At the same time, the utilities charge residential consumers a flat rate, giving them no incentive to run appliances during off-peak hours.

ECONOMIST: Energy in Japan

The increase in so-called utility-scale installations masked relatively flat growth in residential rooftop solar and a fall-off in commercial installations.

FORBES: Is The U.S. Solar Boom Slowing Down?

Among the largest underlying components of VNQ, in trading today Simon Property Group, Inc. ( NYSE: SPG) is up about 0.2%, Public Storage ( NYSE: PSA) is trading flat, and Equity Residential ( NYSE: EQR) is lower by about 0.2%.

FORBES: VNQ, SPG, PSA, EQR: ETF Inflow Alert

Anything tied to residential real estate or home construction is a flat-out disaster.

FORBES: U.S. Economy Is Like Lincecum And Walker

Among the largest underlying components of IYR, in trading today Simon Property Group Incorporated ( NYSE: SPG) is up about 0.7%, Equity Residential ( NYSE: EQR) is trading flat, and Public Storage ( NYSE: PSA) is lower by about 0.1%.

FORBES: Investors Shy Away From Real Estate

As of now, most residential and commercial customers still pay their electric utility a flat rate multiplied by the kilowatt hours they use.

FORBES: What Would You Pay To Stay Cool?

Private residential construction companies, including remodelers, posted an adjusted net profit margin of nearly 4 percent in 2011, following flat margins in 2010 and -1 percent margins in 2009, Sageworks data shows.

FORBES: Residential builders see improved profitability