Driven by a new generation of affordable and powerful Internet of Things (IoT) devices, commercial building and industrial sites can now generate large amounts of valuable data for analytics and automation. Building owners and managers recoup the benefits and cost savings of these systems.

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We see it every day – from the electric car charging stations in public places to the “HE” tags on appliances in our homes. We have all witnessed the headlines regarding the detrimental impacts of emissions on the ozone layer and the protests calling for action to protect the world as we know it, but this might leave you wondering – what constitutes “clean energy” and what can we do to help save the planet without breaking the bank?

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When selecting a solution for a commercial roofing system, there are two widely used methods today: TPO and EPDM. Compare them now.

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The challenge over the years with any concrete product is protection - not from cracking, but how to repair cracking at the early stages before failure. The industry has developed some creative solutions, including “self-healing” concrete.

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Often, we see a newly constructed building and we admire the exterior appearance of the structure without giving much thought to what makes the building so appealing. We are impressed with the color and/or the design, but we don’t stop and really take a good look at the exterior finish. There are numerous building materials that make up the overall “look” of the building. One of those materials you are looking at could be Exterior Insulation and Finish System or EIFS.

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Anyone desiring to improve their property or construct a new building must know how to navigate the quagmire commonly known as the building permit and inspection process. Let’s begin with the basics. What exactly is a building permit?

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Shingobee Builders has been honored by Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) Minnesota/North Dakota chapter with a Pyramid Award in ABC’s Excellence in Construction Awards competition, for Shingobee’s work on the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema in Woodbury, MN.

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We do continue to build through the winter months. It presents challenges, but we can usually find a way to keep the project moving forward. Believe it or not, we are thinking about cold weather construction when projects start in the summer months.

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More and more construction projects are incorporating green/sustainable technology. Projects designed to be more environmentally responsible, sustainable, and resource-efficient are becoming more commonplace.

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The following article has been modified from Elliot Christensen's "Trends in Construction 2019" article printed in the Minnesota Shopping Center Association's State of Retail Report in their Fall 2019 issue. Overall, raw material costs have been somewhat stable this year compared to last year’s extreme volatility caused by the threat of tariffs.

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