Lucky me! I’ve been graced with this year’s trip to ISH Frankfurt. I’ve
been a plumbing journalist for 10 years, but this is my first trip abroad to
see what my colleagues have been talking about. I will do my best to paint you
a picture of the show, as well as impart the knowledge I’ve gained about where
the markets could be heading and what’s on its way across the ocean. I think
you’ll be eager for these products "
I am amazed at how fast the decline of the U.S. economy has
impacted our lifestyles. We are buying far fewer goods and services that we now
consider luxuries, and we are slowing the pace of our lives in the process.
I am a person who looks at numbers – “Do the numbers made
sense?” is a question that often bounces through my head. This question has been prevalent the last few months
whenever I see (often) full page ads for “revolutionary” electric heaters to
slash heating bills. These generally
appear to be for the same type of heater, but with different packaging and
deals.
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. Or are they?
In the second of two parts, the author discusses why he feels the
the building industry
needs to re-evaluate the usefulness and cost effectiveness of Return Air Plenums. Do they increase the cost of construction and
decrease the healthiness and safety of our buildings?
Living in Michigan has many perks. Unfortunately, I can’t
think of any right now. I’ve cleared my driveway for the 200th time this winter (OK,
it just seems like 200 times) only to have it recovered with a fresh blanket of
snow before I drive away. I am hoping my pain translates into good news for
construction, service and maintenance professionals.
I’m always thrilled when ASHRAE hosts the AHR Expo in my hometown of Chicago. It gives me a chance to wake bright and early, battle traffic, and head toward the
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. I am right there with you. Consumer confidence is the
lynchpin to fixing our broken economy.