Source: THE GLAZINE

The UK has completed its first Green Deal package, marking a milestone for the government's flagship energy efficiency policy.

Source: Furniture Today

The North American Home Furnishings Assn. and the American Home Furnishings Alliance are working to create awareness on the potential effects of recently proposed national formaldehyde rules.

Source: ENERGY MANAGER TODAY    by Linda Hardesty

Heliotrope Technologies, in conjunction with Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), has developed a window glass technology that leverages an electrochromic effect to control light and heat transmission independently and dynamically.

Source:  American Architectural Manufacturers Association

The American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA) has released AAMA 643-13, Voluntary Specification, Performance Requirements and Test Procedures for Solar Reflective Finishes, which describes the test procedures and performance requirements for pigmented organic coatings applied to aluminum, fiber reinforced thermoset or wood profiles for windows, doors, wall panels and similar products.

Source:Woodworking Network

A large building located in the heart of Naple's ''central nervous system'' for contractors and designers has been sold to Grand Woodworking of Naples, Florida. The newly purchased building located on Trade Center Way is over 21,000 square feet which includes over 11,000 square feet of climate controlled manufacturing space. The current building configuration houses several large offices across two stories. According to Grand Woodworking a portion of the office space will be redesigned into a cutting edge custom furniture and hands-on display area to showcase the work of the company's wood artisans.

Source:USGNN

New construction starts in July decreased two percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $479.1 billion, according to the latest construction starts numbers released by McGraw Hill Construction. Nonresidential building strengthened in July, regaining some of the upward momentum that began to take hold in April and May. For the first seven months of 2013, total construction starts on an unadjusted basis were reported at $281.7 billion, up one percent from the same period a year ago. The year-to-date amount for total construction was restrained by a steep decline for new electric utility starts. If electric utilities are excluded, total construction starts for this year’s January-July period would be up 11 percent, reflecting a substantial increase for housing as well as moderate improvement for commercial building.

Source: Lowe’s Companies, Inc.

Lowe’s Companies, Inc. (NYSE: LOW), the world’s second largest home improvement retailer, today announced that its acquisition of the majority of assets of Orchard Supply Hardware has been approved by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware.  Under the terms of the transaction, Lowe’s will acquire 72 Orchard stores for approximately $205 million in cash, plus the assumption of payables owed to nearly all of Orchard’s supplier partners. Lowe’s expects to close the transaction by the end of August.

Source: Woodworking Network

The Home Depot®, the world's largest home improvement retailer, today reported sales of $22.5 billion for the second quarter of fiscal 2013.

Source: USGNN

Seattle-based Windows, Doors & More announced its co-founder Ken Hall will transition ownership of the business to new owner/operator Rick Locke. The company will mark its 20th year in 2013 and Hall felt the timing was right to take this strategic step which will take effect immediately. He will remain with the company in an advisory role during the transition and will continue in a sales capacity for the foreseeable future.

Source: Window & Door

Masonite International Corp. recently opened a 200,000-square-foot interior door manufacturing facility in Denmark, S.C. Located in Bamberg County, the new operation features premier automation technology that will help the manufacturer improve product quality and safety while distributing its interior residential door products to the southeast market faster, company officials report.