Legislative Issues

Health Care Reform Timeline, District 5 Speaker... click here to read

NRCA release photovoltaic guidelines... click here to read full Press Release

NRCA's roofing manual and construction details CDs are available... click here to read full Press Release

NRCA Completes latest roofing manual... click here to read full Press Release

South Carolina Mechanic Lien Code
view the changes here!

LEED Training and How to Obtain LEED AP Certification
General Information
LEED AP information
Local USGBC Chapter information and classes

NEW Bill S 803... amendements to the lien law proposed by Senator Rand
click here for more information

SC Department LLR - Potential Increase of Licensing Fees
Click here for full article

NRCA INFO, WEEK OF JULY 26, 2010:

Recession show it's a good time to be green
Green buildings are finding fans among property owners looking to save costs amid the recession. With green buildings using about 40% less water and 30% less energy, more landlords are retrofitting their buildings to cut their energy bills. Even the recycling market is experiencing an uptick in business, as recyclers turn profits by capitalizing on other companies' waste. Las Vegas Business Press

Rise of new roofing technology poses challenges
New types of commercial roofs, materials and green technology are posing more challenges for insurance claims representatives, says Kenneth Gilvary, a senior engineer with Haag Engineering in Dallas. The increase in popularity of vegetative roofing means more challenges for engineers who must ensure that a structure is resilient and for the insurance industry that might have to deal with claims, he says. ClaimsJournal.com

Developer bets on mixed-use high-rise in downtown New Haven
A new $190 million, 32-story high-rise is intended to help New Haven, Conn., overcome the social tensions that have plagued a city known as much for its crime rates as for its position as an intellectual hub. The mixed-use tower, which has a 400-kilowatt fuel cell to generate electricity, will offer some upscale and price-controlled accommodations, retail space and parking lots. "Residential development, not commercial development, is the future of downtown," said one Yale University professor. The New York Times (free registration)

Baltimore to begin $1.4 billion revitalization project
A corner of Baltimore's downtown is getting a 15-year makeover. The city is about to undergo a $1.4 billion revitalization of 25 acres, bringing new office, retail and residential space to the city. Plans will unroll in five phases, and some 10,000 construction jobs are expected to be created over the life of the project. American City Business Journals/Baltimore

Developer markets "hurricane-resistant" Miami tower
A Miami developer says his 35-story office tower boasts resistance to storms -- even a Category 5 hurricane. Meteorologists are warning that this year's hurricane season could be powerful, and Alan Ojeda sees that prognostication as a marketing opportunity. Ojeda's $240 million building goes beyond state code and includes hurricane-wind resistant windows throughout. The Wall Street Journal

U.S. new-home sales rebound, but builders are forced to slash prices
New-home sales increased 23.6% last month compared with May, topping economists' forecasts, but the sales level, 330,000, was the second-lowest since the government started tracking such data in 1963. Builders were forced to keep cutting prices to get those sales. The average selling price dropped to $242,900, the lowest for June since 2003. The Christian Science Monitor/The New Economy blog (7/26) InvestmentAdvisor.com (7/26) Los Angeles Times

Nation sheds construction jobs but bright spots grow
Construction jobs declined in 285 of the nation's 337 metropolitan areas over the past year, according to the Associated General Contractors. Although the market remains depressed, certain localities are seeing an upside. Massachusetts saw jobs rise in June compared with May, as did three Maryland counties near Washington, D.C. "The overall lack of demand for new construction is hurting more than the stimulus is helping at this point," said AGC Chief Economist Ken Simonson. American City Business Journals/Boston (7/27) San Diego Union-Tribune (7/27) American City Business Journals/Birmingham, Ala

Economist forecasts declining summer construction starts
Contractors should brace for tough summer reports, writes Jim Haughey, chief economist for Reed Construction Data. Stimulus funds are running dry and Congress is under increasing pressure to rein in deficits, making another massive economic stimulus package unlikely, he notes. Construction starts rose 4.7% in June from May, roughly stable with the past three months after accounting for seasonal changes. Haughey expects construction starts to pull back as states curb spending in the new fiscal year. Reed/ACP Construction Data

E-verify grows popular as employers seek "peace of mind"
Use of the federal government's E-Verify system to check the eligibility of foreign workers is growing. More than 200,000 businesses nationwide have signed up for the service, including retail and food shops, banks and construction companies. "It's an extra step in the hiring process, but I think it gives you a peace of mind," said Brian Brogioli, director of human resources for Massachusetts-based Consigli Construction. MetroWest Daily News (Framingham, Mass.)

About half of Arizona emloyers check workers' status
About one-third of businesses in Arizona have signed up to use E-Verify -- and only about half of the employers in the state are complying with a law that requires them to check the legal status of their workers, writes Jahna Berry. Some speculate that smaller companies are not checking, a condition that is "risky business" since their livelihood depends on compliance, said state Sen. Thayer Verschoor, a co-sponsor of the employer-sanctions law. The Arizona Republic (Phoenix)

Stimulus or no: Debate rages over government intervention
Has President Barack Obama's $862 billion economic stimulus ultimately helped or hurt the nation's economy? That's the subject of hot debate among economists and politicians, and a decision over a second stimulus package is hanging in the balance. Stimulus advocates say the injection of federal dollars strengthened a sick economy; stimulus critics say the country must face down its rising deficit or be confronted with crippling interest rates later. The Wall Street Journal

Future Executives Institute is accepting applications
NRCA University is accepting applications for its next three-year Future Executives Institute (FEI) program. FEI offers participants a broader look at management theory and practice; an opportunity to develop leadership and communication skills; and unique perspectives to develop a better understanding of the participant's company as it exists in the business world. Learn more.

NRCA offers roof coatings guide
Updated in 2009, The NRCA Guide to Roof Coatings, Second Edition, offers an objective discussion about the application of various roof coating types, where they may be used most effectively and the preparations necessary for successful performance. It also includes generally accepted guidelines for application of common roof coatings. The member price for the guide is $55, and the retail price is $110. Purchase it here.

Rains flood Chicago, cause destructive Iowa dam failure
Heavy rains inundated Chicago roadways and broke a hole in an Iowa dam. At least 1,300 buildings, including homes, were damaged from the water drained from Lake Delhi when the dam broke. About 10 inches of rain fell over 12 hours, which was more than the dam could contain. Yahoo!/The Associated Press (7/25) CNN (7/25) The Des Moines Register (Iowa)

U.S. Postal Service goes for the green
A 2.5-acre green roof atop the Morgan mail-processing facility in New York City has cut energy consumption by 40% and reduces storm-water runoff in the summer by 75% and in the winter by 40%. In all, the U.S. Postal Service is already two-thirds toward its 2015 goal of decreasing energy use by 30%. GreenerBuildings

Minnesota researchers explore the benefits of green roofs
Even though University of Minnesota researchers have taken down a green roof at one of the campus halls in Minneapolis, they are expected to use data from the project to determine whether to move forward with similar programs. One idea researchers are exploring is using green roofs to boost technology rather than just for recreational usage. The Minnesota Daily (University of Minnesota)

New Bedford, Mass., gets first green roof
A green roof was installed at the new Buzzards Bay Coalition's headquarters in New Bedford, Mass., and includes nine varieties of sedum to take on excess rainwater. The roof, which is the first of its kind in the city, has solar panels to reduce energy costs. The Standard-Times (New Bedford, Mass.)

Rooftop bars and restaurants taking hold in D.C.
Using rooftops for more space at bars and restaurants is becoming a new trend in Washington, D.C., writes Tierney Plumb. These new ventures can sometimes account for much as 80% of a businesses' revenue, and at least 30 new venues have recently opened. Washington Business Journal (Premium content compliments of Washington Business Journal)

University of Massachusetts funds building boom
The University of Massachusetts is bucking the downturn with an economic boom of its own. The university system has hundreds of millions of dollars in projects at its campuses statewide, from a $400 million science center in Worcester to a $70 million emerging technologies center in Lowell. The campus growth is creating hundreds of construction jobs in the process. The Boston Globe

Analysis: U.S. labor market remains in serious trouble
Recent congressional action to extend unemployment benefits for 2.5 million people is a reminder that although the recession probably ended in June 2009, something is still wrong with the U.S. labor market, according to The Economist. The prolonged downturn and a slow recovery have led to an unprecedented number of long-term unemployed workers, and nothing seems to be helping. "Sadly, no quick fix is available," The Economist notes. "But the failure to change tack may prove costly, leading to slower growth and larger fiscal burdens." The Economist

E-verify grows popular as employers seek "peace of mind"
Use of the federal government's E-Verify system to check the eligibility of foreign workers is growing. More than 200,000 businesses nationwide have signed up for the service, including retail and food shops, banks and construction companies. "It's an extra step in the hiring process, but I think it gives you a peace of mind," said Brian Brogioli, director of human resources for Massachusetts-based Consigli Construction. Milford Daily News (Mass.)

Sen. Reid plans to offer scaled-back energy bill
The Senate leadership on Friday was considering moving ahead with a scaled-back energy plan that would not contain carbon-emissions curbs or a renewable-energy mandate. The bill that Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., was putting together would reportedly address the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, provide incentives for energy efficiency, promote natural-gas vehicles and expand conservation measures for land and water resources, analysts said. The Christian Science Monitor

NRCA and the center launch photovoltaic credentialing program
NRCA and the Center for Environmental Innovation in Roofing have launched Roof Integrated Solar Energy (RISE) Inc., an entity created to provide a means of certifying solar roofing professionals to support the widespread use of rooftop solar energy. Individuals who successfully complete the requirements established by RISE will receive the RISE Certified Solar Roofing Professional certification, which is a voluntary certification for professionals who plan and oversee photovoltaic system installation on roofs. Learn more.

NRCA contributes $10,000 to "Fifty for Five"
NRCA has contributed $10,000 to Rebuilding Together® for its "Fifty for Five," an event that recognizes the five-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina and will showcase and celebrate Rebuilding Together's commitment to Gulf Coast rebuilding and renewal. From Aug. 24 to Aug. 29, Rebuilding Together will rehabilitate 50 homes in New Orleans, culminating with a community block party and community evening outdoor celebration. Learn more.