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Gift-card sales expected to rise this holiday season
Washington, D.C. -- After going head-to-head with discounted holiday gifts such as luxury cashmere sweaters and appliances last year, gift cards are expected to emerge as winners this holiday season. According to NRF’s 2010 Gift Card Consumer Intentions and Actions survey, conducted by BIGresearch, Americans will spend an average of $145.61 on gift cards, up from $139.91 last year. Total gift-card spending is expected to reach $24.78 billion.
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LEED building projects total 1 billion sq. ft.
Washington, D.C. -- The total footprint of commercial projects certified under the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System has surpassed 1 billion sq. ft.
Another 6 billion sq. ft. of projects are registered and currently working toward LEED certification worldwide. Since it was first introduced to the marketplace in 2000, more than 36,000 commercial projects have participated in LEED.