Deserts were once vast sea beds teeming, I imagine, with boundless plant life and creatures so massive and fantastic that our modern species can’t even grasp their strangeness. But now, deserts are deserts. They have dried up, and in place of ancient whales and seaweed forests, a much more diminutive ecosystem lives off what little moisture and sustenance remains. For contractors across the country, New Construction feels like a desert where steady work and profit have gone the way of the dodo.

In desert-like conditions, contractors are looking to small remodels to stay afloat. There’s little speculation in the building industry, but there are aging homes, low-cost materials and energy efficiency incentives, which are a ray of light in a trade otherwise rife with downsizing and bankruptcy protection.

A recent article in The Tennessean tells the story of Capitol Homes. The construction company was booming with everybody else for much of the last decade, building 850 homes in eight years, including a high-profile showcase on ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. Now, things have changed. Owner David Luecke filed for bankruptcy protection and downsized his business to become a home remodeler. Where once Capitol Homes was banging out new home after new home, they are now refinishing basements. (more…)

Green building is the way of the future for commercial and residential building. Education about how much money (and resource) that may be saved through energy efficiency and renewable energy has building owners around the world clamoring for energy upgrades on existing buildings or construction of new high-performance structures.

As a contractor, obtaining some level of green certification could make all the difference in a recession-weary building industry. Demand is way up for green building; spurred by government incentives, efficient materials and appliances, as well as increased awareness of long-term savings and environmental impact.

Understanding those factors and all the products and practices that go along with green building is key to winning today’s clients’ trust and signature. Proving that you have such knowledge and expertise only makes lead generation and confirmation that much easier. There are several ways to become a green certified contractor; some are nationally recognized, some vary by state or region.

Following are a few examples of how you can become a green certified professional:

LEED certification

The U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED program has become the number one standard for modern, green home design. Typically, LEED is referred to as a ratings system for sustainable buildings. At the same time, the USGBC also offers accreditation for contractors. (more…)