Susan Bloom

By all measures, 2017 was one of the most destructive weather years in American history. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), last year’s natural disasters—including catastrophic hurricanes...

The numbers are shocking and well-publicized. As fewer electricians enter the electrical contracting industry than exit it, a net deficit of skilled labor will potentially leave contracting firms struggling to fill an estimat...

According to data from the National Electrical Contractors Association, 7,000 new electricians join the industry each year, but 10,000 retire from it, leaving contracting firms and their customers struggling to manage a net d...

The nation’s late summer flurry of hurricane activity was unprecedented. Within days of the record downpours from Hurricane Harvey that overwhelmed the Houston area for nearly two weeks in late August, Hurricane Irma roared t...

In today’s digital era, building managers and channel professionals are increasingly open to building envelope systems that provide greater efficiency, connectivity and ease of use for building operators and occupants alike....

Thanks to increasing adoption of renewable energy, declining market costs of many renewable technologies, and the availability of financial incentives that help subsidize the cost of installation, the photovoltaic (PV) panel...

According to a 2016 industry study by Zion Research, the U.S. market for home automation systems is growing by leaps and bounds. Valued at nearly $5 billion this year and forecast to nearly double by 2021, the home automation...

With a mix of job smarts, business savvy, grit and grace, an increasing number of women-owned contracting firms are helping to level the playing field in a traditionally male-dominated industry. While current statistics revea...

For a long time, the lighting industry relied on conventional, legacy light sources and traditional designs. Recent advancements in LED technology, however, have changed the face of the industry in terms of the form and funct...

While electrical contractors demonstrate proficiency in completing electrical projects, the process of prospecting for leads, securing contract opportunities and promoting their skills to targeted audiences are necessary comp...

Prefabricated lighting is an increasingly popular strategy in today’s competitive construction and upgrade market. It can help save electrical contractors (ECs) time and money in the field while offering greater control over...

No matter how you define it, experts agree that one of the keys to a successful construction project is effective collaboration by the various participants.
 “Collaboration means getting the client or building owner, general...