Electrical Industry Articles and Stories

And with the news, weather, and sports too. We've certainly come a long way from the days of getting up early in the cold, stumbling through the house, and lighting an oil lamp.

I write a lot about smart home lighting. I'm fond of the way I can (and do) automate the lighting in my own home. And I'll touch on that in this article. But automation isn't the only way to create a 'smarter' home or office.

It’s not news that the construction industry has been badly impacted by fallout related to the COVID-19 pandemic. A recent survey conducted by the Associated General Contractors of America and Autodesk quantifies just how far-reaching the effects have been, with many firms reporting project delays and cancellations, along with serious problems with supply chain disruptions.

In addition to colorful leaves, pumpkin spice lattes and the start of sweater weather, the autumn months provide something we can all celebrate – an extra hour of sleep during the “fall back” time change.

Rest easy by using these tips to prepare for the annual Daylight Saving Time (DST) change this November.

If you’re an electrical contractor, you’ve likely developed a series of workarounds to help you handle business. Maybe you’ve got financial software to help you manage your checking account and invoicing. And maybe you’ve got apps to help track mileage and keep track of upcoming jobs and materials orders.

During a big remodeling project this spring, I became more familiar with the options available for electrical receptacles these days. These include new features, like adding USB charging ports that do away with the need to track down the right adapter for every phone, smart watch and earbud charger. And now there are smart outlets you can control remotely (so, if you’re afraid you left the iron on, you can double check from your phone).