John Sciara was a union sheet metal worker for SMACNA member CS3 when he suffered a stroke, but he was able to transition into a role in the company's drafting department afterward. Sciara learned to use building information modeling through union-funded training and now designs HVAC systems.

A team of University of Wisconsin-Madison researchers has found that reducing energy use by 12% during the summer would curb air pollution from nitrogen oxide by 13.2% and from sulfur dioxide by 12.6% annually. The use of variable speed air conditioners and other energy-efficient technologies could play a key role in that effort.

Horizontal lifeline systems for fall protection allow for greater worker capacity and can usually operate without an anchor. The systems are ideal for both permanent and temporary settings, Baxter Byrd writes.

Fixtureless, ultraviolet germicidal systems were installed on air handlers downstream from a recreational building coil at a University of Arkansas building to optimize indoor air quality. The university's facilities management team was able to save over $1,000 per year in energy costs thanks to the upgrade.

Sens. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, and Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., have reintroduced the Industrial Competitiveness Act, which, among other measures, would give states resources to modernize building codes to account for energy efficiency and provide contractors with the tools they need to implement those codes.

The House of Representatives voted 419-6 to repeal a 40% tax on high-cost health insurance plans under the Affordable Care Act known as the "Cadillac tax." "Today, we will honor our promise to the hard-working men and women of labor as we lift the Cadillac Tax, protecting health benefits that workers have negotiated," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said.

Maine and New Hampshire have enacted laws forbidding employers from entering noncompetition agreements with low-wage employees, and a similar bill in Rhode Island awaits signature. The states have different thresholds for what constitutes a low wage.

Carl Sorensen addresses some of the typical mistakes contractors make when developing their websites, including incompatibility with mobile devices, use of the wrong tags and low-quality images. Contractors should make sure their websites have a clear call to action and overview of service areas, Sorensen writes.

Contractors looking to avoid financial loss should know the difference between conditional and unconditional lien waivers, writes Kimberly Hegeman. Some best practices for lien waivers include studying up on state requirements and reading the documents thoroughly to avoid giving away more than is required.

Contractors must avoid the temptation to wait until their business is larger to invest in additional training, equipment or make other necessary changes, writes Mike Agugliaro. Not only will making positive changes be easier when your company is still small, but they will actually help your firm grow, Agugliaro writes.