Electical Contractor

The protracted climb out of the recession continues with modest, incremental improvement. Residential construction remains the main drag on overall construction, but improvement appears to be on the horizon. However, growth will not come quickly nor with great fanfare.

Electric utilities, especially those owned by investors, are odd ducks in our capitalistic society. Because they are state-sanctioned monopolies, their profits are regulated by public utilities commissions (PUCs).

The light up ahead is an oncoming train. New demands are adding to the existing growth in security and safety. The burglar/fire alarm industry continues to grow, fueled by advancements in computing technology and Internet protocol (IP) devices, software, cellular and smartphones.

The construction industry lost 7,000 jobs in March, following a similar decline of 6,000 jobs in February, inching the unemployment rate up to 17.2 percent, according to the April 6, 2012, Department of Labor employment report.

Within the larger effort to transform the way the nation receives and uses its power, efficiency holds first-tier status, right next to solar, wind and electric cars. The importance of building energy use within the realm of efficiency also is well-established.

Nothing is sacred in the digital age. Innovation is the driving principle. The operating mindset is to strive for quality, speed and efficiency. Along those lines, it was only a matter of time before the Internet set its sights on the TV.

With all the popular support and government subsidies that renewable power enjoys in the United States, it seems that it would only be a matter of time before they completely take over the nation’s energy markets.

Energy projects currently underway across the United states reflect several trends—new construction in the alternative-energy sector and renovation at traditional power plants to update aging infrastructure.

It’s not often in the United States that something can generate widespread, near unanimous support, and even less likely for it to completely ignore political party lines. According to a recent poll, solar power is currently enjoying that kind of popular appeal.