Many buildings constructed prior to 1973 were not energy efficient and relied on non-renewable energy sources, such as petroleum, natural gas and coal. However, a group of 12 oil-rich countries created the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), which enacted a limit on the quantity of petroleum that other non-producing countries could purchase. Read more
If you’ve ever been involved in a home or commercial building fire, you’ll most likely agree that smoke alarms play a vital role in the safety of a building’s occupants. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), about three out of every five fire deaths happen in homes with no smoke alarms or the alarms aren’t working. According to a recent study, the death rate was more than twice as high in homes that did not have any functioning smoke alarms versus the death rate in homes with working smoke alarms. Read more
Carbon monoxide is more commonly thought of as a deadly poison in the winter. But it’s often the culprit of many incidents during other seasons as well. You probably know that when you use a gas or wood-burning appliance, such as a furnace, you increase the risk of carbon-monoxide (CO) poisoning. However, other appliances and equipment, such as a gas oven, stove or water heater can also produce CO. Read more
Remodeling a building is a fun and exciting experience; at the same time it can transform living and working spaces in a big way. This is why building renovations are popular across the world.
Here we’ve picked our Top 8 Most Expensive Building Remodels in History to inspire you to create your own residential remodeling ventures.
“Green” buildings are another step towards a sustainable and energy-efficient lifestyle. These environmentally friendly projects use resources such as energy and water sparingly, reduce waste, improve the quality of life of the people living or working in these buildings, and finally, they have a minimal negative impact on the environment. Read more
