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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.

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

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

Trump Is Bringing In So Much Revenue From Tariffs That It’s Seriously Reducing The $37 Trillion National Debt by Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune

William Attardi on August 12, 2025

President Donald Trump’s sweeping new tariffs are raking in unprecedented sums for the federal government—so much, in fact, that a top budget watchdog says the revenue rivals the impact of creating a brand-new payroll tax or slashing the entire military budget by nearly one-fifth. (These are rough estimates, to be sure, conveyed to communicate the magnitude of the tariffs, not precise contributions to the budget.) But can these massive cash flows, already topping tens of billions monthly, truly put a dent in America’s $37 trillion national debt? Actually, yes, according to the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget (CRFB).The D.C.-based think tank estimates the tariffs will bring in an estimated $1.3 trillion of net new revenue through the end of Trump’s current term and $2.8 trillion through 2034.  Trump is bringing in so much revenue from tariffs that it’s seriously reducing the $37 trillion national debt

NEMA Expands Make It American™ Certification to Connected Building Systems and Controls

William Attardi on August 8, 2025

The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) has expanded its Make It American™ certification program to include a new product specification for connected building systems and equipment. These integrated hardware and software platforms, such as HVAC, building automation, and security platforms, are essential technologies for optimizing infrastructure resiliency and performance in the built environment.  NEMA’s Make It American program supports domestic manufacturing by helping companies demonstrate that their manufacturing processes, facilities, and supply chain management systems have undergone rigorous third-party expert audits to meet Build America, Buy America Act (BABA) domestic content rules – providing greater certainty and confidence to manufacturers, government agencies, and procurement officials seeking to source materials with enhanced levels of U.S.-manufactured content.  For more information about NEMA’s Make It American program and the Make It American BABA Registry of certified companies and products, visit here.  NEMA Expands Make It American™ Certification to Connected Building Systems and Controls  – NEMA

Keeping Players Cool: The Critical Role of Shade Structures in Pickleball’s Rise

William Attardi on August 8, 2025

Pickleball is more than just a fleeting trend. According to the Sports and Fitness Industry Association, pickleball participation increased by 51.8% from 2022 to 2023 and by 223.5% over the last three years, with increased participation from every age group.  As a result, the demand for new courts is skyrocketing, with cities, park systems, and private developers working to build facilities catering to both recreational players and elite competitors. However, one major factor is essential to these outdoor spaces’ long-term success and usability: protection from extreme heat.  The trend of courts with shade structures reflects an industry-wide shift toward more innovative and safer designs. aces’ long-term success and usability: protection from extreme heat.Shade Structures Play A Critical Role In The Rise Of Pickleball

 

National Football League – American football began as a hybrid of soccer and rugby on post-Civil War college campuses. Football was wildly popular but disorganized in the early 1900s. In an effort to standardize and organize, the National Football League was formed in 1920 in Canton, Ohio.  The NFL is the premier professional organization for American football, with 32 teams in two conferences and almost 1,700 active players. In 2023, the NFL generated nearly $20B in revenue. With its teams valued at $190B combined, it is the most valuable sports league in the world. The popularity of the NFL has made it a global sport. In 2002 the NFL began featuring fantasy games on its site.  The NFL is the most valuable sports league in the world.  NFL teams are worth a total of $163B. Each team holds an average value of over $5.1B, almost as much as the NBA and MLB combined. The Dallas Cowboys, valued at $9B, are the most valuable sports franchise on Earth. (NY Yankees are at 8.2B….just saying).