I live and work in the rather sickly Detroit metropolitan market. Every time I drive by a flooring store, granite shop, plumbing showroom or contractor’s truck, I wonder how they are doing. What steps have they taken to cut costs? How long can they keep going if conditions don’t improve?
I had heard that Las
Vegas construction was in huge trouble. According to
the reports, the financial meltdown had broken the city’s back. The cranes were
idle, the jackhammers silent and the workers sent packing. Put a fork in all
those huge building projects--they're dead.
Regardless of where you fall in the political spectrum, you
are likely looking forward to a change in Washington. If you are a business
owner or manager, you are especially excited by the prospects of a new cadre of
leaders generating optimism among consumers.
For the last few years, anything green has received
incredible attention. The high price of oil, the threat of global warming, and
a strong economy have caused us to view the world through green-tinted glasses.
I don’t know about you, but I sometimes feel like I am drowning in a sea of
green.
The recent spate of mergers caused me to wonder why we--the
valued customers of these companies--were not consulted about their unions. I know
we could pick better partners.
The construction market stinks. The stock market brings
constant pain. The financial bailouts grow more insane by the day.
Manufacturers are struggling. Nonprofits are laying off staff. Retailers are
filing for bankruptcy.
Now that Thanksgiving is over, we have a few weeks before
the Christmas spirit peaks and we have to be nice to people. Now is the perfect
time to take advantage of people and make some easy money for your company.
Earlier this week the U.S. Commerce Department released
October stats indicating that new home and apartment construction have dropped
to an annual rate of 791,000 units, a 4.5% decrease from September.
I love nature shows, especially those that
demonstrate ferocity in the animal kingdom. Last night I caught a segment where
an imposing monitor lizard went looking for lunch in a badger’s den, only to
end up becoming lunch for the badger.
When I took my first trip to California in 1982, the state’s sunny skies,
palm trees and ocean views entranced me. With the Mamas and the Papas’
“California Dreaming” playing in my head, I understood why people were moving
there in droves.
Photos from the 2013 ACCA Conference & IE3 Expo in Orlando, Fla.
Podcasts
Cade Clark, assistant vice president of government affairs for the Air-Conditioning, Heating & Refrigeration Institute (AHRI), gives a brief overview of the new version of the Shaheen-Portman bill, what AHRI thinks of the energy-efficiency legislation, and how it might affect the HVACR industry if it becomes law.
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