Technology

There will be no more talk of dust wipe sampling and clearance testing requirements for the EPA’s Lead: Renovation, Repair and Painting (LRRP) Rule. The extra requirements were pulled by the EPA after vigorous opposition from the industry, including the National Lumber & Building Material Dealers Association (NLBMDA).


According to a BBC News article on July 13, mistakes in spelling and grammar can be extremely costly to an Internet business. Even a single spelling error on a company website may deter consumers by raising concerns about the website’s credibility.

A man in Hamilton, Ontario pled guilty on June 28 for breaking and entering a Canadian Tire store last May and stealing lawnmowers and barbecues, according to local news reports.

Richard Jessop, age 27, was arrested along with two other accomplices when police pulled over their U-Haul truck for a routine traffic stop. Officers looked in the back of the vehicle and saw the stolen merchandise, along with bolt cutters and a pair of gloves. 

The Mistbox is a connected home device that's all about keeping the cool.

The latest addition to Makita's LXT Series of lithium-ion-powered tools is the new cordless die grinder.

“With 25,000 RPM and 18 volts of lithium-ion power, it is another trade solution for pros working in plumbing, automotive, service and maintenance," said Ethan Haughawout, Makita product manager, cordless tools.

Channel analysis
Consumer research from The NPD Group shows that after a slight sales dip in the 12 months ended July 2011, the drills category has seen a boost back to levels above those of two years ago. Dollar volume from August to July rose 8.4%, with most dollars overall (61.9%) spent in warehouse home centers.

There wasn’t a lot of media attention on Reading, Kan., last week, when a tornado touched down on the night of May 21 and wiped out most of the town. The press corps was focused on Joplin, Mo., and Reading (rhymes with bedding) is a small farming community: Approximately 230 people were living in 40 homes; Reading Elementary School only has about 67 students.

Los Angeles-based home builder KB Home and Newhall Land have announced a land purchase agreement in the West Hills Village in Valencia, Calif. KB Home acquired 43 finished lots from Newhall Land and will begin construction on a new community in June.

The homes will be energy efficient and will include solar power systems. KB Home has also announced plans to open 10 communities in Southern California; all of the homes will be built with photovoltaic solar systems.