Green building is beginning to sell itself. Prices continue to drop for green materials. Demand from homeowners is increasing day by day. But that doesn’t necessarily make sustainable building an easy sell for everyone. Whether a myth or not, the notion that sustainable building is far more expensive than conventional construction practices can be an obstacle for green contractors looking to expand their business.

The bright side to that dilemma is that designers and manufacturers are constantly working to bring down costs—to make green an easier sell and a lighter load for the average client’s pocketbook. Out of that ilk comes K-tect Sustainable Building Systems, an all-around green building gem judging by the bullet list of benefits on the website. Read the rest of this entry »

It’s safe to say that we’re all interested in protecting our health and the health of those around us, but the new EPA lead paint regulations intended to do just that aren’t boding too well with contractors.  As with many other rules of its kind, these will undoubtedly hit businesses, especially smaller ones, right where it hurts.

Starting on April 22nd of this year, any remodeling project in a space larger than 6 interior square feet or 20 exterior square feet completed in a home or school that was built before 1978 requires that all workers be trained in how to safely handle lead paint.  This will extend to window replacement projects as well.  The cost of not following these regulations is a hefty one, to say the least.  One infraction will cost $32,000. Read the rest of this entry »