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Then Came the Robots by Jim Romeo

William Attardi on May 2, 2026

The construction industry continues to pursue automation, with robotics emerging as a central pillar of that transformation. While the pace of adoption remains uneven, new data and recent field experience suggest that robots are moving rapidly toward practical tools, though with constraints, that will shape the industry’s trajectory over the next decade. According to the Coherent Market Insights construction robots report, the global construction robotics market is projected to grow from roughly $105.8 million in 2026 to $315 million by 2033, representing a compound annual growth rate of about 16.9%.  A key underlying driver is labor scarcity. Contractors across North America and other developed markets face persistent shortages of skilled workers; a trend expected to intensify as older people retire. This dynamic is already accelerating demand for automation technologies, particularly in tasks such as bricklaying, demolition and 3D printing—areas identified as high-growth segments in the market. To the pervasive automation anxiety that always worries workers and laborers, robots are not displacing workers as much as filling gaps that the labor market can no longer reliably supply. Then Came the Robots – Electrical Contractor Magazine

Design Research Looks at How Lighting Affects Mood by Jim Romeo

William Attardi on April 1, 2026

A 2026 study published in The Journal of the Illuminating Engineering Society is adding a new layer to the conversation about lighting design—one that electrical contractors and electricians working in commercial environments may want to pay close attention to. The research explored whether lighting conditions influence people’s self-reported mood, perception and health symptoms. Twenty-eight participants took part in the study, working in pairs inside a controlled room under two different diffused-light conditions: variable daylight and static artificial lighting. The test environment was designed to remove visual cues such as windows or outdoor views. Participants could not tell whether the light they were experiencing was coming from daylight or an electric system. Both lighting conditions met current circadian-oriented lighting guidance and delivered strong daytime illumination levels. The results revealed a clear difference at: Design Research Looks at How Lighting Affects Mood – Electrical Contractor Magazine

Remembering the Solemn Purpose of Memorial Day

Memorial Day is a federal holiday in the United States observed on the last Monday in May to honor and mourn U.S. military personnel who died while serving in the armed forces. The holiday traces its roots to the years immediately following the American Civil War (1861–1865), which caused massive casualties—roughly 620,000 soldiers dead, about 2% of the U.S. population at the time. Communities across the North and South began spontaneously decorating the graves of fallen soldiers with flowers, wreaths, and flags, a practice that gave rise to the original name: Decoration Day. On May 5, 1868, Major General John A. Logan, commander-in-chief of the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR)—a powerful Union veterans’ organization—issued General Order No. 11. This proclaimed May 30, 1868, as a nationwide “Decoration Day” to honor those who died in the Civil War. After World War I, the holiday expanded to honor all American service members who died in any war, not just the Civil War.  In 1968, Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act to create more three-day weekends for federal employees. This moved Memorial Day to the last Monday in May, effective in 1971, when it was also officially named “Memorial Day.” As one 1868 quote put it: “That Nation which respects and honors its dead, shall ever be respected and honored itself.”