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No easy answer New laws and regulations in flux

Stopping erosion on a job site is like herding cats – there are myriad of ways to accomplish it but new rules and regulations pop up on a monthly basis that make most builder’s heads spin. Bottom line: Stopping erosion on your jobsite simply comes down to controlling the surface water runoff.

One of the biggest challenges facing new homebuilders isn’t finding new homebuyers—it’s pulling the funding together to secure land and build new homes. And even if you have stellar credit and an extensive portfolio of experience, there’s still no guarantee you will be able to find the necessary funding to start new projects.

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Upon returning home from five long days at the RESNET Building Performance Conference in Raleigh, N.C., I reviewed my notes to see what I had picked up while there. Now for those of you who don’t know this crowd, this is one roomful of serious geeks. Compared to the building industry and the average consumer, I am pretty geeky when it comes to building science, but most of this crowd (as well as many of my friends here at GBA) truly humble me with the extent of their knowledge.

Subtitle:  Random delusions after two long days in green rater training Images: 

Among other endeavors, I have been certifying LEED homes as a provider representative for about two years now. In order to continue doing this work after next year, USGBC and GBCI have decided that I must become certified as a green rater. After looking at my various options for obtaining this designation, I elected to take a two-day training class in advance of the required test. Not uncharacteristically, I bristled at the thought that I would have to spend my time and money learning something I was already doing.

Should remodelers specialize, branch out or keep doing what they’ve always done?

A listing of franchise and dealership options for remodelers

Energy-efficient appliances, water-sipping showerheads, recycled-content countertops, and more.

Lighting designer recommends "subtle" lighting, touts benefits of CFLs and LEDs.