Peggy Smedley Show

Peggy and Sheila Hollis, United States Energy Assn., talk about microgrids and the big grid—and how it is comprised of several parts. She says power does not flow magically from hydropower in New York out to California where there is a dry spell. They also discuss: Different forms of energy like wind and solar. How much coal is used today—and how that percentage has evolved. How the war in Ukraine...

Peggy talks all about data and the news to come out of Microsoft's Build event last week. She says data is a very big consideration these days—and this can be seen through all the announcements that came out of the event. She also discusses: Microsoft Intelligent Data Platform—and the impact this will have on ecommerce as one example. Project Volterra—and the value of an open hardware ecosystem fo...

Peggy and Laura Black, author and editor at large, Specialty Publishing Media, talk about the new book, Becoming Resilient Parents, and why Black chose to write the book now. They also discuss why resiliency is so important today—both in parenting and in business. They also discuss: Two foundational principles for resilient parents. The four to flourish. Time management principles that work in bot...

Peggy and Sheila Hollis, acting executive director, United States Energy Assn., discuss the energy crisis in the United States and across the globe. She says it is heartbreaking in many parts of the world still. If you look to India, the temperatures are 104-114 many days and air conditioning does not exist. They also discuss: Two existential questions facing the energy environment. The history of...

Peggy talks all about digital forensics. She says data is constantly growing and the methods and tools we use to collect the data is also evolving, which creates a moving target for any vertical industry that leverages data. She also discusses: New research on digital forensics, which presents the methods that digital forensic experts use to analyze evidence from computers, mobile phones, and othe...

Peggy and Akanksha Menon, assistant professor, Woodroof School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, talk about a water energy research lab. She says there are two major goals, one of which is decarbonizing water treatment. They also discuss: A pilot scale prototype to prove the technology at a larger scale. How we can move to a circular water economy. The biggest impact of c...

Peggy and Mike Kelly, senior research analyst, Guidehouse Insights, talk about the smart grid. He shares about what is happening from a regional perspective, saying there has been mass adoption across western Europe, the United States, and other developing markets. They also discuss: What is behind the slow adoption in various regions. Concerns around how secure data is and anonymizing customer da...

Only about 15% of used clothes and other textiles in the United States get reused or recycle. The rest head straight to the landfill or incinerator. Peggy talks about how to address this, citing research in a new report about how to facilitate a circular economy for textiles. She also discusses: The biggest hurdles facing the textile industry. What can be done to address these hurdles. Actions tha...

Peggy and Kim Cheslak, director of codes, New Buildings Institute, discuss a new study on building decarbonization. She says one of the primary questions is: what does it cost? Thus, it went into the study with two primary goals: to confirm or disprove the theory that electrifying buildings saves or costs homeowners or building owners money over time and to also look at the societal benefits of el...

Peggy and Alexa Carlin, Women Empower X, talk about her new book Adaptable. She says she has gone through a number of challenges that are very related in the sense that we all go through so many challenges—and there is a time where we can either let our obstacles stop us or fuel us forward. They also discuss: How to show other women that they can do it. How to share obstacles and have the courage...

Peggy talks about all the generations and businesses coming together to move from the old linear ways to a more circular world, saying we need both a change in process and new technologies. She narrows in on one specific case study, Continental. She also discusses: The company's goal to achieve fully sustainable supply chains by 2050. How it uses technologies and digitalization to make environment...

Peggy and Daryl Friedman, global president & CEO, CEDIA, talk about the home integrator market and a new report. He says one of the things that attracted him to this industry is the growth potential of where is this going. They also discuss: How this started as a luxury market and is now available for the mid-market. The importance of having the right people connect the smart home. The main source...

Peggy and Edward Sanchez, senior analyst, global automotive practice, Strategy Analytics, talk about trends in the automotive market and our homes. He says it is inevitable whenever there is price hikes in energy, it increases consumer interest and awareness in fuel economy and more economical vehicle choices—but the biggest thing that has changed is vehicle choices. They also discuss: Changes in...

Peggy talks about the state of housing. She says the market has remained competitive and recommends to study the trends in your own region, giving her perspective on what is happening in her own region. She also discusses: The impact the pandemic has had on housing and the most desired features in homes. If homes will be more or less affordable than previous years. Will supply-chain bottlenecks co...

Peggy and Jennifer Huffstetler, vice president and general manager, Future Platform Strategy & Sustainability, Intel, talk about climate change and sustainability. She says we know right know the impact of climate change is an urgent and global threat and protecting our planet depends on immediate action and fresh thinking about how the world operates. They also discuss: How Intel is addressing cl...

Peggy and Kristen Hanich, director of research, Parks Associates, talk about big trends with smart buildings. She says we have seen a lot of changes being driven by COVID and some of the shifts in terms of where people are working and what they are looking for. They also discuss: Demand in consumer homes for clean air, safe air, and safe environmental and how those feeds into data platforms. The i...

Peggy gives her thoughts on the state of smart home technology, giving a glimpse inside the Living Lab. She says in the two decades she has been writing about this technology, we still have not found a way to make it easily interoperable and seamless for the homeowner. She also: Compares it to what once happened in manufacturing. Talks about the importance of systems integrators in the home. Gives...

Peggy and Jeff Meredith, chief executive officer, Chamberlain Group, talk about the evolution of the smart home. He says the opportunities are boundless and talks about how the company is marrying its ability to offer access to the home with other capabilities, services, and products that would also value the access. He gives two specific examples. They also discuss: How many people use the garage...

Susan Dalton, leadership coach, Susan Dalton Coaching, shares stories with Peggy about what she has learned in the four decades of managing people. She says one thing she found intriguing is when STEM (science, technology, engineering, and management) workers are promoted to management, they would often stumble. They also discuss: Things that can be done to make the path easier. If there are born...

To celebrate Earth Day a little early, Peggy talks all about sustainability and circularity in our businesses, narrowing in on food and agriculture. She says our food system is rapidly deteriorating the planet and if we continue, we will not be able to feed the more than 9 billion people on Earth in 2050. She also discusses: What a "foodprint" is, how to measure it, and how to reduce it. Challenge...

Peggy and Ramesh Srinivasan, professor, UCLA Dept. of Information Studies, talk about how technology can be fair and more democratic. He says it is important to remember the architecture that the internet was founded was funded by American taxpayers, which means at its inception it was a public sensibility. They also discuss: How every aspect of life increasingly is being mediated by digital techn...

Peggy and Andy Binns, cofounder, Change Logic, and author of the book Corporate Explorer , talk about how to spark innovation in the next generation. He explains why large corporations are in a good place for innovation, explaining that it is because they have assets that startups might lack to get to the innovation destination faster. They also discuss: How Netflix managed to go from DVDs by mail...

If we want to reach zero deaths on our roads, we need safer people, safer roads, safer vehicles, and safer speeds. Peggy narrows in on two of the four tenants for this episode, safer vehicles and safer roads. She gives an update on where we are today and what needs to happen in the future. She also discusses: Growth expected for AVs (autonomous vehicles)—and how technology will be at the center of...

Peggy and Nate Hartman, Dauch Family professor of advanced manufacturing and head of the Computer Graphics Technology Department, Purdue University, talk about smart manufacturing vs. smart factories. He says it is important to understand there are nuisances between digital, smart, and intelligent. They also discuss: The true definition of smart factories and smart manufacturing. How people can fu...

Peggy and Jack Carroll, professor of information sciences and technology, Pennsylvania State University, talk about the role of HCI (human computer interaction) in designing digital infrastructures for democracy. He says the early internet was bundled with aspirations about renewing or strengthening democracy and gives some specific examples. They also discuss: The era we are in now—and the new po...