A report from the United States Chamber of Commerce revealed that commercial contractors are becoming more optimistic about the future. The report noted that contractor optimism is being driven primarily by a rise in revenue expectations and better outlooks on hiring and equipment spending plans. During the first quarter of 2021, 36 percent of contractors…
Read more March 29, 2021Now that construction activity is starting to ramp up again following the COVID-19 pandemic, a familiar issue is facing the industry: labor shortages. Total hires and job openings within the industry as of Dec. 31, 2020 were down slightly from 2019 before the pandemic forced shutdowns and industry layoffs. The 2020 Marcum JOLTS Analysis showed…
Read more March 11, 2021While some hospitals were forced to use snow water to flush toilets, some homeowners used fence wood as firewood to heat their homes. The power outages in Texas and the southeast wreaked havoc on the area, creating a tragic situation that consequently pushed the nation’s fragile energy grids into the spotlight. Energy planning has become…
Read more February 26, 2021There aren’t many women in the field of electrical construction, though there has been some outreach to attract new prospects. Training programs, high-school advisors, and contractors alike are seeking to bring diversity to the construction and electrical industry, which will benefit women to a traditionally male workforce. The skilled labor shortage is one reason why…
Read more February 12, 2021Around the world, the use of smart meters is continuing to rise. According to a report produced by the Indian firm Prescient & Strategic Intelligence Private Limited, the global smart meter market will reach $20 billion in revenue by 2030. The compound annual growth rate is projected at 4.9 percent, from $13.1 billion in 2019,…
Read more January 27, 2021The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) estimates an average of 40 lamp sockets in each of the nation’s 128 million homes, equaling more than five billion lamps across the country. Incandescent light bulbs have a life of less than a year; consumers replacing them have ensured GE, Philips, and Sylvania’s constant stability. Incandescent and fluorescent…
Read more January 13, 2021During a recent virtual event, the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) announced a “Coming Wave of Electric Vehicles” and projected electric vehicles (EV) will comprise 40 percent of new car purchases by 2030. Factors such as rapid reductions in purchase price in addition to a wide variety of cost-competitive, high-performance, and lower carbon-emission models than…
Read more December 28, 2020Broader interest in disinfectant applications has been sparked by the COVID-19 global pandemic. One sanitation method, germicidal ultraviolet light (GUV), is effective for disinfecting areas, including killing viruses and bacteria. However, a major drawback of this technique is that it is harmful to human health. Thus, GUV use is limited in occupied spaces. Researchers at…
Read more December 10, 2020While most jobs require specific tools that vary by type or need, most electricians carry a few essential tools for basic settings. Here are the most popular tools purchased in the industry as specified by each manufacturer below. Manual Hand Tools Klein Tools– NCVT-1 noncontact voltage tester– 11045 wire stripper and cutter– 32500 11-in-1 multibit…
Read more
