Author: Peggy Smedley
Are we in the middle of the Great Resignation or the Great Reshuffle? From my perspective, employees are no longer looking to leave the workforce, but are looking to find an opportunity that is more fulfilling. Today’s workers are changing their standards for the types of benefits, cultures, and perks that are desirable. They are looking for appealing jobs with the right amount of responsibility and flexibility. The bigger question now is are you prepared to offer it? Construction companies, then, need to consider what employees are looking for; why finding a fulfilling opportunity is so critical; and how to…
With all that we have witnessed in the world in the past few years, the internet is proving to be the source of power for social change. As we speed into Distracted Driving Awareness Month, there is perhaps no greater place for this than in our vehicles. Let’s zoom into what’s happening behind the wheel. Consider the statement recently given by Oliver Zipse, chairman of the board of management of BMW, at the company’s annual conference. Naturally, he addressed the worldwide suffering happening now and the need for peaceful coexistence of all cultures and global free trade. He also emphasized…
Spring is here. As construction work picks up, it’s easy to forget about good cyber hygiene practices. With geopolitical conflicts and everything happening in the world today, it is more important than ever to pay attention to cybersecurity and best practices. And turning on the news or reading an article it seems breaches are coming faster than ever before. In 2021, there was a whopping 50% increase in overall attacks per week on corporate networks compared to 2020. Additionally, in the fourth quarter of 2021 alone, there was an all-time peak in weekly cyber-attacks per organization, counting more than 900…
Did you know our homes use 37% more energy today than they did in 1980? Those numbers come directly from the U.S. Dept. of Energy. The solution to bring the rapid surge in energy down just might come in the form of technology. By incorporating technologies that help make homes more efficient, ENERGY STAR estimates homeowners can save between $200 and $400 annually on their energy bills—something many homeowners need today as energy costs continue to skyrocket upwards. Today, let’s look at three tech tips to consume less energy in our homes—some of these you might know about and some…
The supply chain is fragile—this is something the world has been talking about for the past two years and those of us in the industry have been talking about longer than that. Now, the conflict with Ukraine and Russia could have a greater impact on global agricultural markets. The Russian Federation and Ukraine are among some of the most important producers of agricultural commodities in the world, playing a leading role in global markets of wheat, maize, rapeseed, sunflower seeds, sunflower oil, and fertilizers. This could expose markets to increased vulnerabilities, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the…
In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and amid global geopolitical conflict, supply-chain disruptions are impacting nearly every industry—and construction is no exception. The result for contractors is higher material prices—think 20% higher year-over-year—and supply delays, just to name a few, but technology can help in more ways than one. On the commercial side of the business, the AGC (Associated General Contractors of America) says prices of construction materials used in new nonresidential construction jumped more than 21% from February 2021 to February 2022 and noted price announcements made after the February data was collected suggest contractors are experiencing even…
In 2021, Americans paid 25.1% and 6.5% more for gas utilities and electricity, according to data from the U.S. BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics). This matches the rise in prices in other areas of our lives—gas, food, rent, medical care, you name it. Interestingly, the only other major component index to decline in the past year was airline fares. So, what’s the solution to rising home utility prices? Lowering our bills by lowering our energy consumption. The good news is as homeowners we can save on our home-energy bills by making home-energy upgrades. In fact, in a report released at…
Naturally, AI (artificial intelligence) benefits nearly everything it touches. Still, it is very important to take a close look at the impact it is having on a particular task—and it is perhaps even more important to ask critical questions, as the use of AI unfolds in different vertical markets. Take for instance one very specific area today: recruitment and hiring. Roughly 95% of HR (human resources) professionals believe AI could help with the application process for candidates, according to a recent study from Tidio. With companies receiving roughly 250 resumes for each corporate job opening, AI offers the opportunity to…
EV (electric vehicle) charging infrastructure is still sparse—although the five-year $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment Jobs Act suggests billions will be spent on a national network of EV charging stations. Still, while many wait for this to actually come to fruition, others are building the hubs they need inside their own homes. A February 2022 study by Juniper Research suggests EV charging at home will exceed $16 billion globally in 2026, which is up from $3.4 billion in 2021. Simply put, this growth rate is in excess of 390% in the next five years. One of the big reasons for this…
By now we all know Americans spend on average about 90% of their time indoors, where concentrations of some pollutants are often two-to-five times higher than typical outdoor concentrations. Ever since the COVID-19 pandemic switched into high gear, all eyes have been on indoor air quality. There is good reason for this too. The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) suggests indoor concentrations of some pollutants have increased in recent decades due to factors such as insufficient mechanical ventilation and increased use of synthetic building materials, furnishings, personal care products, pesticides, and household cleaners. Add to this the growing concerns around asthma…