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Energy Star’s Move to DOE Helps It Escape Proposed EPA Cuts

William Attardi on April 10, 2026

The Trump administration for the second year in a row is calling for elimination of the Office of Atmospheric Protection inside the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, but the Energy Star program, which has been part of the office for 30 years, is positioned to escape the cut; since November, the program has been operating out of EPA’s Office of Radiation and Indoor Air and, starting in June, will be moved out of EPA entirely. Under an agreement EPA signed with the U.S. Department of Energy last month, DOE will take over administration of the program. The administration says the office isn’t needed and shutting it down will save the government $100 million.  Energy Star’s move to DOE helps it escape proposed EPA cuts | Facilities Dive

Construction Jobs Increase in 38 States Year-Over-Year

William Attardi on April 10, 2026

Construction employment rose in 38 states from January 2025 to January 2026, while 40 states and the District of Columbia added jobs between December and January, according to an analysis of new federal data released by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials called on policymakers in Washington to provide adequate support for training to enable workers to acquire in-demand skills and to allow qualified workers into the U.S when needed workers are not available. View January 2026 state employment data and 1-month, 12-month rankings.  Association officials noted that the industry has a critical need for electricians and other workers with the skills to construct data centers and power projects. They urged the federal government to direct more funding to career and technical education and workforce training and to offer a pathway to employ needed workers from other countries.   Construction Jobs Increase in 38 States Year-Over-Year – tEDmag

Manufacturers Test AI-Translation Tech to Improve Worker Communications

William Attardi on April 7, 2026

To more effectively communicate with workers who speak little to no English, a growing number of U.S. manufacturers are leveraging translation technologies driven by artificial intelligence. They are also using real-time translation tools to improve safety and compliance with regulatory standards. Manufacturers employ roughly 1 million foreign-born workers, representing about 20% of the industry, according to 2024 U.S. Census Bureau data. Manufacturers test AI-translation tech to improve worker communications | Manufacturing Dive

ADP: Private Sector Employment, Pay Increased in March

William Attardi on April 3, 2026

Private sector employment increased by 62,000 jobs in March and pay was up 4.5 percent year-over-year according to the March ADP National Employment Report® produced by ADP Research in collaboration with the Stanford Digital Economy Lab (“Stanford Lab”). For additional information about the ADP National Employment Report, including historical files, employment and pay data, methodology, and a calendar of release dates, please visit https://adpemploymentreport.com/.  ADP: Private Sector Employment, Pay Increased in March

ABC: Construction Employment Rebounds by 26,000 in March

William Attardi on April 3, 2026

The construction industry added 26,000 jobs in March, 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 57,000 jobs, an increase of 0.7%. Nonresidential construction employment increased by 12,200 positions, with gains in all three subcategories. Nonresidential building added the most jobs, increasing by 4,500 positions. Nonresidential specialty trade and heavy and civil engineering added 3,900 and 3,800 jobs, respectively, in March. The construction unemployment rate was 6.7% in March. Unemployment across all industries dropped to 4.3%, but is still 0.1 percentage points higher than one year ago.  ABC: Construction Employment Rebounds by 26,000 in March – tEDmag

Manufacturing PMI® at 52.7% – March 2026 ISM® Manufacturing PMI® Report

William Attardi on April 3, 2026

US manufacturing activity expanded for a third consecutive month in March, with the Institute for Supply Management’s manufacturing PMI measuring 52.7, up slightly from 52.4 in February. New orders dropped from 55.8 to 53.5, while production rose 1.6 points to 55.1. Supplier deliveries increased 3.8 points to 58.9, and employment contracted 0.1 points to 48.7. Institute for Supply Management

Batteries on Wheels: How Your EV Could Also Power Your Home

William Attardi on April 1, 2026

Vehicle-to-home technology is gaining traction, with over 630,000 bidirectional electric vehicles on US roads, allowing owners to use car batteries to power homes during outages and save on energy costs. General Motors plans to make all new EVs bidirectional by this year, and a UK trial found that 78% of V2H users saved at least approximately $525 on their energy bills.  Batteries on wheels: How your EV could also power your home | Reuters

 

2026 DLC Summit Registration is Now Open

William Attardi on March 31, 2026

Registration is now open for the DesignLights Consortium’s (DLC) two-day Summit in October. Taking place October 26 – 27, 2026 at The California Endowment in Los Angeles, “Next Gen Lighting: Controls, Integration and the Environment” will gather energy efficiency specialists, lighting and controls manufacturers and distributors, decarbonization advocates and other industry stakeholders to discuss the latest trends and technologies to maximize energy savings, enhance building operations and protect the environment through lighting. Co-hosted by the Los Angeles Department of Water & Power, the 2026 DLC Summit will feature panels and small group discussions. See the full meeting agenda here. Interested participants can register here.  An Early Bird rate is available through August 1, 2026.  Visit the DLC website for more information

LEDucation Changes 2027 Event Dates

William Attardi on March 31, 2026

The LEDucation Trade Show and Conference for 2027 has moved its dates from April 6 and 7 to April 13, 14, and 15. The event will still be held at the New York Hilton Midtown, but will expand from a two-day event to a three-day event. Light + Intelligent Building (previously known as Lightfair) is scheduled for Las Vegas March 16, 17, and 18 in 2027. Since many of the exhibitors and attendees want to be at both events, it can create some issues. LEDucation will remain a yearly event in New York City, which Light + Intelligent Building is every other year, and will move to Philadelphia in 2029. LEDucation Changes 2027 Event Dates

The Statue of Liberty was made with copper but due to oxidation, it turned green.

When the “Lady in the Harbor” first arrived in New York in 1886, she didn’t look like the mint-green icon we know today. In fact, for the first twenty years of her life, she stood as a towering, metallic beacon of reddish-gold. Designed by French sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi and engineered by Alexandre Gustave Eiffel, the statue was a gift from France to America. To build her, Bartholdi chose copper for three practical reasons:

  • Malleability:It could be hammered into elaborate, thin sheets.
  • Weight:Copper is lighter than stone or bronze, making it easier to ship 350 individual pieces across the Atlantic.
  • Durability:It was strong enough to survive a 27-day ocean voyage and the harsh winds of the harbor.

When she was unveiled on October 28, 1886, her skin—made of 300 copper sheets roughly the thickness of two pennies—shone with a bright, metallic brown luster. The transformation from “penny-colored” to “patina-green” wasn’t planned. Bartholdi actually expected the statue to age into a deeper, darker red. However, the unique environment of New York Harbor—a mix of salt air, moisture, and industrial pollution—triggered a process called oxidation.

The Timeline of Change:

  1. 1886–1900:The bright copper dulled into a dark, muddy brown.
  2. 1903:The first hints of a light green crust, or “patina,” began to appear.
  3. 1906:The color change was so controversial that Congress nearly stepped in. They appropriated $62,000 to paint the statue back to its original color, but the public protested, calling the idea “sacrilege.”
  4. 1910–1920:The statue was a patchy mix of brown and green until 1920, when the oxidation was complete, leaving her entirely teal.

While we now view the green color as iconic, it actually serves a vital structural purpose. The layer of verdigris (the green patina) acts as a protective shield. It seals the copper underneath, preventing the metal from further corrosion and weathering.  By the time the color fully changed, a new generation of immigrants had arrived in America seeing a green statue.