Author: Peggy Smedley
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…
In the past few years, AI (artificial intelligence) has grown at a rapid pace for many organizations. Now many are considering what comes next as the speed of adoption of all these emerging technologies and the IoT (Internet of Things) continues to pick up. Grand View Research suggests the global artificial intelligence market size was valued at $62.35 billion in 2020 and is expected to expand to a growth rate of 40.2% through 2028. Deep learning led the market and North America dominated, accounting for more than 40% share of global revenue in 2020. In 2020, software solutions led the…
Building a connected home is no longer optional—it is expected by many of today’s young buyers. The market is saturated with gizmos and gadgets that every consumer wants in their home. So, the question remains for builders: With so many devices and home automation systems available today, how should residential construction companies choose which one to put in new homes? Taking it a step further, what standards and protocols come into play and how do builders choose which one for homes? We all know Gen Z, or Screeners as I like to refer to them, are digital natives. This generation…
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…