Wayne State University Wins Electrical Challenge
The 2021 ELECTRI International/NECA Electrical Contracting Challenge (ECIC) was won by Wayne State University, Detroit. Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, came in second place, and the University of Toronto ranked third out of 17 teams. Nine teams ended up submitting final projects. The three finalists presented their projects to a panel of NECA judges in… Read more
Surge Protection 101
For many people, technology is the center of their attention span. Between televisions, computers, smartphones, ovens, dryers, tablets, security systems, dishwashers, etc., many aspects of our lives are assisted by an electronic device. As people expand the number of devices they own, power protection should increase as well. When they suddenly stop working, it can… Read more
Electrical Youth Camp for Employers and Employees
A boot camp called Support Ontario Youths is on a mission to support trainees and employers by streamlining and abridging the apprenticeship journey. Support Ontario Youth works together with various skilled trades and partners with specific organizations to host boot camps for those areas. They not only provide youth training; they also hire experts to… Read more
Old Electrical Panels Can Delay Transition to Renewable Energy
With an increase in electrical homes nationwide, the end goal is to use electricity for heating water and living areas, cooking, vehicle charging, and more resulting in a lower reliance on non-renewable energy. A recent report from Pecan Street outlined how roughly 48 million residential homes throughout the United States will require upgrades to transition… Read more
All-Electric Homes Gain Popularity
A preliminary effort of “all-electric” homes is gaining attention in a world where clean and efficient energy is at the forefront of environmental efforts to reduce carbon emissions. If the house is built with the right conditions, it can achieve zero emissions, or net-zero. Utility businesses, contractors, and manufacturers are upgrading, creating, and pioneering technologies… Read more
Paint Shortage Affecting the Electrical Industry
You might have heard about the worldwide shortages that have been sparked by a combination of the global pandemic, weather (freeze) catastrophes in Texas, fires in China, a lack of workers, and more. The supply chain has suffered from these setbacks, causing shortages in various industries such as technology, automobile, furniture, transportation, appliances, and electrical… Read more
Weather-Related Disasters Lead to Opportunities, Lessons
Recent records were set for weather-related disasters, with repair costs in the multibillion-dollar range. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has kept a yearly count of floods, heatwaves, tropical storms, hurricanes, droughts, and wildfires since 1980. In terms of frequency and severity, these events have risen exponentially. In 2020, we saw unprecedented wildfires in the… Read more
Helping Wildlife Through Power Line Corridors
For safe and reliable electrical transmission, bushhogging, seeding, and herbicides are used to control weeds. Along high-voltage power line corridors and local distribution systems, a low profile must be implemented so trees and other tall vegetation do not fall onto lines. Tree branches and shrubbery meeting power lines equals interference sparking outages, wildfires, and other… Read more
Infrastructure Plan Could Bring Electrical Contracting Boom
According to the American Society of Civil Engineers’ 2021 “Report Card for America’s Infrastructure,” the United States received an overall C- grade for the state of its infrastructure. Every spring, the nation’s student bodies, businesses, organizations, and local governments (including federal) receive a report card measuring performance. The report acknowledges the nation’s inadequately updated infrastructure,… Read more
Sanitizing with UV Light
LED lighting is all the rage these days. Add some Ultraviolet (UV) to make UV-LED and voila – an antimicrobial disinfectant perfect for the pandemic. With germs a serious global concern, UV-LED is an easy option for sanitizing. When LEDs are tuned to wavelengths between 405 to 425 nanometers (nm), bacteria, mold, mildew, and fungi… Read more