AHMA survey treads in political waters
The American Hardware Manufacturers Association (AHMA) Industry Confidence Index included questions about running mates and political agendas.
The April Confidence Index survey asked two supplemental questions of AHMA members:
“Assuming Mitt Romney becomes the Republican candidate for president, which of the following would you most like to see selected as his vice presidential running mate?”
More than half — 52% — responded “Marco Rubio.” Forty percent responded, “Chris Christie,” and 8% responded, “Paul Ryan.”
The AHMA also asked: “Do you think the National Labor Relations Board under the Obama administration has been pushing a pro-union agenda?”
The answer was a resounding yes. Eighty-five percent responded, “Yes.” Rounding out the answers, 8% responded, “Not Sure,” and 8% responded, “No.”
Building a definition of green, the story continues
There’s a lot riding on how the United States government defines green building. A review process has groups jockeying for position, according to an article in Federal Times.
Among the building material groups pressing for revisions to the LEED-centric status quo are the PVC pipe manufacturers and the lumber industry.
LEED is the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design program. According to the article, the domestic lumber industry rankles at the LEED rules that give sustainable-harvested lumber only two points, while locally sourced materials, energy use, indoor air quality and other categories award up to 100 points.
Sustainability is one of the buzzwords at spoga+gafa
Spoga+gafa is coming back to Cologne, Germany, Sept. 2 to 4, creating a global marketplace for outdoor living buyers and sellers.
One of the buzzwords at this year’s event is sustainability, which will play a more prominent role in the event’s “Boulevard of Ideas.” The trade fair for the lawn and garden sector — named for the German words for sports/leisure and garden — is organized by Koelnmesse and held in Cologne.
Organizers are expecting about 2,000 suppliers from 52 countries. In segments for garden creation, garden living, garden care, garden unique and garden basic, the garden trade fair delivers a comprehensive overview of the full spectrum of the international market.
“No other event offers such broad coverage of the garden market or brings every domestic and international market player together in such a concentrated format,” reported Katharina C. Hamma, chief operating officer of Koelnmesse. “Our multifaceted program also highlights current trends and issues.”
The “boulevard of ideas” showcases concepts for POS displays in real-life contexts — with a particular focus on sustainability. The plant park alongside the international garden center day serves as a central communication forum for the event, while “furniture acts” and the grill zone provide an eye-catching parade of new products in the furniture and barbecue segments.
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May-16-2012 02:57 pm