Category Archives: news

LEED Lasts in Latest NC Bill (news note)

Posted on by

stack of woodAs many of you may be aware, the North Carolina legislature was considering a bill that would effectively take away the option of LEED certification for public projects.  In a misguided effort to protect the NC timber industry, the original bill would essentially take away the option of using LEED for public projects.

Thanks to the strong potests from many industry groups, and the great coverage of the issue by Bob Kruhm and the folks at his paper NC Construction News, the NC Senate passed an amended version of House Bill 628 on Monday night that retains the option of LEED certifciation for State construction projects.  Read the full story here.  [For the original bill and other versions, click here].

 

Infrastructure Defects: ASCE’s Report Card (Spoiler: America gets a D+) (news note)

Posted on by

How many bridges do you drive over on your way to work each day?  Probably a bunch, if you have the typical commute of 32 round trip miles per day.  Now, how many of them are *not* structurally sound?  Probably more than you realize.

The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) has just released its American Infrastructure Report Card.  Overall, the nation scored a miserable overall D+. Here’s the breakdown for the Transportation categories:

        Aviation        D
        Bridges        C+
        Inland Waterways        D-
        Ports        C
        Rail        C+
        Roads        D
        Transit        D

    In the breakout for North Carolina,

  • 2,192 of the 18,165 (12.1%) bridges in North Carolina are considered structurally deficient.
  • 3,296 of the 18,165 (18.1%) bridges in North Carolina are considered functionally obsolete.

The report has a ton of interactive information, including a nation-wide county by county deficient bridges look up, identifying infrastructure defects in detail.  Currently, much of the planned infrastructure improvements is in limbo while the sequester is in effect.  However, our nation’s system of deficient bridges must be a priority.  Will it take another event similar to Minnesota’s I-35 bridge collapse before we fix our nation’s infrastructure?  Let’s hope not.

Your turn.  What are your thoughts about the current infrastructure of America’s roads and bridges?

How is the Carnival Cruise Ship Disaster Like Some Construction Projects?

Posted on by

cruise shipNow that I have your attention:  Have you followed the “cruise from hell” story, in which Carnival Cruise passengers were forced to make do on a ship with no working power or lavatory facilities for the better part of a week?

Think this has nothing to do with construction projects?

On the contrary, this story serves as a reminder that if something can go wrong, eventually, it WILL go wrong.

No where is this more true than on a construction project.

Read my guest post on today’s Construction Law Musings to find out how you can prepare for the unexpected on your construction projects.  While you are there, browse around and check out the wealth of information on Chris Hill’s Virginia-based construction law blog.

~ Melissa

PS:  New to this blog?  Please sign up for email delivery and your free white paper on 7 Critical Mistakes made by architects & engineers.

Photo:  (c) Roger Wollstadt

The Old Defeats the New (Usefulness of LEED?) (News Note)

Posted on by

Last week, I mentioned the renewal of the tax credits for wind energy.  Another report which came across my desk recently is one from SustainableBusiness.com, in which it is reported that some (although certainly not all) of New York City’s oldest buildings are out-performing LEED-certified buildings.7 World Trade Center

The magazine compares the new 7 World Trade Center, a LEED-Gold certified project, to the 1930s-era Chrysler Building, which is more energy efficient.  The 7 World Trade Center building has an Energy Star score of 74, while the Chrysler building scores 84 (in part due to extensive efficiency upgrades).

The cited reasons include thicker walls, fewer windows and less ventilation in the older buildings, as well as the fact that LEED-certified buildings look at other environmental features, such as the kinds of materials used and recycled, water systems, and proximity to public transportation.

Does this surprise you?  Are you a critic of the LEED process or an advocate?  Share your thoughts below.

Photo (c) davidlat. 

Wind Energy Gets a Second Breath of Life (News Note)

Posted on by

wind trubines

Have you been following the “fiscal cliff” debacle?  Unless you spent the holiday season in a cave, the answer is probably YES.  One interesting detail tucked away in the recently passed compromise legislation is the renewal of the Renewable Energy Production Tax Credit (PTC) for wind power, now extended through 2013.

The PTC awards a 2.2 cents per kilowatt hour tax credit for wind, geothermal and closed-loop biomass and 1.1 cents per kilowatt hour for other renewable energy technologies. This lasts for 10 years for most technologies, including wind.  Alternatively, companies can request a lump-sum payment of 30% of the wind construction cost as a tax credit once the wind turbine starts producing power.

Also new for 2013, companies are allowed to claim the credit if construction begins before the end of this year.  Previously, the facility had to be placed in service (i.e., operating) before the end of the year.

According to the folks at Green-Buildings.com, the extension of the renewable energy credit should boost wind energy construction, at least for the first half of 2013.

What is your opinion of the tax incentives for wind energy?  Yeah or Nay? Share in the comment section, below.

Photo (c) berent.