Technology

Electric corded lawn mowers accounted for only 6% of the walk-behind market in 2010 — but that’s up from 2.9% in 2009, according to data from consumer research firm The NPD Group.


Soaring fuel prices, tougher government emissions standards and a general trend toward environmental stewardship have given rise to more cordless electric walk mowers and manual mowers, especially for homeowners with smaller lawns. And powered mowers are feeling the trend, as well.


A Net Zero photovoltaic system is one of the environmentally friendly features of Park Centre Homes at La Posada in Green Valley, Ariz. The development is a collaboration between La Posada and Pepper-Viner Homes, both award-winning for their environmentally friendly designs and initiatives, according to the companies.

Each home is oriented to the homesite to capture the heat of the sun. In addition, the homes will utilize a Net Zero photovoltaic system with the potential to reduce energy costs by more than 85%.

ABC Supply, the industry’s largest distributor of roofing and exterior building products, has announced that two of its VPs will be given new roles in order to maximize its 2010 acquisition of Bradco Supply Co.

Irwin Tools, a leading maker of hand tools and power tool accessories based in Huntersville, N.C., has named Ross Porter as its new president. Porter has held a variety of positions during his 18 years at Newell Rubbermaid, Irwin’s parent company. He most recently served as president of EMEA Transformation, where Porter led the company’s European transformation efforts, including implementation of a new European business model, integration and implementation of SAP enterprise system, and relocation of its European headquarters.

Sales of new single-family houses in December 2010 were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 329,000, up 17.5% from the November pace of 280,000. 

The December estimate, released jointly by the U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development, is the highest since April 2010. That month saw a relative frenzy of buying as the $8,000 tax credit for first-time home buyers expired April 30. 

The December new home sales figure is also 7.6% below the December 2009 estimate of 356,000.

Craftsman is bringing to market a charger called the QuickBoost that brings dead batteries up to 25% power in three minutes. 

The QuickBoost Charger represents a time saving technology for the Craftsman brand's cordless line of 12-volt lithium-ion NexTec power tools.

If your company’s overarching online strategy sounds like this: “Integrate real-time platforms,” then your company is in trouble for two reasons. 1) The three words above were generated randomly by the Dack.com Web Economy Bulls--t Generator; and 2) Few people know what any of those words mean individually, let alone in conjunction with one another.


You gotta have a plan, in English. 


Sales of new single-family houses in November 2010 were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 290,000, according to estimates released jointly by the U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development -- a 5.5% increase over October.

However, the figure is 21.2% below the same month last year.