Gas, Energy Prices: Easing The Squeeze On Contractor Profits

In many parts of the United States, we’re used to seeing gasoline prices go up in the summer. We’ve also grown accustomed to fall news reports predicting higher natural-gas and heating oil costs, and spring news reports predicting record electricity costs.

What we’re not used to is all of these increases occurring at once, and at record levels, but that’s exactly what’s going on right now. Unfortunately, many experts predict these prices are here to stay. In his State of the Union address, President Bush proposed ways the United States can begin to wean itself off of foreign oil, but that’s a long way off and not necessarily likely to curb prices by much.

So, the pressure is on the consumer to find solutions now, and building service contractors are no exception. In this month’s cover story, associate editor Dan Weltin shares BSCs’ tips for keeping energy costs in check and making the best of the squeeze.

Also this month, we introduce a new feature on our Web site, CLEANLINK^®. In addition to our regular breaking-news headlines every day, you can now have industry news delivered to your inbox each week. Click here to subscribe.