Author: Peggy Smedley
For the past couple of years, I have been keeping a close eye on national construction employment trends just to keep a pulse on the state of the workforce. We know there is a talent shortage that needs to be addressed, but it’s always important to keep a close eye on the actual number to ensure we know which way we are trending. Earlier this month, the ADP National Employment Report was released, which is an independent measure and high-frequency view of the private-sector labor market based on actual, anonymized payroll data of more than 25 million U.S. employees. Using…
Extreme weather events are impacting many areas of work and life. Our crops are no exception. With a greater focus on climate change these days, farmers, producers, and even homeowners are now looking for sustainable ways to grow crops in any weather conditions. This is where new technology enters the equation. Technology can help grow crops in a controlled environment, regardless of the weather conditions. Consider the example of Urban Crop Solutions, which provides an indoor farming solution that can perform in any weather condition. In a recent project in Saudi Arabia, the system was subjected to challenges due to…
As the amount of data increases, so too does the amount of computing needed to manage all that data. In fact, Intel estimates that up to 20% of a data center’s energy consumption is simply due to software inefficiency. We have reached the point where we now need to leverage software to optimize workloads, to maintain performance and lower power. This is precisely the conversation I had recently with Jen Huffstetler, chief product sustainability officer, Intel, who says the future of sustainable computing is largely in the hands of AI (artificial intelligence) software developers. “The power of AI is looking…
Peggy talks all about generative AI (artificial intelligence)—and what the future of work will look like with this technology among us. She says generative AI offers numerous opportunities to business to leverage technology in new and exciting ways. She also discusses: A case study of how generative AI could be used in business. The benefits it will offer businesses and employees. Considerations that need to be made as we move into a new era of work. peggysmedleyshow.com (8/8/23 – 833) IoT, Internet of Things, Peggy Smedley, artificial intelligence, machine learning, big data, digital transformation, cybersecurity, blockchain, 5G, cloud, sustainability, future…
Peggy and Chris Pearson, president, 5G Americas, talk about the evolution of the wireless industry. He says I have lived through the “Gs” and there is no doubt over time the technology gets better, sharing the key areas it is enabling. They also discuss: How the different generations use devices differently. The anticipated growth for 5G connections and how it will lead to an innovation era with more use cases. The vertical markets that will benefit the most from 5G. 5Gamericas.org (8/8/23 – 833) IoT, Internet of Things, Peggy Smedley, artificial intelligence, machine learning, big data, digital transformation, cybersecurity, blockchain,…
The smart home certainly isn’t a new concept—it is one contractors and builders have been talking about for decades, as films, books, and industry have been touting the value technology can provide to homeowners. Now, we are seeing the rise of a new subset of smart homes: the smart-energy home. Expect an 18% growth rate between 2023 and 2032 for the global smart-home energy management device market, according to a new report from Market Research Future. The size is expected to reach $4 billion by 2032. As one example, in July, Schneider Electric announced the launch of a new modular,…
Prior to my discussion with Erik Bernal, president and CEO, Elite Water Systems, on Project Sustainability Podcast, I had never really heard about PFAS (perfluorinated alkylated substances). The topic hasn’t really become mainstream until recently. The case he made to me about it on the podcast is that PFAS is in our water and needing to understand it is critical. In fact, now it seems all we talk about is PFAS and how it is in so many things. For those who may not know already, PFAS are chemicals that resist grease, oil, water, and heat. The U.S. FDA (Food…
The road to net zero is a long, continuous one, it seems. Many companies are aiming to meet the net-zero goal by 2030 while others have a more ambitious target of 2025. Still, some have a more realistic target of 2050. The question at hand remains: Are businesses really on track to meet their goals? Sit back, it’s time to really dig into this data here. Global Considerations In July, the United Nations released the 2023 Sustainable Development Goals Report, Special Edition. But first, a primer before we dive into the report. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is a…
Peggy Smedley talks about the future of work, saying we are seeing the rise of AI (artificial intelligence) across many vertical markets, and it is changing the way industries work. She adds that at the end of the day, technology is just a tool to aid the workforce and it is still critical to train workers for the future of work. She also discusses: The state of labor shortages and other workforce trends. How to encourage effective communication and collaboration. How AI will ultimately shape the future of work and how to prepare for it. peggysmedleyshow.com (8/1/23 – 832) IoT,…
Jen Huffstetler, chief product sustainability officer, Intel, returns to talk to Peggy Smedley about how software can optimize workloads, keeping performance and lowering power. She says the future of sustainable computing is largely in the hands of these AI software developers. This segment is sponsored by Intel. They also discuss: Open-source tools and why they are critical to save energy in the data center. Three examples of companies adopting AI technology. How to manage the data center. Jen’s Blog – Four principles for writing energy and carbon-efficient software Data centers can transform and drive sustainability Hear Jen on Energy Transitions…