Let’s set the scene. You are approached by your supervisor, who says management feels you are doing very well. You have the respect of the rest of the crew and are ready for a leadership role. The question becomes, what does that look like? What do you look like
The construction industry added 33,000 jobs on net in January, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of data released today by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. On a year-over-year basis, industry employment has grown by 44,000 jobs, an increase of 0.5%. Nonresidential construction employment expanded by 27,900
LEDucation is the industry’s leading marketplace and educational platform dedicated to advancing architectural lighting innovation. The event features 400+ exhibitors across four halls showcasing the latest lighting products and technologies from leading manufacturers. Thirty-nine presentations explore key issues shaping today’s lighting industry and its path to a brighter, more efficient
Dallas Market Center announced a dramatic expansion of the number of Design showrooms located inside its Interior Home + Design Center (IHDC). More than 100 brands, represented inside multiple showrooms, will move into custom spaces on the first and second floors of the building in the first half of 2026.
Space-based solar power is transitioning from concept to reality, with recent advancements demonstrating the feasibility of transmitting solar energy from orbit to Earth. This technology, which could provide continuous, reliable electricity that isn’t interrupted by weather or geography, is being developed through initiatives such as Japan’s OHISAMA project and Caltech’s
The Energy Information Administration expects solar generation to jump 17% this year and an additional 23% in 2027 EIA’s latest forecast anticipates the U.S. will generate a total of 341 billion kWh of solar this year and 418 billion kWh in 2027, up from 291 billion kWh in 2025. Growing
Congratulations to the Seahawks who won the second Super Bowl championship in franchise history, and followed the same formula as the first title under the “Legion of Boom” with a 29-13 victory over the New England Patriots at Levi’s Stadium.
Four of the largest tech companies in the world project that they’ll spend roughly $650 billion combined on AI infrastructure in 2026, representing a historic ball-out for corporate capital expenditures, Bloomberg reported Here’s who’s spending what: Taking the cake, Amazon announced Thursday that it’s planning to drop $200 billion on
A marvel of engineering, this masterfully crafted 1.25″ surface mount fixture emits more than 1000 lumens, surpassing competitors with a single gentle beam of discreet quality illumination. With the implementation of Finch, a jewelry store— as well as many other applications—can enhance occupant comfort, improve the showcasing of merchandise and
Building on the original 2009 design, this lighting option is now more flexible and lighter weight. Landscape Formshas released Candela, redesigned by urbidermis. This evolution of Gonzalo Milà’s 2009 design now features enhanced performance and adaptability, with high pressure cast aluminum housing that provides a lighter weight construction and anodized finishes
WAC Group has launched WAC Architectural, a commercial specification lighting brand that expands the WAC legacy with a portfolio of precision-engineered luminaires designed for project-driven applications. Its offering includes advanced track systems, high-performance linear solutions, and robust exterior fixtures, each engineered for optical excellence, sophisticated beam control, architectural coherence, and a
1) LED Luminaires for Health-Care Applications by Kenall 2) Surface-Mount LED Downlights by Leviton 3) LED Retrofit Kits by Keystone Technologies 4) CFI Selectable Recessed Troffer by Signify 5) Tunable LED Light Tape by AlloyLED EW’s Top 5 New LED Lighting Product Picks for February 2026 | Electrical Wholesaling
Flying cars have been a sci-fi staple for almost a century. There is a type of small flying vehicle that is now very close to commercial production. An eVTOL (electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing) is a new type of aircraft that uses electric power for vertical flight, allowing it to take
LEDVANCE has expanded its emergency lighting portfolio with a new solution designed to combine dependable performance with practical installation features. The Emergency Twin Spot luminaire is designed for applications where high visibility and directional emergency lighting are required. Suitable for use in both indoor and outdoor environments, its IP65-rated housing offers
The launch of Acuity Brands’s Gotham IVO was centered around a contractor-first approach to ensure that electricians, contractors, and field installers were well informed, engaged, and supported at each phase of adoption. This approach also extended to distribution channels, which ensured a smooth process from ordering to installation, with an
The plan for 2026 is to post a business case study every month for your pleasure and learning experience. I promise you that the analysis of these case studies is the best you will ever find. You will learn from decisions made by the most successful businesses we all know
1. Creative Opening – your first impression 2. Meaningful Content – sharing what you know 3. Compelling Close – your lasting impression You owe your audience a good performance and it’s directly related to your preparation. If you give a dynamic performance, you have nothing to worry about but if
How creative are you? Well, Marketing NOW demands it when you communicate with your customers. They do not have time for gibberish. One of the most creative is Guerrilla Marketing, an unconventional, low-cost communications strategy that relies on creativity, surprise, and high-impact interactions with your target customers. Connecting with your
Elon Musk recently announced what seemed like an odd pairing of his companies: SpaceX was acquiring xAI, the artificial intelligence firm that also owns the social media platform X. The merger combines a highly profitable rocket company with an AI startup that is burning through billions of dollars as it
As electrical firms ramp up their use of artificial intelligence, some trends are emerging in why, where, how, and for whom. In electrical, AI use cases run the gamut, from producing multiple iterations of a design to creating slide decks to present those design options to a client. A common
Companies mastering digital CX are redefining entire industries. They generate 30% more revenue, $1.4 billion on average, than customer-experience laggards. Business leaders are increasingly obsessed with AI’s impact on efficiency. However, new research shows that businesses are often forgetting about the most critical factor: the customer. AI offers the path to emotionally intelligent
Electricity costs continue to climb, and commercial customers are once again taking a closer look at energy efficiency. In 2025 alone, average commercial electricity rates increased by roughly 7%, with some regions seeing increases as high as 29%. As operating costs rise, lighting rebates remain one of the most effective
In tEDmagazine’s latest exclusive, quarterly Baird Research, we asked distributors a clear question: “How concerned are you about your company’s outlook in the following markets: Residential and Commercial?” While the results varied, the level of “very concerned” remained low. The research was conducted during the first two weeks of January 2026. Exclusive:
Telling Time – 12-hour time is a very ancient system that traces back to the Mesopotamian empires. They had a cultural fixation with the number 12, used a base-12 numerical system, and divided up most things into 12ths whenever possible – including day and night. The 12 hours of day and 12 hours of night system spread throughout Europe and the Middle East and has defied multiple attempts to change it over the centuries. Also, for anyone curious as to why there was such a love of the number 12, it was because that was how they counted on their hand. Look at your hand. Notice how each of your fingers minus your thumb has three easily identifiable parts to it. They used to count by using their thumb to count each part of the finger, much in the same way we count to 10 using our fingers today. So, 12 was the max you could count on one hand.
