Manhattan added about 20 million sq ft of new office space from 2001 to 2010 but is not expected to add any significantly sized office towers this year, according to a new New York Building Congress report. The exception is a 33,700-sq-ft tower at 2 Allen Street that is expected to be completed late this year. Growth may be ahead, however, with several planned major projects set for mid-decade completion, the trade group says. Despite the forecast, there is still reason for cautious optimism, says Louis Coletti, president and CEO of the Building Trades Employers' Association. "When you look at
Residential and commercial solar energy firm Real Goods Solar Inc. has signed a deal to merge with Wilton, CT-based Alteris Renewables Inc., a solar energy and wind power installer that serves the Northeast. The deal, subject to Real Goods Solar’s shareholder approval, is expected to close in the third quarter. Photo Courtesy of Real Goods Solar Inc. Based in Boulder, Colo., Real Goods Solar serves the Colorado and California markets and the deal gives it a foothold in the growing Northeast market. Alteris has been on the acquisition trail in recent years, acquiring renewable energy firm ISI Solar, New
Total construction starts in the New York City region grew 14% last year to reach $29.1 billion but are expected to pull back in 2011, partly due to the sluggish economy but also because 2010 received a boost from several large projects, says Robert Murray, vice president of economic affairs at McGraw-Hill Construction. Full-year NYC starts are forecast to recede 11% to $25.9 billion. Total U.S. construction starts are forecast to reach $422.5 billion for full-year 2011, a slight dip from 2010’s $423.7 billion, he adds. Gains in the multifamily housing, manufacturing buildings, and electric utilities sectors are expected to
Swedish home-furnishings giant IKEA officially powered up its Brooklyn, N.Y., store’s rooftop solar system this spring after several delays, including a mid-construction switch of its main contractor. Photo: By Esther D'amico Store-top installation enables four different types of photovoltaic panels to be evaluated. The store is one of four worldwide participating in a $11.7-million pilot program IKEA established in 2009 with Loughborough University, Leicestershire, U.K., and the now-defunct contractor Perpetual Energy Ltd., Knutsford, U.K., to monitor and evaluate performance of photovoltaic systems. While the systems at each of the four sites are operational, their monitoring capabilities are as yet limited
The value of the U.S. solar power market soared last year as several states, including New Jersey, significantly boosted installed capacity, according to a recent study by the Solar Energy Industries Association and market research firm GTM Research. Federal, state and, in some cases, local incentive programs and funding initiatives helped raise total year-over-year market value 67%, to $6 billion, the study shows. Market news was healthy nationwide as 16 states each installed more than 10 MW of photovoltaics, up from four in 2007. New Jersey, however, already has surpassed that amount and ranks second nationwide, trailing only California in