Construction Industry News

Construction Industry News Briefs

Homes Sizes and Lots Continue to Decrease with Growing Preference for Low Maintenance Property Improvements

New Home Construction The prolonged economic downturn in the housing market, coupled with growing concerns about rising utility costs has resulted in greater interest in smaller homes and lot sizes. There have also been some broader lifestyle changes with U.S. households eschewing upscale amenities, opting instead to invest in more low maintenance projects, particularly for property improvements.

More than Emissions Data Required to Plan Neighborhoods with Clean Air

air quality planning A study in the Summer 2010 issue of the Journal of the American Planning Association (JAPA), "Neighborhood Air Quality, Respiratory Health, and Vulnerable Populations in Compact and Sprawled Regions," concludes that contrary to received wisdom, exposure to poor air quality is higher in compact U.S. regions than in sprawled.

NAHB Publication Offers Glimpse into Financial Records of Builders

construction equipment Builders now have a unique opportunity to see how their business stacks up against the competition with a new publication from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). NAHB’s publishing arm, BuilderBooks recently released the 2010 edition of the Cost of Doing Business Study, a national study of builders’ business practices and financial performance.

HUD Announces $300 Million in Recovery Act Grants to Create Green Public Housing

DENVER - U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan announced $300 million in Recovery Act competitive grants today that will allow 36 public housing authorities across the U.S. to utilize green materials and technology to create public housing that conserves energy and encourages more healthy lifestyles.

Donovan announced the Denver Housing Authority would receive $10 million of the Public Housing Capital Funds announced today to continue its redevelopment of South Lincoln Park Homes, a public housing development the housing authority is currently redeveloping into a mixed-use, mixed-income transit oriented community.

New ISO Standard for Fire Safety Design Released

ISO 23932:2009, Fire safety engineering – General principles, provides general principles for a performance-based methodology for engineers to assess the level of fire safety for new or existing built environments.

Fire safety is evaluated through an approach based on risk assessment and on knowledge of the behaviour of fire and of people and the consequences of such behaviour on human safety, property and the environment.

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