder Sourcing's Whole House Program is designed to save builders money on the products and services they use to build homes. Builder Sourcing has more than 50 supply categories and insurance products, saving builders hundreds to thousands of dollars on each and every home they build.

If you would like to join the buying group, contact Builder Sourcing at info@buildersourcing.com or 877-367-2010, ext. 116 for builders and 117 for suppliers.

Unlike traditional locks, the iLoch grants or denies people access based on the access rights set by the lock owner using an online interface. Instead of traditional keys, the iLoch is opened with an iButton or other unique credential, a personal master key that can open any iLoch-enabled door its owner has permission to access at home, work or any other location. If an iButton is lost, the iButton owner can easily associate permissions to a new iButton using the online interface, rendering the lost keys inactive and eliminating the security risk traditionally posed by misplaced keys.

The iLoch offers the benefits of industrial access control to building managers, construction developers, architects, quick-service restaurant owners, retail managers and homeowners in a cost-effective, easy-to-use package. The projected cost for an iLoch system is less than half that of competitive solutions. LochIsle's long-range vision is for every person to carry an iButton, eliminating the need for physical key exchanges and the inherent associated risks.

"The iLoch system is the world's easiest, most convenient electronic access-control system and one day, all locks will work this way," said Gavin McLintock, founder, CEO and CTO of LochIsle. "We came up with the brilliant idea and security model, now we are looking for the right partners to manage hardware manufacturing and distribution. Our expertise is in web services development; our partners' expertise will be in manufacturing and selling locks."

Over the past year, the iLoch has undergone field trials with small businesses, homeowners and quick-service restaurants. It has proven effective, with users recognizing the ease of use and reduced security concerns because of the online access-control management system.

"We used to chase employees for keys and frequently change our locks," said Ian Kayser, owner of a Quizno's Subs in Ottawa. "Now, from home, I can control which employees have access, during what hours. It's given me peace of mind, cut my operations costs, and created accountability for my staff."

LochIsle's technology has been granted patents in the U.S. and Canada. The company is seeking opportunities to license its technology to partners that will manufacture and distribute iLoch-enabled system hardware while LochIsle maintains and operates the web interface as a web services company.

For more information, please visit www.lochisle.com

"Tim has been successful in both the highly competitive retail and builder channels and his hire will be a nice addition to our management team," said Donny DeMarie, Masco Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer.

Prior to joining Masco, Mr. Yaggi had been with Whirlpool since 1994, most recently as Executive Vice President, Market Operations, North America, with responsibility for brand marketing, product management and development, and sales and supply chain management. Throughout his career at Whirlpool, he held a number of senior management positions involving global brand management, product development and strategy.

The new single-hole, single-handle kitchen faucet is ideal for granite countertops for a clean, sleek style and is available in both standard and pulldown versions. The pulldown kitchen faucet features an ergonomically designed wand with an easy-turn swivel joint on the end of the hose and three spray options: stream, rinse and pause. Moen's patented pause button allows users to interrupt the water flow while moving the spout outside of the sink. Additionally, the pullout hose is made of fiber to ensure quiet operation.

Level kitchen faucets are available in Chrome and Moen's new LifeShine(R) Classic Stainless finishes. With a lightly brushed, cool-grey hue, the Classic Stainless finish is cooler in appearance than Brushed Nickel and is warmer than Brushed Chrome. "Our new LifeShine Classic Stainless finish is truly versatile and effortlessly coordinates with stainless steel kitchen appliances, sinks and hardware, as well as natural countertop materials," added Allison.

The collection also features a contemporary bathroom suite, launched earlier in the year.

Learn more at: www.moen.com

Learn more at: http://www.nahb.org/conference_details.aspx?conferenceID=64

This year's show promises informative housing seminars and interactive workshops that are sure to inspire you and your family. It's also your chance to meet qualified builders and remodelers who will help you plan the home of your dreams. The show will also feature all of the latest appliances and gadgets that will make your life easier!

For discount coupons and more show information, visit: www.ghbashows.com

The publication discovered that the worst home-building slump in 20 years has caused 84% of the companies on the 2008 PROSALES 100 to suffer an average 16% drop in sales revenue year over year.

Total Sales for the PROSALES 100 companies totaled $34.1 billion in 2007 vs. $39.5 billion in 2006. Adding in the 16 dealers with flat sales, the average decline for all 100 companies was 13.6%.

"Comparing the 2008 PROSALES 100 with previous years reveals just how sharp the downturn has been," says PROSALES editor Craig Webb. For instance, the previous list reporting 2004 sales showed that all 100 companies had increased sales is from 2003, and 95 of them scored double-digit gains. This year's report shows only six companies with double-digit gains, while some dealers saw sales fall nearly 50%.

The PROSALES 100 -- compiled by the PROSALES staff and reported by senior editor Andy Carlo -- is the premier report on construction supply companies that garner more than half their revenues from professional builders. Large operations that cater primarily to retail customers, such as The Home Depot, Lowe's and Menards, are excluded, thus making it possible to examine more accurately the pro-oriented side of the lumber and building material industry. Collectively, the 2008 PROSALES 100 companies run 3,675 sales and production outlets across the country and employ just over 101,000 workers.

For the second straight year, Denver-based ProBuild tops the list, despite experiencing a decrease in sales of 16.7% to $5 billion. Ninety percent of ProBuild's sales are to construction professionals. Stock Building Supply, Raleigh, N.C., was second with $4.7 billion in overall sales (94% to pros) down 13.2%, while 84 Lumber Co., Eighty Four, Pa., remained in third place at $3.1 billion (97% to pros), a 20.9% decline. The top 10 dealers account for two-thirds of the total sales, number of facilities, and number of employees.

"These may be particularly hard times for lumber and building material dealers, but they remain, on the whole, optimistic," Webb said. "More than 70% plan to expand within their regions in the next five years, and more than half expect their installed sales and component manufacturing operations to grow as well by 2012."

Half the PROSALES 100 members currently install windows, but 13% more plan to do so. More than 10% of the list's members plan to begin doing installations involving such building materials as locksets and hardware, interior doors, millwork and molding, shelving, wall panels and stairs.

"Dealers also plan to increase the number of electronic services they offer," added Mark Taussig, PROSALES' publisher. "For instance, more than 50% of the companies on the list plan to begin offering online purchase orders, order tracking, and online payment, while more than 40% will get into such services as online inventory-checking, invoicing, and access to online customer accounts."

For more information on the magazine or PROSALES 100, visit prosalesmagazine.com"

This interactive online presentation will last roughly one hour, followed by a brief period for questions from attendees. Presenter Michael Collins will cover a variety of topics relevant to window and door industry executives and entrepreneurs. The topics to be covered will include an update of the firm's research into competition from Chinese companies, including a comparison of the rate of growth of window and door imports with imports of other building products.

Also included will be a review of statistics regarding recent window and door transactions and plant expansions and the outlook for continued transaction activity in the industry. Mr. Collins will then cover the significant trends driving the market for windows, doors, skylights, overhead doors, sunrooms and other fenestration products. In closing, he will outline his short-term and long-term view of the window and door industry segment.

Participation in this presentation is complimentary. While attendees will have the opportunity to present questions to the moderator, attendance will be anonymous among participants. To register for this presentation, please visit the following link:

www.jordanknauff.com/webinar

Alternatively, those interested in participating may contact Michael Collins at 312-254-5904 or mcollins@jordanknauff.com.

Trex Hideaway will be available in two styles of hidden clips developed for exclusive use with the new grooved boards that are being introduced to the Trex Brasilia collection.  The Connector Clip – available in 50- and 500-square foot coverage options – is for use between deck boards.  The Start/Stop Clip is available in a 400-square foot coverage option and is for use on outer boards.  This clip – which allows for one-sided connections – is the first of its kind on the market.  Clips and accompanying screws are constructed of long-lasting stainless steel for superior durability and UV protection.  All components feature a black finish. 

Installation of the Trex Hideaway Hidden Fastener System is much simpler in comparison to other similar systems on the market.  The innovative design of the trailing side of the clips, when combined with the slope of the grooved boards, results in a "no struggle" coupling that differs from fastener systems that incorporate hammers and mallets.  The "teeth" on the leading side of the clip also serve to easily position the fastener in place, freeing up an installer's hands to grip both screw and drill.  In addition, all installation is accomplished from the deck surface – above the joists – rather than from underneath the actual deck. 

"We're very confident in the superiority of Trex Hideaway when matched against other hidden fastening systems on the market," said Scott Fedor, senior product manager of decking at Trex.  "The unique grooved design of our boards allows them to easily attach to the clips – not only creating a pleasing aesthetic, but also allowing for an installation process that is far more efficient and uncomplicated than that of similar products.  Replacement also is simpler – even on boards installed in the middle of a deck."

During development of Trex Hideaway, Trex worked closely with contractors to test the design of the product and to ensure that all of its features directly addressed contractor needs and exceeded their expectations.  In addition, the industry recently has experienced increased consumer demand for deck products that are free of visible nails and screws – particularly among homeowners with children and pets.

For more information, visit www.trex.com

The awards and grants recognize pre-K through college-level curricula that advance the green building ideals of transforming how buildings and communities are designed, built and operated.  Recognition awards honor existing green building education projects, activities or programs.  The Incentive Grants provide monetary support of $20,000 each for schools or organizations to develop new curriculum. 

USGBC will establish a repository of the newly identified curricula and will develop a teaching resource database, which will serve to disseminate these programs nationally and facilitate contact among educators from a wide variety of disciplines.  In addition, an Educator Summit during the USGBC's Greenbuild Conference in Boston on November 21, 2008 will showcase the winning curriculum.

Recipients of USGBC's inaugural Excellence in Green Building Curriculum Recognition Awards and Incentive Grants programs include:

2008 Recognition Awards

School Building Week: School of the Future Student Design Competition
The Council of Educational Facility Planners (Scottsdale, AZ)
School of the Future Student Design Competition is a national program that offers an opportunity for middle school students to bring their creativity to the design process.  Student teams are challenged to design their schools to enhance learning, conserve resources, be environmentally responsive and engage the surrounding community.  The competition is a component of School Building Week, which focuses on the importance of high performing, healthy, safe and sustainable school facilities and to showcase their connection to learning.  School Building Week is supported by the CEFPI Foundation & Charitable Trust in collaboration with the Council of Educational Facility Planners International, U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, National Association of REALTORS(R), American Institute of Architects and over 35 other organizations. 

Kentucky Green & Healthy Schools
Kentucky Environmental Education Council (Frankfort, KY)
Kentucky Green & Healthy School (KGHS) is a web-based program that allows students and staff to make their schools greener and healthier by studying their learning environments.  The program assists teachers in utilizing their schools as a teaching tool and enables students to take an active role in the management of their school buildings and grounds. The program aligns with the Kentucky Core Content for Assessment so teachers can prepare the students for the state's mandatory testing program as they study the efficiency and sustainability of their school's environment.

Residential Building Technology Program
Yavapai College (Prescott, AZ)
Yavapai College's progressive Residential Building Technology (RBT) program teaches students to design, build and manage the construction of safe, durable, affordable, energy-efficient, and environmentally responsive houses. Through this unique classroom and jobsite-based training program, students learn how to incorporate appropriate climate-specific building materials, specify systems and technologies based on current applied building science principles, and to implement sustainable design and green building practices.

Beyond Curriculum: Cross-Campus Sustainability at Grand Valley State University
Grand Valley State University (Allendale, MI)
Grand Valley State University (GVSU) is pledged to a comprehensive sustainability strategy that integrates curricular development; campus operations, including a commitment to LEED(R) construction; student involvement; and community engagement. Planning for GVSU's transformation into a sustainable campus began in 2004 with the establishment of the Sustainability Initiative and a baseline collection of operational and administrative performance indicators. This effort resulted in GVSU's first sustainability report (October 2005), which addressed the triple bottom line (TBL) indicators of sustainable development and utilized 64 performance measurements.

The Alley-Flat Initiative
University of Texas Austin
The Alley-Flat Initiative (AFI) is a joint collaboration between the University of Texas Center for Sustainable Development, the Guadalupe Neighborhood Housing Development Corporation (GNDC), the Austin Community Design and Development Center (ACDDC), and the BaSiC Initiative. The program was conceived through student research and design studios at the University of Texas School of Architecture.  Alley flats are small, detached residential units accessed from Austin's extensive network of under-utilized alleys. The goal of the Initiative is to build two prototypes (one is currently under construction) to showcase innovative design and environmental sustainability features.  The prototypes will demonstrate how sustainable housing can support growing communities by being affordable and adaptable. The long-term goal is to create a flexible and self perpetuating delivery system for sustainable and affordable housing in Austin and to demonstrate a process that might be replicated elsewhere.

ecoMOD
University of Virginia (Charlottesville, VA)
ecoMOD is a research and design/build/evaluate project that is creating a series of ecological, modular and affordable housing units. The program works directly with affordable housing organizations to ensure sustainable housing is no longer a luxury reserved for the wealthy.  Since 2004, the ecoMOD project has built a total of five units for Piedmont Housing Alliance (PHA) and Habitat for Humanity (HFH). The housing units are designed and built by interdisciplinary teams of students, working closely with faculty and outside experts. After the homes are occupied, student evaluation teams monitor and evaluate them carefully, with the results guiding subsequent designs. ecoMOD is imbedded in UVA's curriculum and is structured to maximize educational opportunities.  It is a partnership of the UVA School of Architecture and School of Engineering and Applied Science. 

2008 Incentive Grants – $20,000 each

Architecture Handbook 2: A Student Guide to Understanding Buildings
Chicago Architecture Foundation
The Chicago Architecture Foundation will develop the second level of its The Architecture Handbook: A Student Guide to Understanding Buildings (TAH2). The project's first level (TAH1) was a high school architecture curriculum published in the fall of 2007, which was an innovative pedagogical resource and model in the forefront of architecture and design education for high school students.  TAH2 will be an online interactive and integrated curriculum for high school students and teachers to investigate the design and construction of green schools. It will serve the needs of upper level (junior and senior) Chicago public school students learning about architecture by utilizing web-based technology.  A secondary audience will be high school students and teachers across the United States working within a classroom setting or independently.

Design + Build + Live Green
Youth Learning Academy (Charlottesville, VA)
Design + Build + Live Green (D+B+L) will be the green initiative of the Youth Learning Academy's Design + Challenge program, which promotes interest in construction as a career and builds tangible skills in building and design.  D+B+L strengthens the Design + Challenge program with specific components on how to design, build and live green and demonstrates why sustainable practices are of the utmost importance in the building industry. The goals of the program include facilitating young people's involvement in sustainable building practices, expanding marketable skills, initiating hands-on training in sustainable building practices, and encouraging youth to transfer green awareness to their families and peers. 

Green Building Technologies Course Curriculum
Eastern Iowa Community College District (Davenport, IA)
As part of the Renewable Energy Systems Technician program, Eastern Iowa Community College District (EICCD) plans to develop a four-credit course entitled Green Construction Technologies to provide students with the necessary skills to build quality, sustainable, and affordable housing. The course will give students hands-on experience with green technologies by learning through construction and will allow participating high school students to receive dual enrollment college credit.  Individual green construction technology modules will also be developed to be inserted into existing EICCD two-year programs in areas such as heating, ventilation and air conditioning, interior design, horticulture, and manufacturing maintenance. 

Online Course Green Building Off the Grid: A Net-Zero Energy Residence
Santa Fe Community College
Santa Fe Community College will develop an online course to visually document the entire process of building an energy-efficient house that generates its power off the grid. The three-credit course will be part of a college certificate program in green building.  Designed for students who are generally hands-on and visual learners, this audio-visual documentary will provide a more engaging and memorable presentation than traditional lectures and books. Each stage of the building project will be documented by video and will include listening to homeowners, builders, and subcontractors discuss design and construction elements such as the selection of materials, cost of green vs. traditional construction, amortization of costs by energy savings, and comfort and health benefits of green-built structures.

Collaborative Green Building Practice
Cornell University (Ithaca, NY)
The Collaborative Green Building Practice course emphasizes interactive learning experiences and critical thinking to help students understand the broad scope of green building practice. Instead of focusing on green building design, the course challenges students to go outside the classroom to interact with authorities, researchers, professionals and the public to learn about the key factors that influence how buildings are built and operate, including the roles of all key stakeholders.  As a part of the course, teams of students produce a ten-minute documentary film for posting on an interactive course website.

Sustainable Architecture that Teaches (SAT) Curriculum
University of Maine Farmington
The University of Maine at Farmington (UMF) has undertaken a commitment to establishing a culture of environmental sustainability. To that end, UMF will use its two new LEED(R) certified buildings to expand its sustainability efforts through a multi-level curriculum to influence university students as well as Pre-K to 12 teachers and students and community members.  Three faculty members will incorporate the new LEED(R) certified buildings into their curricula and student leaders will serve as mentors to work closely with faculty and train future student leaders to carry on the curricular goals once they leave UMF. Pre-K to 12 students and teachers will learn not only about the green features of LEED(R) certified buildings, but how they can make a positive impact in their own homes.  Teachers will also be given the opportunity to contribute to curricular development.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFciuGKYM-Q

Lynn Franco, Director of The Conference Board Consumer Research Center, commented: "This month's decline in Consumer Confidence was the result of yet another sharp decline in the Present Situation Index. This continued weakening suggests that not only has the feeble level of growth in the first quarter spilled over into the second quarter, but that economic conditions may have slowed even further. And, not only are lackluster business and job conditions eroding confidence, but rising gasoline prices are undoubtedly heightening concerns. Consumers' inflation expectations continue to rise and this measure now matches the all-time high reached in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. The percentage of respondents intending to take a vacation over the next six months has fallen to a 30-year low, another sign of consumers turning more cost conscious. Looking ahead, consumers' outlook for the economy, the job market and their income prospects remains quite pessimistic and little changed from last month. Or, in other words, the glass remains half empty."

The Consumer Confidence Survey is based on a representative sample of 5,000 U.S. households. The monthly survey is conducted for The Conference Board by TNS. TNS is the world's largest custom research company. The cutoff date for April's preliminary results was April 22nd.

Consumers' assessment of current conditions weakened further in April. Consumers claiming business conditions are "bad" increased to 26.7 percent from 25.5 percent, while those claiming business conditions are "good" was virtually unchanged at 15.3 percent versus 15.6 last month. Consumers' appraisal of the labor market was also more negative than last month. The percentage of consumers saying jobs are "hard to get" rose to 27.9 percent from 24.5 percent, while those claiming jobs are "plentiful" declined to 16.6 percent from 19.2 percent.

Consumers' short-term outlook remained quite grim in April. Consumers expecting business conditions to worsen over the next six months increased to 27.0 percent from 26.0 percent, while those anticipating business conditions to improve increased to 10.1 percent from 8.6 percent in March. The outlook for the labor market was also mixed, but still pessimistic. Those expecting fewer jobs in the months ahead increased to 32.8 percent from 29.3 percent, while those anticipating more jobs increased to 9.0 percent from 8.0 percent. The proportion of consumers expecting their incomes to increase declined to 15.1 percent from 16.1 percent.

NARI's Green Remodeling certification is designed to benefit remodelers and homeowners. "The requirements for becoming a GCP will allow contractors to demonstrate their knowledge in green remodeling. They can more readily convey to homeowners that they have a good understanding of this type of remodeling, and to work with residents to produce results that everyone can celebrate," says Chris Donatelli, CR, CKBR, the chair of the Green Education Sub-Committee.

"With a focus on 'Green' in the marketplace, NARI members will be pleased about the updated requirements for the NARI Green Remodeling certification. More remodelers will have the opportunity to become certified so they can meet their customer's needs," said NARI President Renee Rewiski.

For a contractor to become a GCP, NARI must first approve the submitted application, and then, each applicant must pass an exam consisting of about 200 questions.

NARI Members and non-members alike may download an application and GCP program manual at www.nari.org/certify

NARI's green certification program is sponsored in part by TOTO USA.

According to the data, 17 of the 20 metro areas covered by the survey suffered falling prices.

"There is no sign of a bottom in the numbers," says David M. Blitzer, Chairman of the Index Committee at Standard & Poor's. "Prices of single family homes continue to drop across the nation. All 20 metro areas were in the red for the February-over-January reading. In addition, 19 of the 20 MSAs are still reporting negative annual returns. The monthly data show that every one of the MSAs has now declined."

Hardest hit areas were Las Vegas and Miami, registering declines of 22.8% and 21.7%, respectively.

See the full press release and city charts here

In addition, roughly one in five respondents, or 19 percent, said they would "definitely use" their rebate money for a home improvement project.

"The federal government is hoping that Americans will spend these checks and help stimulate the nation's economy, and this survey confirms that many Americans are prepared to do that, at least when it comes to their homes," said Wayne Russum, senior vice president of Opinion Research Corp, who conducted the survey for the company.

The survey found that the most popular projects for respondents considering using their rebate checks for a home improvement project included: household upgrades, including landscaping (23 percent) or an upgrade of the bathroom (13 percent) or kitchen (12 percent); improving their homes' energy efficiency, including adding attic insulation (9 percent), caulking or sealing (4 percent), or installing energy efficient light bulbs (4 percent); or painting a room (10 percent).

The survey's other key findings included:

--Homeowners between the ages of 25 and 34 were most likely to consider using the rebate checks for a home improvement (33 percent); homeowners older than 65 were least likely (20 percent).

--Homeowners in the West were most likely to use their rebate check for a home improvement (27 percent); homeowners in the South were least likely (22 percent).

--The most common reasons cited for pursuing a home improvement project with the rebate money were comfort (34 percent), aesthetics (17 percent), environmental impact (15 percent), resale (13 percent), and return on investment (8 percent).

--Among all respondents, 31 percent of homeowners said they are planning to start a home improvement project during May, which is National Home Improvement Month.

"Clearly, many homeowners agree that investing in their homes can improve their quality of life and provide a solid return on investment," said Mark Ziegert, JM's senior brand manager for building insulation products. "People who use their rebate check to improve their home's energy efficiency not only enhance the comfort of their home, they will achieve cost saving in both the winter and summer through improved energy efficiency, and they may increase the resale value of the home."

Among respondents who said they are not considering using their rebate check for a home improvement, the most common intended uses were saving it (45 percent), paying down debt (40 percent), taking a vacation (14 percent), purchasing a luxury item (9 percent), or something else (5 percent).

Learn more at: www.builder100.com

Testifying before the House Small Business Committee, Michael Hodgson, president of the Stockton, Calif.-based energy consulting firm ConSol, said these incentives dovetail with the normal supply and demand for home construction. "A tax credit program leaves important production decisions in the hands of builders, buyers and home owners and does not require expensive administrative oversight that is usually associated with a mandate," he said.

Under current law, builders who construct a home certified to achieve a 50 percent reduction in energy use are eligible to receive a $2,000 tax credit. That credit is set to expire at the end of this year, and although pending legislation in the House and Senate would extend it, there is still no agreement between the two chambers over the appropriate budgetary offsets.

"Unless Congress can end the political debate and extend this credit soon - with or without offsets - it will be a tremendous loss for my business and will eliminate the only federal incentive for efficiency in new homes," said Hodgson.

He also urged Congress to increase the dollar amount of the credit, because achieving the 50 percent threshold required by statute is costly, especially for small builders.

Hodgson said that the housing industry is committed to the advancement of green building techniques that reduce energy consumption, improve indoor and outdoor air quality and conserve water and natural resources in both new and existing homes - all hallmarks of the NAHB National Green Building Program.

"NAHB members are leaders in the green building movement and were active on this effort long before the recent media interest in climate change and global warming," he said. "In fact, NAHB will be hosting its 10th annual National Green Building Conference in New Orleans next month and has consistently been ahead of the curve in promoting and developing energy-efficient and environmentally friendly construction techniques for the mainstream home builder."

NAHB and the International Code Council are awaiting final approval by the American National Standards Institute for the National Green Building Standard. The goal is to offer local jurisdictions an "off-the-shelf" green building program for all new homes and remodeling projects that is consensus-based and truly green, but flexible, said Hodgson.

"Green building means making intentional decisions that positively impact energy efficiency, resource conservation and indoor environmental quality throughout the entire design and construction process," said Hodgson. "Green means doing the right thing for the builder, the home owner, and, most importantly, the environment."

With the economy teetering on the edge of recession, Hodgson also called on Congress to move quickly to enact a housing stimulus package that will jump-start housing, save jobs and restore consumer confidence.

Specifically, NAHB urges Congress to include the following tax initiatives in the bill:

--A temporary home buyer tax credit. Hodgson noted that a provision in House bill H.R. 5720 could shore up home prices by stimulating sales and reducing excess inventory in housing markets.

--A net operating loss deduction carryback expansion. Allowing companies to carry back net operating losses beyond the current two years would help all hard-hit businesses -- including financial institutions and manufacturers -- to weather the economic storm, make their payrolls and emerge from this downturn in a position to grow.

--Expansion of the mortgage revenue bond program. This would help struggling home owners seeking to refinance their loans and would be especially useful for communities trying to avoid a wave of foreclosures or an extreme excess of inventory.

Winners will be honored at the magazine's fall Benchmark conference.

The deadline for submission is June 30, 2008.

Learn more at: http://www.housingzone.com/probuilder/info/CA6379183.html

This recall involves the 10 inch DEWALT jobsite table saw model number DW744. Date codes included in the recall are 200715 through 200740. The table saws are yellow and black. The model number and date code are located on the name plate on the front of the saw. Table saws with an "X" stamped on the name plate by the date code are not included in this recall. The saws were sold at Major home centers and hardware stores nationwide from April 2007 through January 2008 for about $500.

More details about the recall can be found at: http://www.dewalt.com/us/articles/article.asp?ID=1612

Here is a portion of the fed's statement explaining the move:

"Recent information indicates that economic activity remains weak. Household and business spending has been subdued and labor markets have softened further. Financial markets remain under considerable stress, and tight credit conditions and the deepening housing contraction are likely to weigh on economic growth over the next few quarters.

The new website features a dealer locator, and offers advanced searching capabilities using key words, full text or part numbers. Additionally, users can also download product brochures, product-specification sheets, installation instructions and even videos. The documents can even be saved to a "My Downloads" area.

The new site also features a link to www.whodoyoushowerwith.com, Hansgrohe's new microsite that uses offbeat videos and photos to take a lighthearted look at the various ways our daily ritual in the shower can be both fun and funny.

Read more at the Iowa City Press-Citizen:

http://www.press-citizen.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article? AID=/20080429/NEWS01/80429009/1079

Named Rhino Home Pro, the new division offers products specifically formulated for the home market, beginning with garage floors, walkways and decks. The first nationwide launch of Rhino Home Pro products is scheduled for late spring.

The FastFloor product line consists of two innovative products for the flooring industry. FastFloor DF is a decorative flooring designed for the home garage, walkway or concrete decking market. Installing in one day, FastFloor DF has superior resistance to hot tire peel, chemical resistance and is easy to clean. FastFloor HB is a high build polyurethane coating that is excellent for industrial flooring applications such as restaurants, commercial buildings, manufacturing plants and more. Formulated to take industrial wear and tear, this material outperforms traditional epoxy flooring products.

Rhino Home Pro offers cross-over dealership opportunities to qualified Rhino Linings dealers as well as separate businesses or individuals in the home improvement market.

For more information, visit: http://www.rhinoliningsindustrial.com/products/fastfloor/ fastfloor_high_build_(hb)/125/126

The company warned that business conditions are tough, and "estimated that its 2008 percentage sales decline would be high-single to low-double digits." However Masco reiterated that it believes "that the long-term fundamentals for the new home construction and home improvement products markets are positive."

"Today, investor-owned one- to four-family rental properties account for nearly 20 percent of all foreclosures," notes Nicolas P. Retsinas, director of the Joint Center.  "Moreover, because many of the high-risk home purchase and home refinance loans now in default are concentrated in low-income and minority communities, the fallout from foreclosures is hitting the same neighborhoods where many of the nation's most economically vulnerable renters live."

The report entitled America's Rental Housing: The Key to a Balanced National Policy examines recent mortgage market events in the context of long-standing affordability problems that plague millions of renters.  Fueled by record foreclosures and sluggish home sales, the share of households owning a home is declining, while the number of renter households jumped by nearly one million last year, or more than four times the pace of renter growth over the 2003 to 2006 period.  Despite the growing signs of economic weakness, monthly rents last year reached a record high of $775.

The report also observes that rising foreclosures and the resulting turmoil in credit markets raises the costs of financing rental housing construction and preservation.  Last year, completions of multifamily units for rent fell to 169,000 units – just two thirds of the 2002 figure and only one-third of the 1986 record high.  The blighting influence of vacant and foreclosed properties also will accelerate the abandonment of low-cost rental properties in distressed neighborhoods, further limiting the supply of affordable housing. 

While acknowledging the importance of efforts to assist homeowners facing foreclosure, the report proposes the development of a new and more balanced set of housing policy initiatives that would expand opportunities for renters and homeowners alike.  "For the past decade, broader access to homeownership has been the centerpiece of federal, state, and local housing programs," adds William Apgar, Joint Center Senior Scholar.  "The rapid rise in mortgage delinquencies and home foreclosures unfortunately exposes the tragic flaw in this imbalanced approach."

"A balanced national housing policy should focus renewed energy on preserving the stock of subsidized rental housing, limiting losses of privately owned, low-cost units, and eliminating land use restrictions and other barriers that needlessly increase the cost of producing homes for sale as well as for rent," continues Retsinas. "The nation now has an unprecedented opportunity to transform the large inventory of foreclosed and vacant properties into the next generation of affordable rental housing."

"One of the most frequent comments from homeowners was their frustration with painting their own home because of paint bleeding under the tape," states John Richardson, Tape-Seal co-inventor.

Tape-Seal also saves time for the busy DIYer and painting professionals with multiple clients.

"We are looking forward to selling to retailers who will carry Tape-Seal in their stores," says Tammy Richardson, realtor and Tape-Seal co-inventor.

Tape-Seal is sold in 8 ounce and 16 ounce jars, for $7.48 and $11.98, respectively.

Learn more at: www.PerfectPaintLines.com

This year's theme will be "Power. Forward. Sustain." which focuses on helping homebuilders succeed in a challenging marketplace and being prepared to capitalize when the market makes an upswing.

In addition to a huge variety of building industry displays and exhibits covering all three halls at the Moscone Center, the show will also present a dramatic lineup of practical, business-oriented keynote speakers, including Carly Fiorina, former CEO, president and chair of Hewlett-Packard, who will be the opening keynote speaker. Fiorina will share insights from her tenure at the top of a major company during a troubled economy and describe how she set the course for a company rebound.

Learn more about the show at: www.pcbc.com

PlanSwift allows users to work on estimates, do takeoffs, manage and e-mail electronic blueprints in a multitude of formats, right from your computer.

"Whether we like it or not the construction industry is going digital and the days of doing bids off of paper plans are coming to an end," says James Purpura, VP of Tech Unlimited, Inc. "At PlanSwift, we have developed our software to save companies time and money; one person can do twice the work load in half the time with astounding accuracy. Because it is so affordable, less than $1000, PlanSwift can pay for itself with the very first bid."

Purpura added, "We have made our software so easy to use if you can take it off by hand you can do it with PlanSwift. The fact is that people do not have the time to learn complicated software, so we put everything we have into making takeoffs and estimating as simple as possible."

Purpura also notes that in a fraction of the time it would take to do it by hand PlanSwift users can calculate square footage, lineal footage, counts, volumes, pitch and angles in seconds with a few mouse clicks. You can then export your data using the included, preformatted reports or to an Excel spreadsheet with the click of a button. PlanSwift is designed from the ground up as a "platform" that can be easily built upon to create powerful integrations with other software applications.

PlanSwift users can also calculate the cost of labor and materials in seconds using fully customizable material and assembly libraries combined with PlanSwift's built-in Excel-like formulas.

Designers and architects will appreciate the program with features like the ability to e-mail an entire set of plans or screen shots right from the program. They also can include comparative overlays; by placing pages on top of one another you clearly see where additions and deductions were made to the plan with the automatic color coding. Other uses include locating bearing points, wall alignment and plan discrepancies. This powerful tool can graphically display multiple pages on top of each other in any color you choose.

PlanSwift can load scanned plans directly from the following file types: .TIF, .PDF, .DXF, .DWG (AutoCAD), .PLN (Dodge Plan), .JPG and others. The .TIF and .DWG file formats are the preferred file formats for use within PlanSwift.

An individual license of PlanSwift sells for $950. Multi-user discounts are available.

Learn more at: www.planswift.com

Listen now by clicking here

]]> Wed, 30 Apr 2008 http://www.buildingonline.com/news/viewnews.pl?id=7064&subcategory=18 The Southeast's preeminent industry trade show will take place June 11-13, 2008 at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta. Last year's show attracted approximately 7,000 attendees, who gathered to learn the latest strategies to prosper in this challenging environment. This year's show promises to be even better, so do not miss it!

The Southern Building Show is an ideal place for both new homebuilders and remodelers. Commercial contractors will also find relevant product and topics for their businesses too.

Learn more at: www.southernbuildingshow.com

Learn more at: www.phccglaa.org/tradeshow/index.htm

The conference will focus on current market conditions, future prospects and potential markets, and resources for equipment and high quality raw materials for manufacturers.

Participants will admire beautiful city of St. Petersburg in the most wonderful time – The White Nights. Representatives of the various countries can show their skills and will to success at the World of Dry Mixtures International sport fishing championship.

Topics to be covered in the programme include:

--Tendencies of the global market of dry mixtures
--The market of raw materials
--Processing dry mixes
--Modifying additives: expansion of nomenclature and functionalities
--The basic process equipment
--Quality assurance, control and accounting systems
--Test methods and equipment
--Packing
--Expanding the field of application of dry mixes
--Standardization - world tendencies

For more information, visit: www.dry-mix.ru/eng/wdm/index-en.html

In response to market conditions, the company will close its Arizona facility—which manufactured both vinyl and aluminum windows and doors—and move the vinyl business to Atrium – California, located in Anaheim.

"As building codes change and the construction industry fluctuates, vinyl has moved ahead of aluminum in sales," said Bob Burns, Atrium's chief operating officer. "This adjustment to our manufacturing strategy lessens the prominence of aluminum in our southwestern markets' product line-up, while positioning Atrium to meet short- and long-term sales plans moving forward. Our current vinyl window and door customers in this market should experience no supply interruption at all."

The consolidation will affect Atrium's Arizona workforce. "While this decision is necessary to accommodate our response to market trends, we always regret it when strategic adjustments result in displacing our valued employees," said Burns. "We will work proactively to assist our workforce in their efforts to seek new employment opportunities."

CEMEX said its consolidated net sales increased 26% in the first quarter of 2008 to US$5.4 billion versus the comparable period in 2007. In fact, the company reported higher sales in all of its regional operations.

Hector Medina, Executive Vice President of Planning and Finance, said: "The strength of our business model allowed CEMEX to complement organic growth with contributions from acquisitions. The diversity of our asset portfolio and the greater synergies identified in the Rinker integration helped CEMEX to overcome a challenging environment. Even in the face of the correction in residential spending experienced in the United States, we continue to reduce debt and improve efficiency. We have a solid financial foundation and remain focused on creating value for our shareholders."

Markets First Quarter Highlights
Net sales in our operations in Mexico increased 2% in the first quarter of 2008 to US$915 million, compared with US$901 million in the same period of 2007.

CEMEX's operations in the United States reported net sales of US$1.2 billion in the first quarter of 2008, up 43% from the same period in 2007.

In Spain, net sales for the quarter were US$517 million, up 1% from the first quarter of 2007.

Net sales in the Rest of Europe region increased 28% during the first quarter of 2008 versus the comparable period in the previous year, reaching $991 million.

CEMEX's operations in South/Central America and the Caribbean reported net sales of US$544 million during the first quarter of 2008, representing an increase of 18% over the same period of 2007.

First-quarter net sales in Africa and the Middle East were US$217 million, up 26% from the same quarter in 2007.

Operations in Asia and Australia reported a 386% increase in net sales, reaching US$475 million, versus the first quarter of 2007. This increase was mainly due to the integration of Rinker's Australian operations.

While its asset base remains strong, the Company has been impacted by many of the factors which have adversely impacted the homebuilding industry over the last 18 months. These factors have included the downturn in the housing market, severe challenges in the credit and mortgage markets, diminished consumer confidence, increased foreclosures and higher cancellation rates.

"Today's decision was difficult to make, but we believe it is in the best interests of all of our stakeholders," said Ken Love, president and CEO. "Filing for Chapter 11 will allow us to restructure our debt and other obligations, bringing our capital structure in line with current market realities."

"Our issues are financial, not operational. The next step in our restructuring is to strengthen our capital structure and position our company to weather the current storm that has hit the housing and capital markets. We have had significant discussions with potential plan sponsors and our senior lenders already, and we hope to agree on a reorganization plan in the next 90 days," said Mr. Love. "We will continue to sell, build and deliver homes without interruption."

The Company said it has taken steps to ensure that all of its customer programs continue without interruption including its comprehensive warranties.

For more information, please visit kimballhillhomes.com. The Company has also established a toll-free information line for interested parties. The number is 877-631-3923.

It was the lowest rate for new home sales in nearly 17 years.

The median sales price of new houses sold in March 2008 was $227,600; the average sales price was $292,200. The seasonally adjusted estimate of new houses for sale at the end of March was 468,000. This represents a supply of 11.0 months at the current sales rate.

Read the story here

Learn more about building for boomers at this industry-leading conference!

http://www.nahb.org/conference_details.aspx?conferenceID=60

The software, which has been customized for use with CertainTeed products, combines computer-aided design (CAD) with photo imaging to produce realistic, 3D versions of railing and deck projects. The software also produces a customized material list so professionals can provide up-front, accurate estimates to their customers. CertainTeed is providing the software to customers in CD format through the company's Master Craftsman program for railing and deck.

"Ultimately, we are helping railing and deck professionals provide the best service possible to their customers," says Patti Pellock, Senior Marketing Manager for CertainTeed's Fence, Railing and Deck Division. "The Cad Quest railing and decking software is a valuable tool that saves time, reduces mistakes, and can help increase sales."

Through CertainTeed's Master Craftsman program, building professionals gain a comprehensive understanding of product installation through advanced education and training. Upon completion of required courses, participants receive a personalized certificate of completion, are included in CertainTeed's online company directory, and gain access to the Master Craftsman website.

For more information, contact your CertainTeed Railing and Deck Territory Manager or call 800-233-8990.

Fulton assumes the role of CEO from Steven R. Rogel, 65, who remains chairman in a non‑executive role.

"We're fortunate to have a leader of the caliber of Dan Fulton assume the additional role of CEO," Williamson said. "Dan's understanding of the company and the industry ensures that we will continue to implement the strategies we have put in place to guide Weyerhaeuser into its second century."

Daniel S. Fulton has been president of Weyerhaeuser Company since Jan. 1, 2008. Prior to assuming that role, he served as president and chief executive officer of Weyerhaeuser Real Estate Company, a subsidiary of the company, since 2001. Fulton was president and chief executive officer of Weyerhaeuser Realty Investors, Inc., a subsidiary of the company, from 1998 to 2000; its chief operating officer from 1996 to 1997; and its chief investment officer from 1994 to 1995. He joined Weyerhaeuser in 1975 and has held various management and investment positions with the company and its subsidiaries.

"With nearly half of the available floor space already sold, I'm confident SFPA will host an exciting and successful event," said Exposition Director Eric Gee. "Interest among all sectors of the industry remains positive. As companies finalize their 2008 and 2009 operating budgets, I anticipate a sold-out show." 

Plans for a series of educational seminars held in conjunction with EXPO 2009 are also shaping up. The seminars will be presented by Hatton-Brown Publishers Inc. of Montgomery, Ala. Editor Rich Donnell of Hatton-Brown serves as chairman of the Conference Committee, directing a seminar series that will offer additional technical knowledge of the items on display at the show and provide training in skills needed to succeed in the forest products business. Details for the seminar series will be announced in early 2009.

EXPO is held every two years. "For the first time since 1991, the show returns to New Orleans attracting a new collection of prospective buyers and industry decision-makers," Gee said. "Attendees will be searching for products and services to improve yields and profitability, as well as for ways to distinguish themselves from the competition."

For information about the upcoming show, contact Eric Gee, Exposition Director at 504/443-4464 (ext. 214); or egee@sfpa.org. Complete details about EXPO 2009 can be found at www.sfpaexpo.com

For more details, go to the main website at: www.homeshows.net/index.php

Bifulco will have full responsibility for the strategic marketing vision of The Home Depot along with category marketing and brand development. He will join the Company on April 28. John Ross, who served as the interim head of the Company's marketing department while performing his regular duties, will remain in his role of vice president, Advertising.

Bifulco brings nearly 30 years of marketing, sales and general management experience in consumer products and retail businesses. Most recently, he served as chief customer officer and president of Hasbro North America Sales. In this role, he was responsible for account management and for setting the overall customer strategy and go-to-market approach for driving Hasbro's toy and game sales in the U.S., Canada and Mexico.

Previously, from 2001 to 2003, Bifulco served as the chief marketing officer for The Timberland Co., setting the overall business strategy and direction for building the brand and for driving consumer marketing efforts globally.

The inaugural honorees are the New York City Buildings Department and Ravi Shah, Director of Urban Development for the city of Carrollton, Texas. 
The Code Council honored the New York City Buildings Department, represented by Buildings Commissioner Patricia Lancaster, for numerous programs to improve public safety including the Scaffold Safety Team, Worker Outreach Program, Excavations Team and Special Enforcement Team. Each program contributes to the safety, service and integrity of the department, its employees, and the residents and visitors of New York City.


Shah is recognized for his efforts to raise the bar for code officials through creation of the Building Officials Association of Texas Best Practices Award, and exposing students to building codes by encouraging youth to consider a career as a "first preventer," the officials who ensure codes are followed to save lives and protect property. Shah also provided support to establish the International Accreditation Service Building Department Accreditation Program.


The awards will be presented during Building Safety Week, May 5-11, at the Code Council's headquarters in Washington, D.C.

"RE/MAX CENTRAL believes it is a great time to buy Las Vegas Real Estate or a Las Vegas Foreclosure – interest rates are at near record lows, buyers have lots of choices due to abundant Las Vegas foreclosure inventory and lenders have great government assisted programs," said John and Ruth Ahlbrand, Co-Founders of RE/MAX CENTRAL. "We believe there is tremendous national and international interest in Las Vegas Foreclosures – we must be doing something right, as we have been featured via the local NBC and CBS TV stations, several national and regional print publications, numerous Blogs and via a cover article in yesterday's USA Today."

"We've invested significant time and resources to train our REALTORS so they can handle a complex real estate foreclosure sale. We educate our customers during the approximate three hour foreclosure bus tour so that they understand how a foreclosed home is purchased, evaluated and financed. We carefully prescreen each Las Vegas Foreclosure home so consumers will view the best available homes and we have lenders on hand for financing on the spot. And just to add some excitement to our Las Vegas Foreclosure Bus Tours, we are offering a Free Sony HDTV with every transaction until we run out of great deals."

For details on the tours, call 877.360.2030 or visit: www.LasVegasRelocation.com

LATICRETE 125 Sound and Crack Adhesive provides incredible sound transmission protection while simultaneously bridging existing cracks in the substrate up to 1/8" and preventing new cracks from transmitting through to the finished tile or stone surface.

LATICRETE 125 Sound & Crack Adhesive is a combination of a special liquid latex, rare rubber fillers and reinforcing fibers for strength and exceptional performance. The patent pending formula has been independently tested by the TCNA to ANSI A118.12 – the test standard for anti-fracture membranes, and by NGC Testing Services per ASTM E2179 for sound control performance.

For more information, visit: www.laticrete.com

The versatile KHE 56 combination hammer allows users to quickly and easily move between masonry drilling and chiseling operations without switching tools. The KHE 56 offers high rotational torque of 796 inch-lbs. and variable impact energy from 1.0 to 14.0 joules per blow. Its optimum drilling range using solid bits is 5/8" to 1-3/4" with a maximum capacity in concrete of 1-3/4" using solid bits, and 6" using core bits.

The 14 amp motor has a no-load variable speed of 0 rpm to 450 rpm, and 0 bpm to 2840 bpm. The KHE 56 includes an impact reduction switch that reduces impact energy by 30% when working in brittle materials or to reduce spalling. Metabo's Vario-Tacho-Constamatic electronic speed control enables the tool to maintain a virtually constant rate of impact and speed between no-load and load for maximum drilling speed.

The KHE 56 measures 18", weighs 17.75 lbs. and comes standard with a carrying case, depth gauge, bit grease and wiping cloth.

For more information visit: www.metabousa.com

The show will feature hundreds of products covering virtually every area of home improvement. Gear up for summer and get the inspiration you need to make your home even better.

Learn more here

With its first hotel debuting this summer and more than 20 hotels set to open by the end of 2009, ELEMENT will make history as the first major hotel brand to commit to LEED certification.

Designed for longer stays, and consisting entirely of new-build hotels, ELEMENT is uniquely positioned in the industry to spur widespread green development. ELEMENT designated its first hotel, Starwood-owned ELEMENT Lexington, MA scheduled to open in July 2008, as a working laboratory to test the latest in green construction, products, design and operations. Using these learnings, the ELEMENT brand has created a road map for developers which streamlines certification pursuits and provides a pathway to cost-effective green building. Starwood's research indicates that LEED certification is achievable at a minimal cost premium. In addition, ELEMENT's research shows that the initial investment can be recouped within a few years, given associated operational savings.

"ELEMENT's efforts around green are great for the Earth and great for our guests," said Brian McGuinness, ELEMENT hotels' Global Brand Leader. "From improving the quality of the air, to minimizing pollutants and toxic chemicals, to providing ample access to natural light, ELEMENT provides a cleaner, healthier environment and a sense of well being, all designed to help our guests thrive on the road."

For more information, click here

Vernon McKown, Ideal's co-owner and president of sales, says the change is a no-brainer for new residential construction. "There's just no good reason not to do it," McKown says. "We hope that every Oklahoma City builder will take up our challenge and adopt CFLs as part of their standard building practices. It's good for the homeowner and good for the environment."

Because they last so much longer, at least 500 hours, CFLs help homeowners save money on utility bills and time changing out light bulbs. They also help preserve energy resources and reduce the risks of global warming.

CFL Facts:
-- CFLs use about 75 percent less energy than standard incandescent bulbs
-- CFLs last up to 10 times longer than standard incandescent bulbs
-- CFLs save about $30 or more in electricity costs of each bulb's lifetime
-- CFLs produce about 75 percent less heat, so they're safer to operate and can cut home cooling costs

According to Energy Star, if every American home replaced just one light bulb with an Energy Star CFL, it would save enough energy to light more than 3 million homes for a year, saving more than $600 million in annual energy costs. This change would also prevent greenhouse gases equivalent to the emissions of more than 800,000 cars.

"Ideal Homes builds homes that exceed all industry standards for operating efficiency and environmental impact...the most energy efficient homes in the market," McKown said. "We are proud to announce this conversion to 100 percent CFLs as another demonstration of our commitment to saving energy, cutting down on utility costs and respecting the planet."

Listen to the podcast here

The company said closings during the period fell 33 percent, to 1,543 units. It also reported a 13.8 percent decrease in the average closing price of a home, which dropped to $257,000 for the quarter ended March 31, 2008, from $298,000 for the quarter ended March 31, 2007.

New orders of 2,159 units for the quarter ended March 31, 2008, represented a decrease of 27.8 percent, compared to new orders of 2,989 units for the same period in 2007.

For more information, visit: