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2 days ago | 
ecmag.com | Andrea Klee |Susan DeGrane
Networked lighting controls (NLCs) can cut new lighting loads in half. When integrated with HVAC systems, NLCs can help save up to an additional 30% of HVAC energy use and 20% of total energy consumed in large commercial buildings. So says the DesignLights Consortium (DLC), a nonprofit organization that provides data and resources on lighting controls and integrated building systems to help reduce energy use, carbon emissions and light pollution.
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4 days ago | 
ecmag.com | Andrea Klee
NECA has named the following esteemed group of leaders in the electrical construction industry as 2025 national award recipients. They will be honored on Monday, September 15th, at the Closing General Session during NECA 2025 Chicago in Chicago, Ill., for their outstanding contributions:Fellowship in the Academy of Electrical Contracting is one of the highest honors bestowed upon an individual in our industry.
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4 days ago | 
ecmag.com | Andrea Klee |Lori Lovely
The U.S. Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) is funding research at Georgia Tech to come up with an alternative to sulfur hexafluoride gas (SF ) used to protect circuit breakers from overloads and other faults. The need for a new material stems from the negative impact of SF .
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1 week ago | 
ecmag.com | Andrea Klee |Rick Laezman
The growing adoption of electric vehicles has helped create a new and cleaner relationship with automobiles, and it is aiding building electrification by creating added storage capacity. These benefits will not reach their full potential if access is not widespread.
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1 week ago | 
ecmag.com | Andrea Klee |Gregg Voss
General concerns about the direction of the economy since the turn of the year, including the effect of tariffs, has affected construction employment at the state level, according to an analysis of federal employment data by the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC). According to AGC, between April 2024 and April 2025, 32 states and the District of Columbia saw increased construction employment.
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1 week ago | 
ecmag.com | Andrea Klee |Jim Romeo
A 2024 United Nations report highlights a troubling trend: global electronic waste has nearly doubled over the past 12 years, growing from 34 billion to 62 billion kilograms, with projections reaching 82 billion kilograms by 2030. Yet only about 20% of that—roughly 13.8 billion kilograms—is expected to be recycled, which is a figure that shows little sign of improvement. As the volume of discarded electronics increases, traditional recycling efforts are failing to keep pace.
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2 weeks ago | 
ecmag.com | Andrea Klee |Rick Laezman
Energy efficiency and building electrification have emerged as two of the most effective tools in the effort to cut carbon emissions. Recently, the state of New York made a major investment in both. On May 15, 2025, the New York State Public Service Commission (Commission) authorized $5 billion over five years to be spent on programs that will increase access to energy efficiency and clean energy solutions across the state’s buildings sector.
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2 weeks ago | 
ecmag.com | Andrea Klee |Kirk Davis
Nationwide investments in our infrastructure are finally hitting the ground. We’re seeing progress on energy grids, transportation systems and broadband expansion—all of which require skilled electrical professionals to lead the way. These upgrades not only bring opportunities for growth, but also reinforce our continued focus on workforce development, safety and innovation. From digital layout tools to integrated project delivery platforms, construction technology is reshaping job sites.
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2 weeks ago | 
ecmag.com | Andrea Klee |Chris Kuehl
Heraclitus is credited with the quote, “the only constant in life is change.“ This has rarely been as true as it is now, given the nearly constant stream of changes to tariff and trade policy. Despite this constant shifting, electrical contractors, their vendors and their clients have to plan and set strategic and tactical goals. What can be expected in the months to come? The best that can be done at this point is to look at scenarios to determine which are more or less likely.
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2 weeks ago | 
ecmag.com | Andrea Klee |Stephen Carr
Have you ever analyzed how you go about bringing a bid together? Estimators should never feel as if they are the only one responsible for preparing a bid. Successful estimators should keep in mind they are part of a team, which includes co-workers, vendors, manufacturers and many others. Even when you are the owner, chief estimator, data manager and bookkeeper at your company, you still have to work with others.
