News, Ideas and Information from Around the Web

Builders Leading The Way In Green Building
From the National Association of Home Builders
The National Association of Home Builders today told Congress how its members are bringing green building to the mainstream by developing affordable, energy-efficient and environmentally friendly construction techniques.

Testifying before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, NAHB Green Building Subcommittee Chair Ray Tonjes, a custom builder from Austin, Texas, noted that the recent strength and growth of green building is due in large part to its voluntary nature, which provides builders and developers the flexibility that is essential for incorporating the principles of sustainable design... read more

Avoid Bird, Window Collisions With These Simple Tips From DNR
From the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources
Ornithologists estimate that up to 100 million birds are killed each year by collisions with windows. These collisions usually involve small songbirds, such as finches, that may fall unnoticed to the ground. Sometimes the birds are merely stunned and recover in a few moments. Often, though, window hits lead to severe internal injuries and death... read more

Who Do You Love? The Appeal—and Risks—of Authenticity
from FastCompany.com
In this article about branding, the question is raised, "What does it take to be authentic?"

An increasingly shiny, fabricated world of spun messages and concocted experiences—where nearly everything we encounter is created for consumption—elevating a brand above the fray requires an uncommon mix of creativity and discipline. And nowhere do you see the challenge more starkly illustrated than in the quest for authenticity. "Authenticity is the benchmark against which all brands are now judged," notes John Grant in The New Marketing Manifesto. Or as Seth Godin quips in Permission Marketing: "If you can fake authenticity, the rest will take care of itself."... read more