Author: Peggy Smedley
Resiliency is perhaps one of the greatest priorities of the builders of our time. The NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information says 2022 tied for the third highest number of billion-dollar disasters in the United States. 2022 was also third highest in total costs, with a whopping cost of at least $165 billion. Both natural and manmade disasters are causing havoc, necessitating homes, buildings, and infrastructure that can stand the test of the elements. While the construction industry can’t completely stop the storm, so to speak, construction professionals can build infrastructure that is more sustainable and resilient. The ASCE (American…
We are in the midst of a blog series focused on our experiences in the Living Lab, which is a home that aims to leverage advanced products and systems to demonstrate and educate both industry and consumers alike. Last week, we took a look at the three big benefits of motorized shades. Today, let’s look at a home energy monitoring system. The residential sector accounts for about 21% of the total U.S. energy consumption, according to the U.S. Dept. of Energy. Of the energy used in U.S. homes in 2015, 55% of it was used for heating and cooling. Water…
Sustainability is becoming a greater priority for many countries all around the world. For today’s blog, let’s look at the trends unfolding in Canada, and how technology and data can help meet sustainability goals anywhere. Jamie Dinsmore, energy and resources industry lead, Microsoft Canada, recently chatted with me about the state of energy and sustainability in Canada, saying Canada is rich in resources. I enjoyed this conversation very much, as it reminded me of my days in the oil and gas industry. “It is a resource-based economy,” he says. “It is a diverse mix of sources. We have the third…
Last week, I kicked of a blog series focused on our experiences in the Living Lab, a home that aims to leverage advanced products and systems from leading manufacturers and technology companies to demonstrate and educate both industry and consumers. Today, let’s look at the shades used in the home. First, a little bit of background about the shades that we chose for the project and the company that provides them. PowerShades was founded in 2017 to provide motorized shades to enhance the quality of life with products such as PoE (Power over Ethernet) shades. Some options, like PoE, require…
From urban sprawl, to aging infrastructure, to the rise of electrification, we are seeing increasing challenges for infrastructure professionals. Digital twin, metaverse, and BIM (building information modeling) have the potential to completely transform the way the construction industry does business—and we are seeing some big announcements and advancements that will make an impact. Consider the example of iTwin Activate. Bentley Systems has launched the 20-week codevelopment program to accelerate early-stage startups in infrastructure engineering software. The company engaged with many startups in the past couple years and saw the need for an organized way to support early-stage startups that were…
In the past decade, the rental car industry has evolved exponentially. We have seen the rise of EVs (electric vehicles), AVs (autonomous vehicles), and consolidation and strategic alliances in the marketplace. What’s more, we have reached the inflection point where legacy systems are no longer an option, as digital transformation and MaaS (mobility-as-a-service) are taking hold in an era of hyper personalization and high customer expectations. This was a conversation I had recently with Julie Shainock, managing director, travel, transport & logistics, Microsoft, who says, “There are these evolving customer expectations out there. They really want a more frictionless, touchless…
From the street, the Living Lab will look just like many other homes in the neighborhood, but when you walk inside you will discover it is intentionally designed to be a model for sustainable, resilient, and efficient residential homebuilding practices. Roughly two years ago I embarked on a journey with my husband David to build a Living Lab with the help of partners to encourage ecofriendly and green living. This individual project incorporates advanced products and systems from leading manufacturers and technology companies to demonstrate and educate both industry and consumers alike about how we can create a sustainable, clean,…
As I always say, the housing market is cyclical and very resilient. But which wave are we riding right now? A closer look at the State of the Nation’s Housing 2023 shows the biggest trends in construction, homebuying, and homeownership—and gives a peek into what technologies might be most needed today. The report, from the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies, dives into current market conditions and the outlook for the industry going forward. Of note, interest rates and overall affordability continue to impact the market. Actually, the changes in the housing market and AI (artificial intelligence) in general appear…
AVs (autonomous vehicles) and EVs (electric vehicles) are speeding on to the scene faster than ever before, powered by new technologies. Still, there are many looming questions to be considered before the majority of drivers are behind these computers on wheels. When will cars mostly drive themselves—and what technologies are still needed in order to make this come to fruition? What exactly will catapult electric vehicles to more mainstream adoption? Perhaps, most importantly, what does the consumer think about all of this and when will they be ready to adopt these high-tech vehicles? Let’s unpack some of the biggest trends…
More than 400 wildfires have burned in Canada in the month of June, with more than half of them out of control at one point. Certainly, this is not the first time we have heard about fires. California, Oregon, Washington, Montana, Nevada, Idaho, Wyoming, and Utah have all had their fair share of wildfires. What’s more, when natural disasters happen on a scale of this magnitude, we are all impacted. In this case, the fires in Canada have impacted air quality in many parts of the United States. Everywhere from Chicago to most recently the eastern United States, have seen…