2020 Nonresidential Construction Forecast: Slowdown But No Downturn

The U.S. economy grew by 2.2% in 2019 and is expected to slow to 2% in 2020, according to the most recent forecast released by the Federal Open Market Committee Meeting on December 11, 2019. The slowdown in 2019-20 is considered a byproduct of the trade war.

A major contributor to the economy is construction, and the outlook for construction spending in 2020-21 is positive but lower than 2019. The AIA’s semi-annual Consensus Construction Forecast, a survey of the nation’s leading construction forecasters, is projecting 1.5% growth in nonresidential construction spending in 2020 and 1% in 2021.

This article by Craig DiLouie, LC, CLCP summarizes the latest construction economic indicators and 2020 forecast.

LCA Announces New Course on Internet of Things

The Lighting Controls Association (LCA) now offers EE304: Lighting Control and the Internet of Things, as a new course in its popular Education Express program.

Driven by microprocessors, low-cost sensors, and wireless communications, the Internet of Things (IoT) offers enormous potential to unlock new value in buildings. Just as the internet connected computing devices for commerce, services, and information, the IoT connects building systems and sensors in an intelligent network. This network may provide automation along with useful sensor-driven data and data-driven services. While the IoT matures, several key benefits are available now through networked lighting control, which offers wireless or wired networking, software, bandwidth, and intelligence.

Written by noted educator Craig DiLouie, LC, CLCP, IES, this course describes the IoT and the supporting or leading role networked lighting control can play in its implementation.

Valued at three learning hours, this course is registered with the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Continuing Education System (CES) for Learning Units (LU)/Health, Safety, Welfare (HSW) credits, and the National Council on Quality in the Lighting Professions (NCQLP) for Lighting Education Units (LEUs). It is also required reading to prepare for NALMCO’s Certified Lighting Controls Professional (CLCP) certification exam.

Catch The Buzz at LCA!

The Lighting Controls Association is pleased to offer THE BUZZ, which provides a single page from which you can access all social media posts (Facebook, Twitter and YouTube) from Lighting Controls Association members.

Catch The Buzz here!

Content published at LightingControlsAssociation.org is also available at Twitter, Facebook and YouTube:

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Join the conversation on LinkedIn:

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Catch The Buzz--a special page presenting the latest social media posts from LCA members!

The leading source of lighting controls education for nearly 20 years, the Lighting Controls Association is a council of the National Electrical Manufacturers Association with the mission of educating the professional lighting community about lighting control and controllable ballast technology and application. Members include Audacy Wireless, Cree, Douglas Lighting Controls, Eaton, EuControls Corporation, Hubbell Building Automation, GE Current, Intermatic, Leviton, LSI Industries, Lutron Electronics, McWong International, Nebula Controls, OSRAM Encelium, Philips Lighting Controls, PLC, RAB Lighting, Schneider Electric, Sensor Switch (Acuity Brands), Synapse Wireless, Universal Lighting Technologies and Wattstopper (Legrand).

 

Good lighting design includes a good controls design.