The BE Blog | Building Enclosure

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Sales the lifeblood of any business, and selling becomes even more important in a tough economy. I recently spoke with Rick Davis, the president of Building Leaders Inc., a Chicago-based sales training company, who shared with me some tips for selling in a down market.

Now that Thanksgiving is over, we have a few weeks before the Christmas spirit peaks and we have to be nice to people. Now is the perfect time to take advantage of people and make some easy money for your company.

I would like to start by wishing everybody a happy and healthy holiday season. The holidays are a time to enjoy family and reflect on the past year. Hopefully, many of you will also have an opportunity to take a break prior to heading into 2009.

Earlier this week the U.S. Commerce Department released October stats indicating that new home and apartment construction have dropped to an annual rate of 791,000 units, a 4.5% decrease from September.

Cliff Chen of the Union of Concerned Scientists issued a statement this week lauding California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s signing of an executive order to facilitate renewable energy project development in the state.

I hope you had the opportunity to attend the Midwest Roofing Contractor’s Association (MRCA) National Conference Nov. 12-14 at the Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center near Dallas. Not only was the venue the most beautiful resort you will ever be in; the hospitality offered by the MRCA staff was near flawless.

As I sit here packing my things for my trip to Boston and the 2008 GreenBuild show, I have high expectations.

Imagine a science-driven, objective online database covering all aspects of high-performance roof systems that allows users to comment and conduct peer reviews with an interactive format like Wikipedia.

I love nature shows, especially those that demonstrate ferocity in the animal kingdom. Last night I caught a segment where an imposing monitor lizard went looking for lunch in a badger’s den, only to end up becoming lunch for the badger.

Many building codes now mandate intake and exhaust ventilation for attics. It’s easy to see why. A properly ventilated attic can save energy, eliminate excess moisture, prevent mold, and prevent ice damming in winter. And, by minimizing heat buildup in the attic, proper ventilation can even prolong the life of the roof system.