Government funding of construction projects has always come with strings attached. Never have the reporting requirements been as stringent as they are when a contractor accepts funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). Through the end of March 2010, the government reports that approximately $61 billion (of a total of $203 billion awarded) has been paid out to recipients.
Since 2000, Consigli Construction Co., Inc. has implemented a waste reduction program company-wide, so it came as no surprise when the first hybrid trucks were made available in 2005, Mike Invernizzi, jumped to action.
When it comes to green building, contractors, owners and architects alike are cleaning up their act. According to the United States Green Building Council (USGBC), sustainable building practices can be credited with reducing operating costs, cutting absenteeism and promoting knowledge retention in our educational systems. With the push for sustainability by environmentally-conscious faculty and students, schools are literally practicing what they preach.
The high cost of gasoline, conflicting information about new alternative fuels and the increasing availability of hybrids are all issues generating significant interest among contractors wondering how this impacts their companies’ fleets.