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News & Trends

• Can an inspector evaluate a roof without getting on it?
  Some cities and towns in Minnesota prohibit municipal inspectors from climbing on roofs when they inspect them, writes home inspector Reuben Saltzman. Others say they may get on the roof as long as the home owner provides a ladder and leans it against the building. However, inspectors for Saint Louis Park climb on roofs with a pitch of 6:12 or less, while Blaine allows property owners to submit digital photos of roof underlayment as replacement for initial inspection. Star Tribune (Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn.) (4/28)     

• Installation of skylights requires careful study
  Installation of skylights should be done carefully to avoid leaks, according to this piece. Ventilation and a removable screen should be included on fixed-glazed and on operator types of skylights. Larger units tend to reduce the likelihood of leaks and debris buildup rather than several smaller ones because they have fewer feet of flashed seams, writes Mike McClintock. Chicago Tribune (4/28)     

• Hotel construction shows signs of life in Haiti city
  Hotel construction projects are rising in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, as developers seek to provide accommodations for contractors and businessmen who could bring investment into the country. The construction of hotels is also aimed at providing jobs for the city's unemployed. However, political issues need to be resolved if the plan is to succeed, according to economist Claude Beauboeuf. Google/The Associated Press (4/29)     

• Other News

• Roof replacement gets under way at Conn. town hall
  Norwich Bulletin (Conn.) (4/27)     

Energy & the Environment

• Green roofs seen as part of solution for stormwater in NYC
  Installation of green roofs is part of a $4.6 million program that will help manage stormwater runoff in New York City through green infrastructure. The initiative calls for installation of green infrastructure at non-commercial facilities. Green roofs will be included in the overhaul of a housing project in the Bronx, and at the Local 1 Plumbers Union building. CleanTechnica (4/29)     

• Army bases' net-zero goal: Behavior change aided by technology
  Fort Bliss in Texas and Fort Carson in Colorado have been told they need to be net zero in energy, waste and water. But doing so involves spending money on alternative energy sources, low-flow fixtures and landscaping. It also means training those who live and work there to practice different behaviors, such as recycling instead of tossing; watering in off hours to keep evaporation at a minimum; and paying attention to new electricity meters. TexasTribune.org (Austin) (4/27)     

• Installation of green or white roofs wins awards for Montreal borough
  A program that requires installation of either green or white roofs in Montreal's Rosemont-Petite Patrie Borough is drawing attention. The measure has led to installation of 300 reflective or vegetative roofs in the area in its first year. The Gazette (Montreal) (tiered subscription model) (4/27)     

Hot Topics

Top five news stories selected by NRCA SmartBrief readers in the past week.

• Rubber roof membrane peels from 2-year-old Maine building (Bangor Daily News (Maine))

• Conn. construction firm faces fines for fall-protection violations (Connecticut Post (Fairfield County-Bridgeport))

• N.J. charges 2 contractors for faulty roof work and fraud (Daily Record (Morristown-Parsippany, N.J.))

• Choose experienced, safe and tech-smart roofers for commercial jobs (Buildings.com)

• Hotel's retractable glass roof makes it party time year 'round (WMAQ-TV (Chicago))

• Results based on number of times each story was clicked by readers.

In the Office

• How green power can give your business a boost
  Using green power to run your business might give you a leg up on the competition, said Scott Nash, who runs an organic grocery-store business. "That is how they can differentiate themselves from the big guys," he said. Businesses can request that their energy companies provide them with power from sustainable sources. Entrepreneur online/The Daily Dose blog (4/25)     

• The secret to good leadership: Pay attention to your team
  Leadership isn't about being brilliant and knowing all of the answers, executive coach James Scouller says. Good leaders have a "sense of destination" and a vision that helps team members move ahead together. They also remember that each person has a different mindset and knowledge level. TheSalesDirector.com (4/27)     

Featured Content

Government & Regulatory

• Industry groups urge Congress to revive expired tax breaks
  The Business Roundtable, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the National Retail Federation and the International Franchise Association are among industry groups calling on Congress to revive a series of expired tax breaks. One was a tax credit granted to retailers that hired welfare recipients. More than 100 such provisions expired Dec. 31, and the groups want them renewed retroactively. The Hill/On The Money blog (4/26)     

NRCA News

• Federal court blocks NLRB regulation
  On April 17, a federal court in Washington, D.C., issued an injunction blocking the National Labor Relations Board from enforcing a regulation requiring employers to post a notice of employee rights in the workplace. The regulation was scheduled to take effect April 30 but now is on hold indefinitely pending further litigation regarding this matter. This is a significant interim victory for NRCA as a member of the coalition that filed the lawsuit that resulted in the injunction. Learn more.     

• NRCA catalog is available online
  A digital version of the NRCA 2011-12 Catalog is available on NRCA’s website. The catalog offers information about various NRCA products, NRCA On-Demand, NRCA University, customer service and membership, among other topics. View the catalog.     

SmartQuote

A sound mind in a sound body is a short but full description of a happy state in this world." --John Locke, British philosopher