Category: Industry Insights

In a world-first, scientists create eco-friendly cement from algaeThe era of sustainable construction has arrived. Every year about two gigatons (2,000,000,000,000 Kg) of CO2  is released into our environment due to the production and usage of cement. According to a report from the United States Environment Protection Agency (EPA), cement ranks thirdamong the top ten biggest sources of industrial pollution. Surprisingly, a team of researchers claims that we can put a full stop to this cement-driven carbon emission overnight […]

This is a quick visual history of human-created light sources over the past ~400,000 years, from wood fires to candles to the electric light. In 3,000 BCE, the “rushlight” candle was invented in Ancient Egypt. It is made of a pithy stalk of rush soaked in animal fat. In 1500 BCE, Babylonian/Assyrian lamps were created from olive or sesame oil. They had a linen wick and were fashioned from stone, terracotta, metal or shells. In 100 CE, […]

Talk to a lot of carpenters, and they’ll express similarly warm feelings about their job. It’s the rare profession that doesn’t require an expensive education, yet offers decent pay. It’s largely unaffected by automation or globalization. And aside from occasional downturns, carpenters are in steady demand. So, why does America have so few of them? Even among the other construction trades, which have long faced retention and recruitment problems and for which there were ~400k unfilled jobs […]

As commercial contractors committed to leave the world a bit greener to our children, we are always wondering how construction, material and the overall construction process could be improved to better assist lower carbon emissions. Read this article which highlights some of the challenges related to this major question. Being eco-conscious in Construction is not an easy task. As outlined in this report from the BBC, building efficiencies can go a long way and contribute to reduce […]

Very interesting numbers highlighted by this new solar panels research study. Solar panels are another fantastic and creative invention we fully support. First, Rooftop solar panels are up to 79% cheaper than in 2010. Second, covering 50% of the world’s roofs with solar panels would provide enough capacity to meet the world’s annual electricity needs. Rooftop solar panels are up to 79% cheaper than they were in 2010. These plummeting costs have made rooftop solar photovoltaics even […]

Construction professionals are questioning elements of President Joe Biden\’s new vaccine requirements. Source: Construction Dive, Sebastian Obando Since President Joe Biden issued plans to mandate vaccines in some workplaces earlier this month, a number of construction companies are encouraging their employees to get vaccinated and are trying to figure out what the new rules mean for their workplace. Biden announced on Sept. 9 that private employers with more than 100 employees will be required to either mandate […]

When you watch the Tokyo Games, it\’s easy to see why the Olympic motto is \”Citius, Altius, Fortius,\” (or \”faster, higher, stronger\” for those of who skipped Latin in high school). Don Lincoln is a senior scientist at the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory. He is the author of several science books for general audiences, including the best-selling audio book \”The Theory of Everything: The Quest to Explain All Reality.\” He also produces a series of science education […]

Another great read from WSJ.com – By Jennifer Smith Competition for warehouse space is driving up industrial rents as retailers and logistics providers race to move goods closer to population centers, with some engaging in bidding wars for the most coveted sites. The competition is driving up industrial rents as retailers and logistics providers race to move goods closer to population centers, with some engaging in bidding wars for the most coveted sites. Businesses are pushing to […]

Very thoughtful article by Laurent Bataille from Schneider Electric. Reposting as everybody should read this: smart buildings predictions seen by a leader in smart building solutions. The term ‘smart buildings’ has become popularized in recent years. So much so, that it may have started to become somewhat diluted in its meaning. However, smart building technology is extremely important for real estate executives, building operators, and occupants. It includes a digitized infrastructure of smart devices, energy assets, and integrated […]

How safety helps overcome challenges and improve every project. McCarthy published a good Op Ed on our industry\’s safety and practices. See the original post here – and a copy/paste of a report by their Kevin Maitland, VP of Safety. below. What McCarthy is doing as an organization must be regarded as thought leadership and embraced by all. A CALL TO ACTIONEach year, more than 70 construction companies across the country and around the world join together […]

The University of Southern California’s (USC) Viterbi School of Engineering has launched a new master’s program in Advanced Design and Construction Technology (ADCT).

Ford\’s 2021 edition of their F150 is having a very handy new feature for technicians on the road. As reported by TheDrive, our next truck will be a generator itself. This is brilliant, we love it! Ford\’s Pro Power Onboard system is everything we needed to haul track toys, like, yesterday. Instead of having to bring a separate generator to power the lights and power tools you\’ll want to use when said track car inevitably breaks, your […]

Post-Confinement recommendations from major real estate firms.

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