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AIA News
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Homes Sizes and Lots Continue to Decrease with Growing Preference for Low Maintenance Property Improvements
Washington, D.C. – June 21, 2010 – The prolonged economic downturn in the housing market, coupled with growing concerns about rising utility costs has resulted in greater interest in smaller homes and lot sizes. There have also been some broader lifestyle changes with U.S. households eschewing upscale amenities, opting instead to invest in more low maintenance projects, particularly for property improvements. Accessibility within the home continues to be a concern, especially for an aging population, and there is an increasing demand for more flexible design and informal space within homes. Business conditions for residential architects are beginning to indicate improving conditions with the first quarterly increase in billings since mid-2007. These findings are from the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Home Design Trends Survey that focused specifically on overall home layout and use in the first quarter of 2010.
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USGBC News |
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Rising energy costs, competition for tenants and potentially higher profits are driving an increasing number of commercial real-estate developers to go green. They're making big and small changes, from installing energy-efficient light bulbs, dual-flush toilets and automatic light sensors in buildings to using recycled materials during construction. |
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CSI News |
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ALEXANDRIA, Va. (April 27, 2010) – The Construction Specifications Institute (CSI) and Construction Specifications Canada (CSC) today announced updates to MasterFormat®, their flagship product used to organize construction documents for commercial, industrial and institutional building projects in the United States and Canada.
It is the first update under MasterFormat’s new annual revision cycle, and it incorporates changes suggested by MasterFormat users. It is also the first time that CSI and CSC have defined a new division under the 50-division format adopted in MasterFormat 2004.
“These updates, combined with the new annual revision cycle, will ensure that MasterFormat remains current and provides the tools that all users need to do their jobs well,” said CSI Executive Director and CEO Walter Marlowe, P.E., CSI, CAE. “The addition of the Water and Wastewater Division especially will help industry leaders keep up with new environmental standards by incorporating topics relating to sustainability and energy efficiency.” |
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