Author: Peggy Smedley
Are we prepared for the uptick of work that is inevitably coming as a result of the five-year $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which aims to rebuild America’s infrastructure? I am not so sure. Let us look at one specific example: equipment. Keeping track of rented and owned equipment often still involves spreadsheets and a chain of text messages too long to manage effectively. The result is not having a true status of owned and rented assets. This leads to financial loss from overdue or duplicate rentals; missed project deadlines from incorrect equipment allocation; unnecessary wear and tear…
We as consumers don’t typically consider how much energy we use when we turn our connected devices on and off. Numerous studies have shown electricity use is often overestimated for low-energy consuming appliances and underestimated for high-energy consuming appliances and that consumers in general lack information about how much electricity can be saved through specific strategies. Let’s change this. Today I want to debunk many myths around energy consumption in the home, in an effort to help everyone better understand how much we consume—so we can then use that knowledge to bring down our footprint. First, it might be helpful…
Episode 753 01.11.22 Peggy and Jason Turner, vice president and cofounder, PowerShades, talk about the Sustainable Living Lab, and how PowerShades is contributing to the effort to help reduce energy costs in this Living Lab home. Turner explains how leveraging automated shades in existing homes has played a pivotal role in reducing energy costs and has paved the way for integrating digital technologies with lighting controls and even making homes generally more sustainable overall. Below is an excerpt from the interview. To hear the entire interview on The Peggy Smedley Show, visit http://www.peggysmedleyshow.com, and click here select 01/11/22 from the…
We have reached the point in many industries where we have a new type of worker—one that is very visual, more visual perhaps than previous generations. The question now becomes: How do we train them? We need to give them the right knowledge—information—to get the job done, but we also need them to have the expertise, which is a skill that comes from particular knowledge. Building on one of my previous blogs, where I talk about assisted-reality for frontline workers, with the example of RealWear’s RealWear Navigator 500, assisted-reality wearables will evolve in the future, and could potentially help train…
I have long been calling for government to invest in our nation’s crumbling infrastructure. Not only that, but we need to do it in a way that is intelligent. We have the technology at our disposal to build infrastructure that is smart, and we need to take the steps to do so. Here are four key things that have impacted the industry in the past several months—and some thoughts on what needs to happen next with our infrastructure. The Need for Repair Last March, the ASCE (American Society of Civil Engineers) released its 2021 Infrastructure Report Card. It had been…
What exactly is solar? How does it connect to the house? How can it help reduce our emissions? Let’s explore all the basics about solar today, to help set everyone—government, homebuilders, homeowners, business owners, and more—up for success in the future. What Is Solar At its core, solar radiation is light that is emitted by the sun. Naturally, this can vary based on location, as the amount of solar that reaches one spot on the Earth is different from another. That solar power can then be converted into thermal or electrical energy. There are two main types of solar energy…
Perhaps this goes without saying, but the industry most impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and its aftereffects—and most in need of digital transformation—is healthcare and its supply chain. This conversation will beseech a greater discussion on how the backlogs are creating a shortage of healthcare professionals and products depending on the regions impacted. A look at the government numbers from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2019 ACS (American Community Survey) shows there were 22 million workers in the healthcare industry, which is one of the largest and fastest-growing sectors in the United States and accounts for 14% of all U.S. workers—and…
For 2022, I want to explore topics close to home: sustainable living, green homes, connected homes, and so much more. So, for this column, let’s talk about connected homes. However, before we dive into this topic in any depth, we need to acknowledge that before we can have a positive impact on the environment, we have to understand our role in its destruction. Research claims homeowners are unaware of the impact that their homes have on the climate. I personally do not agree with that sentiment, which is why I am here today to change all that. The Living Lab…
There are two really important questions the commercial construction industry needs to answer right now: where exactly are we today and where are we headed in the future? A few reports answer the former, and I will address the latter. At the end of last year, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce suggested commercial construction recovery has stalled—due to not being able to find workers or materials, all amid rising costs. The Commercial Construction Index is down one point in the final quarter of last year. Here is what a bit scary: Contractors’ revenue expectations fell for the first time since…
The next generation of tool intelligence is here. A new, cordless battery platform offers more flexibility, doubles the performance, tackles health and safety challenges, and helps construction professionals manage their business in a more connected way—all while being more sustainable and circular in the process. Let me take a few minutes to share with you what I have learned about this exciting, new IoT (Internet of Things) journey. Today, Hilti Group announced the launch of Nuron, a powerful 22V cordless battery platform. The Nuron products are now on sale to U.S. and Canadian customers and shipments will begin in March.…