Contributing Member of the Energy & Industrials Councils

GLG News by this Author

Prerequisites for Success in Residential Alternative Energy

November 1, 2009

Analysis of:Recovery through Retrofit | www.whitehouse.gov

The idea of generating your own electricity is exciting.  Solar PV, solar thermal systems and "energy-from-wind" generation equipment is readily available and, according to some, should be installed right away.  But in order to get a worthwhile payback from any of these technologies, homeowners need to prepare their homes for the upgrade by addressing some of the major causes of energy inefficiency - namely excessive air infiltration, lack of insulation and poor household energy habits. 

Air Infiltration - A Major Contributor to Residential Energy Loss

September 15, 2009

Analysis of:Michigan Utilities offer energy efficiency rebates | www.businessweek.com

Energy Efficiency Myth:  To improve the energy efficiency of a home, just add more insulation.Energy Efficiency Fact:  To improve energy efficiency of a home, control air infiltration

A Cheaper Way to Save Residential Energy

July 12, 2009

Analysis of:Michigan Utilities offer energy efficiency rebates | www.businessweek.com

Homeowners are spending lots of money on energy saving products for their homes.  Are these energy saving purchases masking wasteful habits that need to be addressed?  This paper proposes a "first-step" solution to reducing residential energy waste before buying more expensive energy efficient products.

The Building Products Supply Chain for US Home Building - Part 1

January 5, 2009

Analysis of:Building Product Wholesalers Play an Important Role in Today's Market | www.housingzone.com

Terms and jargon used to describe the building products supply chain player's and actions can be confusing.  This paper will define the steps in  the supply chain,  the players, their aliases and their value add. 

Small Expectations - The Coming Market Shift in New US Residential Construction

December 23, 2008

Analysis of:State of the Nation's Housing 2008 | www.jchs.harvard.edu

Market forces are emerging that will change new home buyer mentality in the US.  Home buyers will revise their plans to the new housing market realities.  Builders, manufacturers and suppliers all need to understand this market shift.  

Vinyl Siding - Poised for Growth

December 8, 2008

Analysis of:State of the Nation's Housing 2008 | www.jchs.harvard.edu

Vinyl siding has lost market share over the past few years.  Many factors account for this but the US economic meltdown is bringing frugality back to homebuying and homeowning.  A higher percentage of smaller, affordable and "greener" homes are expected to be built in the future.  And existing homeowners will seek more cost effective (and recoverable) residing options in the future.  Since vinyl is the cheapest siding option available, it emerges as the odds-on favorite to win more and more siding jobs. 

A Shot in the Arm for Building Products Wholesalers

December 3, 2008

Analysis of:State of the Nation's Housing 2008 | www.jchs.harvard.edu

The growth years of US home building in the early part of this decade allowed many residential construction supply firms to subvert wholesale distribution and buy direct from manufacturers.  Direct purchasing put the wholesaler's business model in jeopardy as more and more products were being bought around them.  But the severe contraction in the US home building industry has forced the construction suppliers to forgo direct purchasing and buy only what they need to meet their immediate needs - and this type of market "spoon feeding" plays perfectly into the hands of the wholesale distributors.

Big Changes Ahead For the Building Products Supply Chain

May 29, 2008

Analysis of:Residential supply chain in transition: Summary of finding from survey of dealers | www.jchs.harvard.edu

The existing building products supply chain for US home building has too many steps.  With each step, cost is added but not necessarily value.  Big builders are calling the shots and are looking for cost reductions from all sources.  It looks like some supply chain players are going to take matters into their own hands.  The impending squeeze will affect everyone in the supply chain.  Some will win and expanded their market presence while others will lose and be relegated to niche players.

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