CONT_CONTRACTOR_ A Penton Media Property April 28, 2010 If you want to view this on the web go to: http://enews.penton.com/enews/contractormag/v/28 ---------------------------------------- ADVERTISEMENT ---------------------------------------- --45 Mr. Rooter franchise owners donate money and supplies to Ronald McDonald House SACRAMENTO, CALIF. -- Mr. Rooter Plumbing kicked off its national sponsorship of Ronald McDonald House Charities by donating money and supplies to the Ronald McDonald House here. More than 45 Mr. Rooter franchise owners, their employees and members of the corporate staff made the trip to the Sacramento Ronald McDonald House. They presented the House with a $3,395 check, as well as kitchen and food supplies their teams collected. To view the full article go to: http://contractormag.com/news/mr-rooter-ronald-mcdonald-2345/ --DOE finalizes tougher water heater standards WASHINGTON -- U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Steven Chu in early April announced that the Department has finalized higher energy efficiency standards for a key group of heating appliances that will together save consumers up to $10 billion and prevent up to 164 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions over 30 years. The new standards, for residential water heaters, pool heaters and direct heating equipment such as gas fireplaces, will reduce air pollution, prevent the release of harmful nitrogen oxides and mercury, and avoid emissions equivalent to taking 46 million cars off the road for one year, DOE said. To view the full article go to: http://contractormag.com/news/doe_finalizes_water_heater_standards/ --Healthy Rebound for Remodeling Expected in 2010 CAMBRIDGE, MA - Home improvement spending will recover this year, according to the Leading Indicator of Remodeling Activity (LIRA) released today by the Remodeling Futures Program at the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University. The LIRA suggests annual spending will accelerate, with nearly five percent growth in 2010. "The gradual recovery in the broader economy should encourage more remodeling spending by homeowners," says Nicolas P. Retsinas, director of the Joint Center for Housing Studies. "This year could produce the first annual spending increase for the industry since 2006." To view the full article go to: http://contractormag.com/news/rebound_expected_in_2010/ --DOE announces student teams for 2011 Solar Decathlon WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Department of Energy in mid-April announced the 20 collegiate teams selected to compete in the next U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon, which will be held on the National Mall in Washington in the Fall 2011. For two weeks, teams of college and university students from across the U.S. and the world will compete to design, build, and operate the most affordable, attractive, effective, and energy-efficient solar-powered house. Hosted by DOE, the competition will highlight affordable homes that combine energy-efficient construction and appliances with renewable energy systems that are available today. The competition also supports the Administration's goal of creating a clean energy economy, while saving American families and businesses money and reducing our dependence on fossil fuels. To view the full article go to: http://contractormag.com/news/solar_decathlon_teams/ --Will IGCC Become a Green Code Juggernaut? BY ROBERT P. MADER The competitive folks at the International Code Council are hoping that their International Green Construction Code becomes so dominant that it marginalizes any competition. As ICC notes, their green code is easy for a state or municipality to adopt because the green code flows into the International Plumbing Code, the International Mechanical Code and those flow seamlessly into their structural codes, such as the International Residential Code. There's no need for Anytown USA to cobble together a plumbing code from one place and a structural code from another. In light of that competitive code issue, it was a savvy move for the ICC to put together what Jay Peters, the executive director of the ICC's Plumbing, Mechanical & Fuel Gas Group, characterizes as exclusive agreements with the U.S. Green Building Council and the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating & Air-Conditioning Engineers. To view the full article go to: http://blog.contractormag.com/mader/2010/04/15/will-igcc-become-a-green-code-juggernaut/ ---------------------------------------- ADVERTISEMENT ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ADVERTISEMENT ---------------------------------------- Contact information: Robert P. Mader , Editor-in-Chief Thank you for reading CONTRACTOR eNews You've received this e-newsletter for one of two reasons: You are subscribed to this email as #email# 1) You received our CONTRACTOR eNews in the past. 2) You identified yourself as a reader of CONTRACTOR magazine. 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