Author: Peggy Smedley

Let’s talk decarbonization today. The target set in the Paris Agreement of 2015 requires a remarkable 80-90% reduction in global greenhouse gas emissions to limit global warming to two degrees Celsius. We’ve been talking about reducing greenhouse gas emissions for quite some time now. But let’s back up a minute. What exactly is decarbonization? And more importantly, why should we all care? First, the term means the reduction of carbon, which to be completely honest, is easier said than done. Consider what might be required to decarbonize something like electricity. This would require switching to increase reliance on clean electricity…

When I began my career, as a journalist covering the petroleum industry, which actually led to the nuts and bolts of true manufacturing, more than two decades ago, I was in awe. One of my passions has long been to encourage other women to consider careers in industries such as manufacturing, construction, STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics), and more. Spurring innovation into the framework of an organization is truly inspirational. But the real question now is: have we made any progress in the past 20 years? The most recent numbers paint a somewhat startling picture. If you had hoped…

For at least the past two years, we have been talking about the uptick in workers changing jobs and moving into other industries. Now we have fancy names for it: the Great Resignation, the Great Reshuffle, or, as I like to say, The Great Job Hop. I can even attest I have witnessed this firsthand with my own children joining The Great Job Hop. Here is my question: Is it a marketing spin that has all these really smart people moving around or is something else at play here? Journey back in time with me for a minute. In January…

The U.S. Dept. of Energy says the residential sector accounts for about 21% of the total U.S. energy consumption. Of the energy used in U.S. homes in 2015, 55% of it was used for heating and cooling. Water heating, appliances, electronics, and lighting accounted for the remaining 45% of total consumption. In 2019, the average household used energy that released an estimated 17,320 lbs. of CO2. To put this number in perspective, on an annual basis the average household is responsible for releasing 70% more CO2 emissions compared to the average passenger vehicle. Builders can change all this. Homeowners can…

Episode 759 02.22.22 Nick McQuire, director of enterprise AI and innovation, Microsoft, joins Peggy to talk about what led to the creation of the AI Business School and the importance of helping leaders succeed with artificial intelligence. The duo also delve in the three initial core pillars and a new learning path in the AI Business School. Below is an excerpt from the interview. To listen to the conversation from the Peggy Smedley Show, click here or go to https://peggysmedleyshow.com to access the entire show. Peggy Smedley: I’m excited to have you here because AI (artificial intelligence) is such an…

Did traffic fatalities go up or down from 2020 to 2021? If you caught my February 15 episode of The Peggy Smedley Show, then you know the answer. Roughly 31,720 people died in motor vehicle crashes from January through September of last year, which is an increase of roughly 12% from the 28,325 fatalities projected in the first nine months of 2020. What I would like to focus on for this blog is how we—as a technology community—are going to fix it. As I have suggested, we need to leverage technology in order to curb these traffic deaths, and we…

For many homeowners the talk of EVs (electric vehicles) and electrification is ramping up. Here’s the question on everyone’s minds lately: Does the cost advantage of EVs outweigh the cost of charging, batteries, and infrastructure? Let’s dig in. The electrification of transportation isn’t a new phenomenon. At the end of the 19th century, electric vehicles were second to the horse for personal transportation and light cargo hauling. Steam was king for heavy duty, long-range hauling—trains, ships—and gasoline engines were still in early-stage development. The electric runabout was a popular choice, especially for urban use where its short range—about 20 miles…

I have long been talking about the need to recruit, reskill, and upskill workers in industries such as manufacturing. The same can be said about construction. As demonstrated by a Construction Labor Market Report recently published by the HBI (Home Builders Institute), the residential construction industry will need to train and place a tremendous 2.2 million new workers within the next three years to meet the United States’ housing demands. Let’s take a look. The good news is we are seeing a much greater effort to promote building careers among young children. In fact, earlier this month at the NAHB…

When the COVID-19 pandemic first hit more than two years ago, everything went remote overnight. The pandemic threw the world into chaos. Now, many industries are beginning to ask some of the hard questions such as: what kind of impact did this ultimately have in different vertical markets? Today, let’s look at the impact on healthcare. Virtual care is now a fundamental part of the U.S. healthcare system, and it will improve patient access to high-quality care well beyond the COVID-19 pandemic. Generally speaking, many patients have come to see telehealth as one of the most positive improvements to our…

The NAHB (National Assn. of Home Builders) IBS (Intl. Builders Show) and KBIS (Kitchen and Bath Industry Show) was a bevy of announcements—everything from 3D printing to software to appliances. Parks Associates found steady purchase intentions for smart appliances and continued growth for smart energy and lighting products at the show. But here is what stood out to me: Roughly 25% of U.S. broadband households plan to buy a smart appliance in the next six months. Wow. I was able to see firsthand how new appliances are becoming greener and more ecofriendly. Here’s what I love. They are better for…