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US Open Set Up for Dark Sky-Friendly Outdoor Lights by Adithi Ramakrishnan

William Attardi on August 22, 2025

When the court lights flicker on at the U.S. Open, tennis stars shine under illumination designed to cut light pollution.  The U.S. Tennis Association swapped metal halide bulbs for shielded wedge-shaped LED lights. The complex’s 17 tournament courts and five practice courts were approved as dark sky-friendly last year. Most arenas make the change during scheduled maintenance and renovation, working with sports lighting company Musco. The company lights over 3,000 venues a year including college football stadiums, tennis courts and rail yards. US Open Set Up for Dark Sky-Friendly Outdoor Lights – tEDmag

DesignLights Consortium Seeks Self-Nominations for Industry Advisory Committee Members

William Attardi on August 22, 2025

The DesignLights Consortium today announced it is accepting self-nominations through October 3 from lighting industry representatives interested in serving on the DLC Industry Advisory Committee (IAC). An advisory body that meets quarterly, the IAC supports the mission and strategic direction of the DLC to promote the adoption of quality lighting and controls technology through education, collaborations, and expertise. Its activities include consideration of DLC business updates, programs to enhance lighting quality, utility lighting program participation, and ongoing opportunities, challenges, and potential risks related to advancement of energy-saving lighting technologies. The DLC is seeking new members for a two-year term that begins the third quarter of 2025 from the following organization types:

    • Small lighting manufacturers (companies with fewer than 250 employees, with product(s) listed on the DLC’s Solid-State Lighting or Horticultural Qualified Products Lists)
    • Lighting specifiers, including designers, energy service companies, consulting engineers and integrators
    • Lighting distributors.

The DLC is gathering self-nominations through an online form, must be submitted by October 3.

NEMRA Lighting and IES Partner to Launch Lighting Educational Curriculum

William Attardi on August 21, 2025

NEMRA Lighting and IES say this new virtual learning pathway bridges the lighting knowledge gap. To meet the growing demand for comprehensive lighting education and skills development, the platform builds on lighting and controls expertise while preparing participants for broader industry certifications.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

  • The curriculum features four progressive levels, from basic lighting fundamentals to advanced system design and integration.
  • Courses one and two are free for NEMRA Lighting members, with higher levels requiring additional memberships and offering CEUs and industry recognition.
  • Partnership with IES ensures high-quality, accredited content that supports professional growth and industry credibility.
  • Participants gain  certificates, CEUs and LinkedIn verifications, enhancing their professional profiles.

For more information, visit NEMRA Lighting Division

NEMRA Lighting and IES Partner to Launch Lighting Educational Curriculum | Electrical Wholesaling

GM Raided Silicon Valley to Build Its New AI Team. Here’s What It’s Doing

William Attardi on August 21, 2025

In the last eight months, GM has made nearly a dozen hires from top tech companies—from Google to Meta to AWS—with the aim of building a small but elite AI center of excellence, much of it based in Mountain View, CA. For many companies, the challenge posed by artificial intelligence rests in how to make practical use of it in operations. For many companies, the challenge posed by artificial intelligence rests in how to make practical use of it in operations. For a company like GM, that could mean incorporating AI into back-office workflows, but also into future fleets of autonomous vehicles, manufacturing robots and even motor sports. Using robots and other tech to make manufacturing more efficient—a goal GM has worked on for decades—will be even more critical as the company looks to bump up U.S. production and mitigate the cost of President Trump’s tariffs. GM Raided Silicon Valley to Build Its New AI Team. Here’s What It’s Doing. – WSJ

GE Appliances to Invest More Than $3 Billion in US Operations, Including Kentucky

William Attardi on August 21, 2025

GE Appliances announced it will invest more than $3 billion over the next five years in its U.S. operations. With its global headquarters in Louisville, GE Appliances said Wednesday the first phase of investments will begin at plants in Kentucky, Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee and South Carolina. As part of the investment, the company plans to expand its air conditioning and water heating portfolio, increase product production and “further modernize” 11 manufacturing plants in the U.S. That is expected to create 800 new jobs. GE Appliances to invest more than $3 billion in US operations, including Kentucky

Hitachi Energy Invests $106 Million In Its US Transformer Supply Chain

William Attardi on August 21, 2025

Hitachi Energy plans to invest $106 million to expand its manufacturing operation in Alamo, Tenn., creating 100 jobs to become the second-largest employer in Crockett County. The expansion will expand the company’s capacity to produce transformer components, supporting energy infrastructure and grid modernization, says Steve McKinney, head of transformers for Hitachi Energy in North America. Hitachi Energy invests $106 million in its US transformer supply chain | Latitude Media

Why Haven’t Tariffs Boosted Inflation? This Theory Is Gaining Traction by Konrad Putzier

William Attardi on August 18, 2025

New research suggests the actual tariff rates are well below what economists have suspected. The highest tariffs in almost a century haven’t caused inflation to surge. The phenomenon has puzzled economists, some of whom suspect that companies have so far simply been reluctant to pass along the extra coststo their customers. But another argument for the limited impact is gaining traction: that tariffs being paid by importers are lower than advertised. In a new study, Barclays economists went through census data to see what tariffs importers actually paid in May. They found that the weighted-average tariff rate—the average of all tariffs, adjusted for import volume from each country—that month was around 9%. That number is well below the 12% rate that they had previously estimated based on White House announcements, and far less than what some others have estimated. The reason is that more than half of U.S. imports were duty-free and because many U.S. companies and consumers bought less from countries with higher levies, particularly China.  Ultimately, Barclays expects weighted-average tariffs to end up at around 15%, up from a current 10% and 2.5% last year.  Why Haven’t Tariffs Boosted Inflation? This Theory Is Gaining Traction – WSJ

SATCO/NUVO High Output, Dual Dim Architectural Downlights

William Attardi on August 15, 2025

SATCO|NUVO LED Architectural Downlights offer a high lumen output, making them ideal for high ceiling applications. With a 40° beam angle, these downlights provide ample illumination in residential, hospitality and retail applications. Choose from three wattages and five color temperatures at installation to create the desired ambient experience. Available in a variety of shapes and professional finishes. Dual dimming capabilities, including phase-cut dimming at 120V and 0-10V dimming at 120V-277V, allow for precise lighting control. Designed with commercial applications in mind, these remote driver downlights feature a FT6 cable for use in commercial plenums, and a hinging driver to ensure easy fit no matter the clearance. Each downlight features two switches to choose from 16W/20W/24W and 2700K/3000K/3500K/4000K/5000K to create the perfect lighting for your setting. 90 CRI, Dual Dimming, Wet Location, IC Rated, AT Rated, Energy Star, Title 24 SN1853_High_Output_Arch_Downlights_PI_6-18-25.pdf

Just in Time? Manufacturers Turn to AI to Weather Tariff Storm by Mark Bendeich

William Attardi on August 15, 2025

Manufacturers are increasingly integrating AI into their supply chain operations to cope with volatile tariffs and unpredictable disruptions. AI tools help companies analyze news, assess risks and manage supplier relationships efficiently. Advanced AI agents sift through vast data, including real-time tariff updates and contract details, to suggest actionable plans. Such systems enhance supply chain resilience and enable leaner inventories, but industry experts emphasize that AI tools still require ongoing human oversight for strategic decisions. Just in time? Manufacturers turn to AI to weather tariff storm | Reuters

The First Army-Navy Game – Cadets and midshipmen played their first football game Nov. 29, 1890 on “The Plain” at West Point. Navy had been playing organized football since 1879 and defeated the newly established Army team, 24-0. The historic event would become one of the most celebrated traditions in American college sports: the Army-Navy football game. This was not just a mere football match; it was the birth of a rivalry steeped in pride, honor, and the spirit of friendly competition between the United States Military Academy (USMA) at West Point and the United States Naval Academy (USNA) at Annapolis. The Army-Navy game is more than just a sporting event; it is a celebration of American military service, a showcase of athletic prowess, and a testament to the enduring spirit of rivalry and respect. It’s not just about who wins or loses; it’s about tradition, honor, and the unbreakable bond between two esteemed military institutions.