Already passed by the House of Representatives, Home Star legislation advanced in the Senate as part of the Clean Energy Jobs and Oil Company Accountability Act. Introduced by Majority Leader Sen. Henry Reid (D-NV), the bill represents a stripped-down energy bill with additional elements designed to address the Gulf oil spill. Like the House version of Home Star passed in May, the Senate bill would provide rebates to homeowners who retrofit their homes with energy-efficient equipment and materials, including windows, doors and skylights, reported Window & Door. Full Story

The Senate decided to remove the Small Business Lending Fund (SBLF) portion of the bill and then took a procedural vote to allow it to be added back in as an amendment. The SBLF is the $30 billion fund that would go to community banks and others to help with their small business lending. Full Story

Attorney general Eric Holder has signed final regulations revising the Department of Justice's (DOJ) Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) regulations, including its ADA Standards for Accessible Design. With regard to entrances, the 1991 Standards required at least 50% of public entrances be accessible. The 1991 Standards also require the number of accessible public entrances to be equivalent to the number of exits required by applicable building and fire codes. Section 206.4.1 of the 2010 Standards requires at least 60% of public entrances to be accessible. The DOJ says under these revisions, where two public entrances are planned in a newly constructed facility, both entrances must be accessible. Full Story

EPA has recently posted new information on their website regarding safe renovation and abatement of buildings that have polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB)-containing caulk. This information is meant to provide contractors, parents, teachers, and school administrators a general overview of the practices a contractor should consider when conducting the renovation and/or abatement of a building that has PCB-containing caulk. Full Story

Add nearly 200 more New Jersey school districts to the list of those receiving state school construction funds, as the administration of Gov. Chris Christie continued to roll out construction and repair money following a halt to the program earlier this year. But New Jersey's urban districts still face a wait of at least several more months, with an administration spokesman saying it will likely be end of October before a review of district needs is completed. The Governor announced that $270 million in additional funds will be made available to 177 districts for 740 separate maintenance and construction projects. Another $16 million was provided to six vocational districts, reported NJSpotlight.com. Full Story

Haddon Windows LLC, operating as Accu-Weld, announced its new corporate name of "Haddon Windows & Doors." The name change is part of a strategic integration and revamp of the 29-year-old Accu-Weld Company and Speyer Door & Window, the assets of which were acquired by the Haddon family in 2009. Full Story

The American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA) has published documents relating to life cycle testing. AAMA 910-10, Voluntary "Life Cycle" Specifications and Test Methods for AW Class Architectural Windows and Doors is a specification and test method intended to model, through accelerated testing, the normal wear that can be expected during the life of a typical architectural window or door product. Full Story

Click here for more Industry Access news including recent new hires, merger & acquisition activity and who's offering new products.

* DHI Members may submit news releases to be considered for inclusion in DHI's IndustryWatch. Send to: jmadden@dhi.org

To restore credit capacity and liquidity in the CRE market while decreasing building operating costs and creating 1.3 million construction-related jobs, Architecture 2030 recommends implementing the CRE Solution. The CRE Solution would amend the Energy Efficient Commercial Building Tax Deduction (26 U.S.C. 179(d)) from $1.80 per sq. ft. to a range of $3.00 to $9.00 per sq. ft. for meeting the energy reduction targets of the 2030 Challenge. Full Story To download the full study, click here.

Despite a slight increase in optimism just six months ago, small businesses today report decreases in nearly every indicator including business confidence, revenues, job growth, and growth projections, according to NSBA's 2010 Mid-Year Economic Report. The report also stated that 41% of small businesses are unable to garner adequate financing. Full Story To read the full report click here.

Spending on nonresidential building projects fell for a 15th consecutive month, dropping 0.5% in June, according to a report from the Commerce Department. This sector has been hard hit by the economic downturn which has triggered rising defaults on commercial real estate projects. That has prompted banks to tighten lending standards and made it harder for builders to get financing for new projects, reported the Associated Press. The only strength in June came in the government sector. Overall public construction rising 1.5%, reflecting a 1.1% rise in spending by state and local governments on roads, sewer projects and public buildings and a 4.6% rise by the federal government. Full Story

If all the commercial buildings in the U.S. that exist as of 2010 were retrofitted to be more energy efficient, the country as a whole would save over $41.1 billion a year in energy bills, according to the report Energy Efficiency Retrofits for Commercial and Public Buildings released by Pike Research. In order to get to that $41.1 billion per year in savings, the owners of commercial properties would have to invest in the initial retrofit adaptations and construction upgrades. To energy retrofit all 79 billion sq. ft. of commercial real estate that Pike Research estimates exists in the U.S. as of 2010, property owners would collectively spend about $22.5 billion a year in upgrades over the next 10 years. Full Story

Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley along with private developers rolled out plans for the first phase of the $1.5 billion State Center redevelopment on the edge of Mount Vernon set to begin this fall. The $215 million phase one will encompass 500,000 sq. ft. of office space spanning two new buildings, a parking garage, 70,000 sq. ft. of street-level retail space, including a grocery store, reported Baltimore Business Journal. Full Story

Fire Engineering Magazine discusses some concerns with residential door locks and the ability to exit during a fire. Full Story

The House of Representatives passed legislation that would establish legal standards for carbon monoxide (CO) detectors and encourage their use. The "Residential Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Prevention Act" (H.R. 1796) from Rep. Jim Matheson, D-Utah, would direct the Consumer Product Safety Commission to publish standards for CO detectors and would prohibit the distribution of any detector that does not meet those standards. In addition, it would create a grant program to help state and local governments promote the use of CO detectors and authorize $10 million over the next five years for the program. Full Story

Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA)

Representatives Bobby Rush and Henry Waxman, Chairman of the Committee on Energy and Commerce, have introduced H.R. 5820, the Toxic Chemicals Safety Act of 2010, to revise the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) of 1976, which governs the safety of chemicals in commerce.  Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) has introduced a Senate bill.

Under the TSCA, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has the authority to "compile, keep current, and publish a list of each chemical substance that is manufactured or processed in the United States."  TSCA states that "the term 'chemical substance' means any organic or inorganic substance of a particular molecular identity, including - (i) any combination of such substances occurring in whole or in part as a result of a chemical reaction or occurring in nature, and (ii) any element or uncombined radical. " TSCA does not include chemical substances subject to other U.S. statutes such as foods and food additives, pesticides, drugs, cosmetics, tobacco, nuclear material, or munitions.  What we often hear about is the "TSCA inventory."  The inventory includes more than 84,000 chemical substances.

The bill makes some changes which the environmental advocates' community has sought and there are some changes sought by the industries most directly affected.

Fire Door Annual Inspection Webinar

In June, Foundation staff presented an overview of the NFPA 80 Fire Door Requirements as webinars to DHI Canada Chapters to explain the importance of DHI membership getting involved with the door inspection program and the successes experienced in the U.S. to date.

Watch the Foundation's NFPA 80 Fire Door Inspection Requirements Webinar by clicking here to learn how the program works, its benefits, and how you can make it work for you.

BOG Election Time

Take this opportunity to select additional members for the 2010-2011 DHI Board of Governors. DHI provides an online election process that will allow you to complete your ballot and submit it electronically.

Go to DHI's 2010-2011 Online Board of Governor’s Election to review the candidates' information and vote.

Is it Time to Think Outside the Door? The Convergence of the Electronic Opening
DHI's 2010 Forum for the Future: Thursday, September 23, 2010, 11:30 am - 2:00 pm

The research segment of this year's Forum for the Future events offers insight into the future that will have industry-changing impact. Ten predictions for our industry over the next five years were developed. If only a FEW of the predictions are correct, BIG changes lie ahead for our industry. Be sure to attend to make sure your company is prepared!

Not only is the content of this year's program invaluable, BUT, since it's FREE, as part of your Conference Registration, it's a GREAT VALUE for your investment in attending the Industry's premier event for information, networking and products. For more information click here.

Conference 2010 Forum UPDATE!
DHI Education $avings!

Take pro-active steps to advance your career, your industry knowledge, and technical skills. Learn more... Register

Update! "Service Revenue Opportunities" Forum Break Out Session

Due to scheduling conflicts, this Break-out Session will not be conducted at this year's Forum, but will be offered as a "Keeping You Current" DHI Webinar in the near future.

DHI Hoosier Chapter + Cubs baseball = DHI Conference FUN in Chicago!!

Hosted By the: DHI Hoosier Chapter • Join colleagues at Wrigley Field on Tuesday, September 21, 2010 at 7:05 pm. Batter up! Click here for more info.

DHI Canada Night 2010

DHI Canada paints the town red in Chicago on Thursday, September 23, 2010. Click here for more info.