Author: Peggy Smedley
Peggy and Lawrence Slade, chief executive, Energy Networks Assn., talk all about net zero and how energy grids underpin global transition. He says the U.K. was one of the first countries to have net zero in legislation—and electricity networks are front and center in how to enable that transition. They also discuss: How to hit the targets, the need for skilled teams, and the importance of being innovative. Who is going to make investments—public, private, or both. If the grids are being resilient, flexible, and delivering what they need to—and how long they can withstand it. energynetworks.org (5/9/23 – 821)…
Are new homebuyers really interested in energy-efficient homes? If we look at the data, then it seems the answer is yes, as more homeowners are often claiming home-related energy-efficiency tax incentives today. But let’s back up a bit because these types of tax incentives for homes are relatively new in the past two decades. If we look back to 2005, Congress began establishing many energy-efficiency tax incentives for housing. The benefits extend to both new homebuyers and remodeling homeowners—and let’s not forget the most important point here is to have a lasting impact on the environment around us. A closer…
The concrete industry is responsible for 8% of the global CO2 emissions. Why is it so important that we look to reduce those CO2 emissions? This was the exact question I asked Tapio Vehmas, CEO, Carbonaide, when we sat down for a candid conversation about climate change and the environment. “We need to do something with concrete. There are no real alternatives for concrete. Globally, we use 10 billion cubic meters of concrete every year,” says Vehmas. “We have to deal with concrete and make it less carbon intensive.” Perhaps we need to first encourage our structural engineers to design…
Manufacturing is changing because of a number of factors, one of which is the invasion of AI (artificial intelligence) into materials. Called materials informatics, this is the application of data-driven methods such as machine learning to the field of materials science—and it is going to change manufacturing processes in the future. Personally, this is very intriguing, as we put more data into manufacturing and information for good. Hopefully we are not talking data for data sake. Let me state this upfront. Sometimes we are our own enemies as we get lost in the data and the hyperbole, but if we…
Peggy Smedley talks all about the industrial metaverse, breaking down the predictions and some new technologies that just might help. She says there is a lot of hype and headlines with the word metaverse in it, but it is time to look beyond that. She also discusses: Real case studies that are working for industrial companies. ROI numbers that show how technology can help. How you can do it in your own business. peggysmedleyshow.com (5/2/23 – 820) IoT, Internet of Things, Peggy Smedley, artificial intelligence, machine learning, big data, digital transformation, cybersecurity, blockchain, 5G, cloud, sustainability, future of work, podcast…
Peggy Smedley and Matthieu Menanteau, head of product, Withings, talk about the key changes in the past 12 months in terms of how consumers are embracing health. He says health is becoming a big topic today and everybody began to realize they need to understand themselves better. They also discuss: The category of connected scale and how it has evolved. The trend of monitoring health and communicating with doctors. Which products are seeing the best traction today. withings.com (5/2/23 – 820) IoT, Internet of Things, Peggy Smedley, artificial intelligence, machine learning, big data, digital transformation, cybersecurity, blockchain, 5G, cloud, sustainability,…
Peggy Smedley and Tapio Vehmas, CEO, Carbonaide, talk about reducing CO2 emissions in the concrete industry. He says if you want to make carbon negative concrete you need some kind of precast concrete manufacturing line, then you need to combine Carbonaide technology into that precast construction line. They also discuss: The driving factor for this technology and process. New seed funding from concrete companies. How this will impact the manufacturing industry. carbonaide.com (5/2/23 – 820) IoT, Internet of Things, Peggy Smedley, artificial intelligence, machine learning, big data, digital transformation, cybersecurity, blockchain, 5G, cloud, sustainability, future of work, podcast, Tapio Vehmas,…
When the IIJA (Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act) was announced in 2021, Americans were promised a lot. Now, we are beginning to see this unfold across the country. But will it help solve some of the challenges we face when it comes to EVs (electric vehicles)? It’s still a big question mark for many so let’s take a look at what is coming. I recently had an opportunity to gain a better understanding of where we are at with the CFI (charging and fuel infrastructure) discretionary grant program from Michael Culp, team leader for sustainable transportation, Federal Highway Admin., in…
Do you want a digital representation of the future physical asset that you are going to be constructing before you ever put a bucket in the ground during the planning phase of a project? Everyone is going to answer that question yes, according to Andy Kaiyala, vice president of construction technology and controls, WSB. “Do we have the technology to enable that to happen? The answer is yes. So, if we want it and the technology is available, it becomes a question of timing. Not if, but when,” he explains. The good news is the next evolution of construction is…
Many vertical markets, such as the manufacturing industry, are ripe for innovation and a new way of working. We are living in an era where inflation is high, many say there is an impending recession, and remote work is a common phrase, as workers demand flexibility. But are the tables starting to turn, even slightly? Is it once again becoming more of an employer’s market? One new report suggests there is a lot shifting at the moment—and businesses need to be aware of the transition that is happening. The new report comes from Morning Consult and looks at how employed…