“Bright” green buildings are becoming more popular across North America, and we’re not talking about the paint on the outside. It’s the increasing use of intelligent technologies to take green building practices–and savings–even further. A new research report conducted by the Continental Automated Buildings Association (CABA) aims to show property companies that using intelligent building features along with green building designs can result in a significant return on investment as well as provide a more healthy and productive environment for workers. Ron Zimmer, president & CEO of CABA, an industry association promoting advanced technologies in homes and buildings in North…

While the nation awaits the results of Tuesday’s presidential election, the financial world continues to hold its breath to see what is going to happen. Wall Street’s steep gains in the final days of October are leaving some investors optimistic that the market has put its scariest days behind it, but they’re still wary about the landmines that could send stocks reeling again, according to MSNBC. Tuesday’s presidential election could help erase some unknowns over how the power structure in Washington will affect investors, but pressing economic questions could ultimately shape the week. Reports due on manufacturing, the service sector…

It’s been an unusually relaxed day on Wall Street so far–but maybe everyone’s holding off until the election, at long last, will be over tomorrow. We hope. As of mid-day, the DJIA, after a meandering morning, was down slightly: 8.6 points, or 0.09 percent. The S&P 500 and the Nasdaq likewise moved slightly: down 0.33 percent and up 0.42 percent, respectively. Minneapolis-based U.S. Bancorp, known for its conservative lending practices and relatively good balance sheet, is reported to be selling the government $6.6 billion in preferred stock and warrants, thus participating in the bailout. In a statement, the bank says…

It’s a sign of the times. Almost exactly two months after revealing it had entered into an agreement to acquire an Arcapita Inc. affiliate’s 90 percent stake in a joint venture owning 29 senior housing properties, Health Care REIT Inc. has announced that the $643.5 million deal has been aborted. Health Care REIT cited the uncertainty in the capital markets as a driving factor in its decision to back away from the transaction. Had the plan reached fruition, Health Care REIT would have become a joint venture partner with Sunrise Senior Living Inc., which still owns 10 percent of the…

As incubators of fresh thinking, colleges and universities form a perfect proving ground for commercial real estate’s latest “it” initiative: green and sustainable building. In fact, as Goshow Architects principal Eric Goshow noted, design and education go hand in hand. “Sustainable design is key in providing healthy living and learning environments.” His firm recently designed a 600-bed residence hall and student activity center for Stony Brook University in New York. Scheduled for fall 2009 occupancy, the facility is slated for LEED gold certification.As colleges attract new students and outgrow their existing facilities, green building is taking on an increasingly important…

It has been a tough haul, and it doesn’t look like it will get easier anytime soon. The stock market has been gyrating for weeks now, as investors wait for the next shoe to drop in a market that seems to have more shoes than feet to wear them. The passing of Election Day will likely help, ushering in clearer direction through the determination of the next President of the United States, not to mention whether Congress becomes even more Democratic than it already is.After that, of course, will likely come a lame duck period of inaction until Inauguration Day,…

With the economy shedding jobs like a cat sheds its winter coat and credit markets still in an Arctic freeze, income-property sales have slowed markedly. In fact, Real Capital Analytics Inc. reported that $105.5 billion worth of deals closed during the first eight months of 2008 or are under contract nationwide, off 77 percent from the same period a year ago (just under 75 percent off if the Equity Office Properties Trust sale is excluded). In addition, in the four quarters ending with September, $39.5 billion worth of listed properties were pulled off the market and $10.8 billion in deals…