Goal For The Green

Para-education and green living information

Pay As You Leave Your Driveway!

Feb-2-2013 By Barbara Zak

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How long will it be before we have to pay to leave our driveway? I have asked myself that question many times. Here in the Puget Sound area, there are tolls on several highly traveled bridges and there will be a toll on an anticipated tunnel project that is currently underway.

We all know that our national infrastructure of roads,bridges and dams is in urgent need of upgrading. That could mean a lot of jobs. I received a study on this topic recently and wanted to be sure and share it with you.

Gas Tax, Road Tolls Imperative to U.S. Road, Tunnel & Bridge Markets,
according to SBI Energy

On December 17,2012 in Rockville (MD),results of a study by SBI Energy was released to the public. Below are the details of the report.

There is a growing disconnect on both the federal and state levels between the amount of money being generated from fees paid by users of the U.S. road system and the amount of money required to maintain and expand that system. High gas prices exacerbate the problem, as well as pressure to move towards more fuel-efficient cars and alternative energy vehicles, creating a reduction in fuel use that has the effect of also reducing the amount of gas tax revenue.

The pay-as-you-go system has failed

“While the pay-as-you-go system has worked reasonably well for decades, it is no longer able to pay for all of the roadway construction required to maintain the U.S. road network at its current performance level,” according to Norman Deschamps, SBI Energy analyst and author of The U.S. Road, Bridge and Tunnel Construction Market.

The Federal Highway Trust Fund (HTF) is the primary vehicle through which the federal government collects and transfers money to the states to fund roadway construction. The HTF operates as a pay-as-you-go system, largely funded through taxes on gas and diesel fuel, with the collected funds then transferred to the states through multi-year transportation bills.

The pay-as-you-go system has failed at the federal level, too

“Almost half of the states have less than 60% of their transportation spending come from user-based taxes and fees. The pay-as-you-go system is failing at the federal level as well,” Deschamps continues. “Since 2008, the federal government has had to inject $32.1 billion dollars to maintain solvency of the HTF, and the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21), passed midyear 2012, transfers an additional $18.8 billion into the HTF through FY2013 and FY (fiscal year)2014. Unfortunately, MAP-21 also does not address the growing discrepancy between the amount of money collected through user-based fees by the HTF, and how much money state and local governments are spending to maintain and improve the nation’s roadway infrastructure.”

Capital spending for roadways has averaged a 6% per 10-year CAGR since 1950. However, a new forecast anticipates the CAGR of spending during the next decade to be just 4.8% between 2013 and 2022. According to The U.S. Road, Bridge and Tunnel Construction Market, a new study from energy market research publisher SBI Energy, as long as both state and federal governments refuse to increase their respective gas taxes or implement other user-based funding schemes, long-term market prospects remain bleak.

Unfortunately for the road, bridge and tunnel construction market, the availability of public funding has been, and continues to be, a serious constraint on the market. This lack of funding shows in the growing discrepancy between fees collected for the HTF, and the amount of money needed to maintain those same assets, and in growing debts at all levels of government.

The U.S. Road, Bridge and Tunnel Construction Market by SBI Energy, provides key insight into current and future construction trends for the nation’s road infrastructure, with a particular emphasis on bridge and tunnel construction segments and an analysis of key states. The analysis includes definitions, current product offerings and market detail on the following segments: Road construction, including lane widening, resurfacing and rehabilitation Bridge construction and rehabilitation, as well as, tunnel and wall construction.

The report by SBI, also studies the key elements driving new road construction, analyzing local, state and federal financing strategies that provide construction funding in the U.S., and the impact these projects have on employment.

SBI Energy, is a division of MarketResearch.com. They publish research reports in the industrial, energy, building/construction, and automotive/transportation markets. SBI Energy, also offers a full range of custom research services. To learn more, visit www.sbireports.com

Please feel free to comment about your thoughts on this topic or share on your favorite social media sites.

 

 

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Prospects for Recovery in HVAC Manufacturing Look Strong in 2013,
According to a New Research Report

PRESS RELEASE

Rockville (MD), December 6, 2012 — Economic prospects are looking brighter for the HVAC industry approaching the New Year 2013, as companies involved in heating, ventilation and air conditioning, and related industries see potential for growth.  A resurgence in the housing market, coupled with consumer interest and investment in “green” HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning)  equipment, is evident according to a new report from energy market research publisher SBI Energy.

English: A huge double HVAC exhaust of an offi...

English: A huge double HVAC exhaust of an office building. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

HVAC market showing signs of recovery

The U.S. market for HVAC manufacturing is recovering from a period of economic setback that started in 2008. HVAC manufacturers had previously enjoyed a period of steady growth between 1997 to 2006, when equipment sales for heating systems and air conditioners increased 41% and 45%, respectively.

But, the economic downturn led to a depressed real estate selling market, a reduction in homeowner remodeling, and a virtual stoppage of new residential and commercial construction. This trend eventually led to layoffs and temporary work stoppages at factories that manufacture HVAC equipment.

HVAC- manufacturing is impacted by the recovery in the housing market

“Growth of the industry will begin to accelerate by 2015,” says Darren Bosik, analyst with SBI market research publishing, “when the impact of government-funded initiatives is felt in U.S. construction and housing industries, most notably the movement to construct zero-energy buildings (ZEB).” Critical to the growth of HVAC manufacturing, is the resurgence of U.S. household remodeling and the recovery of new construction and housing, as well as, related industries such as steel.

HVAC demand will increase with an expected boom in construction projects

Driving the total HVAC equipment manufacturing growth to 2017, will be heat transfer equipment (4.4% CAGR) and air source heat pumps (4.9% CAGR). The two categories are characterized by lower unit costs, and demand will increase with an expected boom in construction projects that require replacements of these products.

Sustainable technologies and products, including electric air source and geothermal heating pumps, and a trend toward constructing ZEB’s – buildings that produce as much energy as they consume – will further fuel a return to growth in the HVAC market. SBI Energy projects the total shipment value of HVAC manufacturing products to reach $14.5 billion in 2012, growing to nearly $17 billion by 2017.

HVAC, 3rd Edition from heavy industry and energy market research publisher SBI analyzes products, manufacturers and trends in the U.S. market for heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC). The report contains comprehensive data on U.S. shipments, imports and exports, and end-use markets, and the growing market for high efficiency, green HVAC equipment such as geothermal units, remote monitoring and control devices, programmable thermostats, and smart cooling fans. It also identifies key issues and trends affecting the marketplace. The report profiles major manufacturers and includes market projections and expected growth rates for the period 2012 to 2023.  Follow this link on the HVAC 3rd Editon report   for more information.

About SBI Energy

SBI Energy, a division of MarketResearch.com, publishes research reports in the industrial, energy, building/construction, and automotive/transportation markets. SBI Energy, also offers a full range of custom research services. To learn more, visit www.sbireports.com

It is encouraging to know that there are signs that the housing market is recovering. With an uneasy and unpredictable climate , it is also nice to know that HVAC systems will be readily available for both new construction and remodels.  Both industries should be showing positive signs of job growth, in the near future.  The future is looking brighter, as we are working toward better and greener tomorrows!

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