Sources: Martin Marietta Materials Inc., Raleigh, N.C.; CP staff
Year-over-year sales and profit gains, bolstered by core aggregate operations’ higher shipments and pricing conditions, plus better than anticipated Texas Industries merger results, have Martin Marietta enjoying investor confidence approximating pre-recession levels.
Read MoreSources: Vulcan Materials Co., Birmingham, Ala.; CP staff
Elaine Chao, who headed the Department of Labor through President George W. Bush’s two terms (2001–2009), and Southern Co. chief Thomas Fanning have been elected Vulcan Materials directors for an interim period; both will be among 2015 director nominees for election at the Vulcan 2015 Annual Meeting of Shareholders in May.
Read MoreSources: CP staff; General Resource Technology Inc., Eagan, Minn.
Short for “Returned Concrete, Zero Impact on the Environment,” Mapei’s Re-Con Zero is a mineral and admixture kit whose seven-minute agglomeration and hardening process converts mixer drums’ leftover concrete to semi-spherical aggregates—recyclable as they are for base or re-used as new concrete aggregate.
Read MoreSource: GE Capital Americas, New York
The 2015 U.S. construction outlook could be analogous to a tale of two cities, with stabilizing and perhaps flattish residential demand offset by continued strong, if not strengthening demand, both reflecting a relatively improving economy and rising interest rates. Among the new directions GE Capital Americas construction industry analysts see for this year:
Read MoreSources: Freedonia Group, Cleveland; CP staff
U.S. demand for construction chemicals used in on-site applications is projected to grow 8.2 percent per year through 2018 to $12.1 billion. Gains will be primarily driven by double-digit increases in building construction expenditures, owing to healthy economic growth and an improved consumer financial outlook. Increased economic activity and greater government investment in the aging infrastructure will also support construction chemical use in nonbuilding applications.
Read MoreSources: U.S. Green Building Council, Washington, D.C.; CP staff
As part of its Multifamily Green Initiative, Fannie Mae is granting a 10 basis point reduction in the interest rate of a refinance, acquisition or supplemental mortgage loan for a multifamily property carrying certification or recognition under USGBC LEED, EPA Energy Star or Enterprise Green Communities programs. On a $10 million dollar loan amortizing over 30 years, an owner would save $95,000 in interest payments across a 10-year term based on 3.9 percent versus 4 percent market rate.
Read MoreSource: U.S. Green Building Council
Now in its fifth year, the USGBC’s Top 10 States for LEED Green Building Per Capita in Nation ranking is based on 2010 U.S. Census data and includes commercial and institutional green building projects that were certified throughout 2014. Illinois retained its top national position for a second consecutive year, with 174 LEED certifications representing 3.31 square feet of LEED-certified space per resident.
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