More on the Economic Stimulus plan. The Canadian Institute of Steel Construction did not think too much of the plan. Below is an excerpt of a story on Politonomist.com.

For the entire story, check out http://www.politonomist.com/us-stimulus-bill-passes-buy-american-rule-included-00845/

The Canadian Institute of Steel Construction responded to the bill quite negatively, a sentiment revered by Canadians and other nations dependent on U.S. trade worldwide - while expectations for the bill to increase imports from other countries are still strong, a number of groups are disappointed that the bill included a section which required all iron and steel used in the project to have been produced in the United States.

Looks like this plan may have more ramifications. Let us know your thoughts on the "Buy American" plan

Orleans, MA (PRWEB) January 23, 2009 -- The Copper Gutter Shop is now stocking half round gutters in Freedom Gray by Revere Copper.

Revere Freedom Gray Gutters Revere FreedomGray™ is standard architectural sheet copper coated both sides with a unique, patented Z-T Alloy™ (tin-zinc alloy). It offers all the advantages of copper in a naturally weathering earthtone gray color. FreedomGray is rugged, environmentally friendly and aesthetically appealing, for use in gutters as well as architectural roof elements and flashing.

Previously, architects, builders, roofers, contractors, and homeowners had little choice when looking for a gutter option with the strength and durability of copper, but in a gray color tone. There was (and still is) lead-coated copper, but with the green movement and the concern for long term environmental impact of our footprints, most have shied away from lead-coated copper. The Revere Freedom Gray zinc-copper fills that void. Freedom Gray gutter, downspouts, ad accessories may be veiwed @ http://www.copperguttershop.com/Revere_Freedom_Gray_Gutters.htm.

About the Copper Gutter Shop
The Copper Gutter Shop is a fabricator & distributor of gutters and copper based architectural elements and accessories. Custom Finals, rain chains, chimney caps, copper louver dormers are some of the products offered by the Copper Gutter Shop. A complete offering can be viewed on thier website at www.copperguttershop.com or by calling 1-866-704-8883.

(CSRwire) Jacksonville, OR. - December 15, 2008 - GLI Systems Inc. of Jacksonville, Oregon, maker of sustainable RainTube rain water control products, announces completion of an installation in the first Platinum Level LEED Certified home in Houston, TX. The LEED Platinum certification, awarded in November, recognizes that the structure has achieved the very highest level of sustainable design.

RainTube was selected for the 6,000 square foot home in order to provide efficient, clog-free rain water collection at the roof/gutter level and because of its certified, hyper-green manufacture. The project, located on Virginia Point in Houston, was designed by Adams Architects Inc. and constructed by Dovetail Builders. One of the projects many "green" features is a rain water harvesting system capable of providing all the water needs of the home. RainTube of Houston, owned by Jeff Corcoran, performed the RainTube installation as specified by Houston area rain water harvesting consultant Sparkle Tap.

RainTube is an innovative, porous, recycled plastic tube that is made to fit snuggly into existing gutter systems. RainTube is virtually transparent to water allowing it to flow through during rains of over 100 inches per hour. At the same time, it effectively keeps out clogging materials and the weight of snow and ice. RainTube is especially attractive for rain water harvesting applications because it efficiently and affordably performs both collection and prefiltering functions.

In July 2008 RainTube achieved a rare Gold Tier Cradle-To-Cradle Certification from MBDC. This placed RainTube in an undisputed leadership position at the highest levels of environmental friendly products. The certification means RainTube can provide valuable bonus LEED points for innovation on projects such as the Virginia Point Platinum level home. Cradle to Cradle is Internationally recognized as the worlds leading environmental products certification organization. Green building, an ecologically sound method of residential and commercial construction, has become a major area of interest and concern among consumers and the building industry worldwide.

RainTube manufactures effective, low-cost, water collection, gutter protection systems and rain water harvesting products made in the USA from 100% post-consumer recycled materials. RainTube helps protect homes, apartments and commercial buildings from water damage from clogged gutters, reduces fire risk from gutter debris (in compliance with new fire prevention building codes), reduces maintenance and promotes cleaner rain water harvesting systems. RainTube was awarded Sustainable Product of the Year in 2007 and 2008 and was also named one of the world's top ten green building products.

Steve Spratt, co-founder of GLI, said "We are very happy to have had the opportunity to play a part in this extraordinary LEED certified home. Projects such as this demonstrate that it is possible to design and build affordable, low impact and highly efficient structures with existing technologies. RainTube is strategically moving forward with new and innovative products for rain water control, collection and reuse. Many individuals and companies played a role in creating this beautiful Platinum Level home. The fact that RainTube has helped to elevate the awareness and importance of eco-sustainability in the world theater is a source of great satisfaction to everyone in our company."

 

The following article was written by Wendy Bounds and found on the Wall Street Journal website:

Last Friday, the seventh annual GreenBuild Expo wrapped up in Boston. The stock market swooned that week but such woes seemed lost on the buoyant crowd of builders and vendors. Nearly 30,000 people picked giddily through photovoltaic panels, rainwater tanks and metal roofing while strict eco-order prevailed; waste stations boasted four containers (1 trash, 2 recycling, 1 compost) with young eco-volunteers on guard to ensure a half-eaten organic turkey sandwich landed in the proper receptacle. Meanwhile GreenBuild bamboo Tee-shirts and blankets fashioned from recycled plastic bags sold like shoes at a Prada sample sale.

If the exuberance seems a bit naive (home prices fell another 17% in the third quarter), it wasn’t totally misplaced. McGraw-Hill Construction released figures that week suggesting the U.S. green building market is accelerating dramatically – up five-fold to as much as $49 billion this year from $10 billion in 2005. While still a small fraction of the total U.S. building market, that figure could triple by 2013.

One of the more cautiously optimistic on hand was builder Clark Wilson from Austin, Texas. His 18-month old company Green Builders Inc. is targeting a sector often written off in green housing: the middle class. The company’s homes average $225,000 and range from 1,600 to 3,500 square feet. (The one pictured here: $246,990 and 2,747 square feet.) In green terms, the price tag gets you, among other things, bamboo flooring, on-demand water heaters, rain barrels, insulated windows, high efficiency heat pumps and a thick dose of Icynene spray foam insulation. There’s also stuff you can’t see, like non-toxic finishes without volatile organic compounds and formaldehyde-free kitchen cabinets. Homes adhere to Energy Star specs and National Association of Home Builders green building standards.

A three-decade building veteran, Mr. Wilson makes the numbers work by calculating how higher-cost eco tweaks can save him money elsewhere. Thick insulation requires a smaller air-conditioning unit. A well-sealed attic means the air handler can be positioned for shorter duct runs. A Craftsman look on some homes pushes windows up into the eves to reduce facing and runs of soffit.

His marketing pitch aims at the pocketbook: green saves you money on utilities (up to 50%), and p.s., it’s also good for your health and if you’re still listening, also good for the world at large.

Projected revenue is $13 million in five years; he’s looking at Houston, Dallas and San Antonio next and after that, he believes, “the world is our oyster.” But even his glass-half-full attitude can’t staunch market realities. Mr. Wilson sold 60 houses this year; that dropped off in August and in October he says, “It was lights out.” His stopgap solution: a green remodeling division, announced at GreenBuild. The first day, three people signed up online for energy audits to figure out where they need his help. That’s only $300 a pop, but Wilson spins it optimistically: “I’m getting paid to bid a job. That’s never happened before.”