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�鶹��ý recently joined with a coalition of industrial, municipal and construction-related groups focused on Clean Water Act issues to respond to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s new memorandum recommending the use of numeric effluent limits “where feasible.”

Construction material prices are up 6.8 percent in the last twelve months. This is due in large part to increases in truck freight rates, as well as barge, local truck delivery and rail rates. Freight rates have been impacted significantly by higher diesel prices, which will continue to be on the rise for the next few months.

The market research group FedSources forecasts a slight decline in federal contract spending for 2012. President Obama’s 2012 budget would decrease government spending for contracted programs by about one percent, but if Congress passes deeper cuts as some have proposed, contract spending could decrease by up to five percent.

Individuals and firms interested in showcasing their company’s green building achievements are encouraged to submit proposals for �鶹��ý's green building webinar series based on Building to LEED® for New Construction course.

The Sixth Annual Airport Project Delivery Systems Summit will build upon the previous year’s program by offering first-hand experiences in delivering airport projects.  Airports Council International-NA, Airport Consultants Council and the Associated General Contractors of America continue to promote this initiative together with the goal of improved airport project delivery. 

Many Owners struggle to effectively manage the design of their projects.  The process can be complex and unruly; budgets and programs may be loosely defined or tend to creep; and the technical details may exceed the Owners knowledge. 

Credit Union CEO John Santarpia envisioned the first commercial net-zero-energy building in the state of Florida, which opened August 2009. It is this type of venture that has set the tone for energy efficiency and conservation for the next decade.

The Summer BIMForum will be held on July 19-20 in Chicago, with the theme “Where Does Design End and Construction Begin?”

At the �鶹��ý Annual Convention in Las Vegas last month, several Building Division leaders ascended to new positions within the association.

Past Building Division Chairs Mike Kenig of Holder Construction in Atlanta, Ga., and Jerry Anderson of Anderson Construction Co. in Ft. Gaines, Ga., both received National Chair of the Year awards at the recent �鶹��ý Annual Convention in Las Vegas, Nev.