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The benefits of using Insulated Concrete Forms (ICF) are legion and ICF buildings are gaining purchase in the niche box retail store construction market. Traditionally constructing their stores using tilt-up walls, the box retail market is increasingly adopting ICFs as their building material of choice thanks to its durability, noise reducing properties and energy-saving attributes. More and more large American chains like Walgreens, Ace Hardware, and Aaron’s Rentals are discovering that building with ICFs gives them a better, stronger building in less time.

Jobsite delays and problems are inevitable, but how you deal with them contributes to the future success or failure of the project. Your efficacy in conducting the orchestra of contractors and deliveries that must access your worksite can vastly reduce construction time and costs. We take a look at the best way to deal with impending disasters and help smooth the way to construction glory.

When planning a retrofit or new build, get at least three quotes from contractors that have met your rigorous qualification requirements. Don’t be surprised to find that the bids differ greatly in price. Learning to evaluate bids is an art that it will behoove the discerning owner to master. The bids differ in price because some contractors may have included more list items or licensing fees. Picking the cheapest quote may lead to hidden fees or shoddy workmanship. Use a tried and trusted system for evaluating contractor bids to ensure you get the most bang for your buck.

Building or retrofitting a home or business can be a lucrative way to add value to your asset base. Cutting corners and costs by hiring the wrong contractor or attempting jobs that are beyond your scope of knowledge can turn a dream home into a nightmare. There are a few tips you can follow to ensure that you get a competent, qualified contractor that is suited for the job.

The most common question that every builder must answer when building an affordable energy efficient home is what should they build the walls out of: Insulated Concrete Forms or a traditional wood-frame? With all the debate and vast amount of information regarding the merits of both these building technologies available it ins’t uncommon for both the builders and consumers to be lead into confusion and uncertainly on the matter. So read on to learn the real benefits of using ICFs over wood-frame homes, including reductions in your energy bills and a positive impact on the environment.

Whether you are already in the building industry, or if you are considering a career in construction, there are certain key qualifications that will secure your future. Since the field of green building is so diverse, there are many branches in which you can specialize. While this list is by no means exhaustive, it does cover the most commonly utilized qualifications which all prospective students should consider.

If the phrase ‘unseasonal’ seems to be slipping into your local weather report with alarming frequency, then you know first-hand the effects of climate change. Record levels of carbon dioxide in the air (almost 400 ppm) have presaged the minor climate changes that will increase in severity once the 450ppm tipping point is reached. While CO2 is not the most villainous greenhouse gas (GHG), it is the most prevalent and the one over which we can exercise the most control.

Whether you are building a new home or retrofitting an old one, consider utilizing a renewable source of energy. Aside from the obvious environmental benefits, you will find that most systems have a very good return on investment (ROI) that will make back the initial outlay in only a few years. If you are able to take advantage of a government incentive program (like the MicroFIT program for solar energy in Ontario), supplying the grid with energy will provide an extra stream of income that not only gives you a great ROI, but will make you a tidy profit to boot.

The London Olympic Games have been a fantastic success in far more ways than meets the eye. The London Olympic planning committee wanted to make the 2012 games the greenest to date. Read about how the focus on the environment has not only saved the city money, it has also left a legacy of greener energy production, cleaner water and greater biodiversity for Londoners to enjoy for years to come.

The return on investment of certified green buildings has always been exceptional. Not only do building owners save on their bills, but they also improve the indoor environment which has a positive effect on the building occupants. Now a new study titled “Value of Green Labels in the California Housing Market” by the UCLA Institute for the Environment and Sustainability has shown that green certification can add an average of 9% to the resale value of buildings.