Housing Zone* UNPUBLISHED Florida partners with U.S. Dept. of Labor to stop misclassification of employees by contractors The U.S. Department of Labor is cracking down on firms misclassifying employees as independent contractors.
Housing Zone* UNPUBLISHED Growth ordinance in Eliot, Maine, forces lot owners to wait years for the okay to build Some permit-seekers in this town in Maine said they had camped out in front of the building for two days.
Codes + Standards New Jersey faces higher water costs due to leaks in distribution systems Century-old water infrastructure in many of the Garden State's communities is causing a lot of water loss.
Codes + Standards Ontario code changes boost accessibility for people with disabilities New codes require Ontario homes to include visual smoke alarms for the hearing impaired.
Codes + Standards Employer-sponsored bulk solar purchase program a new perk for some Several companies are helping employees install solar panels at their homes for a third less than average in price.
Codes + Standards Mortgage default rates about one-third less in energy-efficient homes Borrowers are less likely to default on their mortgages if they live in an energy-efficient home.
Codes + Standards Obama plan would save about $900 on first-time mortgages First-time borroweres could save as much as $900 per year with the reduction in mortgage insurance fees recently announced by President Barack Obama.
Codes + Standards Public comments sought on draft of new passive house standard The Department of Energy funded a paper that is avialable for comments from the public.
Codes + Standards National Renewable Energy Lab studies how a smart home links to the grid The Naitonal Renewable Energy Laboratory in Colorado is examining a new way that woudl allow home appliances to communicate with the power grid using an Internet connection.
Codes + Standards North Richland Hills, Texas City Council under fire over new solar panel rules New solar panel rules requiring residents to seek a special permit prior to installation have upset those living in a Texas community.