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 ECONOMIC NEWS
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President Trump To Help Housing
The Trump campaign resonated with many U.S. homebuilders. His views on regulations, housing finance, and tax reform will be helpful to the housing industry and suppliers. One example is the NAHB study that reveals how regulatory costs alone account for 24% of a new home's price. Additional changes expected are a rollback of parts of Dodd-Frank and the Consumer Protection Act, a drop in corporate taxes from 35% to 15%, and lower rates for pass-through entities, a classification that many homebuilders use. The stock prices of some construction and engineering companies have already risen.
Source: Construction Dive, Construction Dive, November 10, 2016.
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ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS
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New Digital Tool For Forestry
Google and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization launched a digital tool to help countries more accurately track land use change related to deforestation. Collect Earth was unveiled last week at the UN climate change conference. This new tool fulfills an important technical step in helping meet the goals of the New York Declaration on Forests: cutting deforestation in half by 2020 and ending natural forest loss by 2030.
Source: Eco-Business, November 10; Mareeg, November 8, 2016. Photo © CIFOR (see license).
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Apple Protects U.S. Working Forests
Apple just announced important progress in its efforts to protect U.S. working forests. The company, in partnership with The Conservation Fund, is donating the conservation easement across 32,400 acres of working forest in Maine. Apple is working to protect and create enough responsibly managed forests around the world to cover all its packaging needs and produce fiber for generations. Apple is also supporting the Fund’s donation of an endowment to the Forest Society of Maine, which will ensure that the easement can be monitored and enforced for centuries to come.
Source: Apple, November 14, 2016. Photo © Apple.
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ECONOMIC TRENDS
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Imports Of Chinese Cabinets Surge
Chinese ready-to-assemble kitchen cabinets continue to hold a 60% market share of all U.S. imports in the category. Chinese-made RTA cabinets have increased their share of the total U.S. market, growing more than 15% this year alone and on pace to exceed $958 million in 2016.
Source: HPVA®.
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ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS
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The Impact Of Windmills On Bats
While the U.S. restricts hardwood forestry to protect bats, European reports show that wind farms kill higher numbers of bats. UK researchers studied 46 wind farms and found bat populations have fallen about 54% in these areas. Heat generated by windmills attracts insects, which attracts their natural predators, bats. A French firm is developing smaller wind generators that have wind-turbine "leaves," but only 7 units have been installed to date.
Source: Timberbiz, November 10; Natural Wind Watch, November 8, 2016. Photo © NewWind.
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HPVA® MEMBER NEWS
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NEWS BRIEFS
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Trump May Test Canada’s Timber
One of the first trade irritants facing the new administration may be the U.S.-Canadian softwood lumber issue.
Source: Timberbiz, November 10, 2016.
AF&PA Supports TPP
AF&PA issued a statement of support, but the Obama administration halted TPP efforts after Trump was elected.
Source: What They Think, November 10, 2016.
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U.S. Housing Returns To Normal?
NAHB reports show the market was running at 98% of the normal economic activity in Q3, up from 97% in Q2 and 93% one year ago.
Source: Construction Dive, November 8, 2016.
Largest Contemporary Wood Building
Minneapolis' 220,000 square-foot Timber, Technology, Transit office building opens this month. The 7-story structure's wood is sourced from Pacific NW trees killed by mountain pine beetles.
Source: Construction Dive, November 10, 2016.
$152 Million Bond To Protect Trees
The IFC issued a first-of-its-kind bond that supports ending deforestation in emerging markets. Investors can choose to be repaid in carbon credits or cash.
Source: Mondo Visione, October 31, 2016.
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Protecting Birds From Glass
About 750 million birds perish annually after flying into glass facades.
Source: Wired, November 1, 2016.
Hurricane Damages SC Forests
Hurricane Matthew caused about $205 million worth of damage to timber resources.
Source: Timberbiz, November 2, 2016.
Teacher Resources On Forests
Download a fact sheet that provides resources for K-6 teachers to help students understand paper, forest products, and the environment.
Source: Two Sides, October 6, 2016.
Earth Shatters Climate Records
NOAA's state of the climate report showed record-breaking air and ocean temperatures, sea levels at historic highs, and carbon dioxide surpassing a key milestone in 2015.
Source: The Guardian, August 2, 2016.
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Send Us Your Company News, Ideas For Articles, And More
We are always looking for great stories, news about your company, and interesting multimedia. We also welcome feedback on this week's content and suggestions for topics you would like to see in upcoming HPVA® eNews. Email us at innovate@hpva.org.
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