Articles from Electrical Business

The latest housing report by Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. reveals that housing starts in Calgary and Edmonton are growing, contrary to a national slump. Although Vancouver and Toronto are experiencing significant slowdowns, other cities like Montreal, Ottawa, and Halifax are maintaining housing start rates. A decline in condominium starts and high development charges are hindering the market, posing risks to future supply and affordability. Government interventions and policy changes are deemed necessary to address these challenges, especially in high-cost markets.

Kevin Ritzmann has joined Northern Sun Energy as vice-president and managing partner. He aims to enhance the company's electrical field delivery services to improve efficiency and responsiveness. Ritzmann will focus on scaling solar and BESS deployments in the eastern U.S. and strengthening partnerships with developers and suppliers. Northern Sun's president highlights Ritzmann's strategic insight as vital for meeting energy demands.

In June 2025, investment in building construction in Canada reached $22.7 billion, an 8.0% increase year-over-year, driven by growth in the residential sector. The residential sector saw a 3.1% rise primarily due to multi-unit projects, especially in Quebec and British Columbia. The non-residential sector experienced a slight decline of 0.5%, largely due to reductions in the industrial and institutional components. Overall, investment for the second quarter of 2025 remained steady compared to the previous quarter, with residential growth balancing out declines in non-residential investments.

The article discusses the increasing power demands in data centers driven by AI and high-density computing as outlined in Eaton's white paper. Data centers are facing challenges in optimizing space, energy, power, and cooling, while also achieving sustainability goals. The white paper projects a significant rise in energy consumption by data centers due to AI workloads, highlighting the need for renewable energy, improved energy storage, and grid upgrades. Electrical engineers and contractors are essential in designing power infrastructure to help meet these goals.

Legrand has introduced the Wattstopper i3 platform to integrate multiple building systems such as lighting, HVAC, and occupancy sensors under a single interface. By leveraging Kode Labs' OS, this platform enhances energy optimization and system control for both individual properties and large portfolios. It offers plug-and-play integration and provides predictive insights and occupancy-based automation for dynamic building management.

$16 million in federal funding has been allocated to projects in the Maritime provinces to modernize the electrical grid and enhance solar and wind energy production. The funding covers initiatives in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island aimed at improving grid reliability, expanding renewable energy capabilities, and involving Indigenous communities in clean energy projects. Notable projects include Nova Scotia Power's distribution network modernization, Saint John Energy's grid management system upgrade, and a solar project led by Millbrook First Nation. These initiatives are part of broader efforts to transition the region to cleaner, more efficient energy solutions.

Leviton Canada has appointed Matthew Dudka as the sales director for Western Canada. Dudka brings over 20 years of sales experience and a background in electrical engineering technology. His career has been marked by a commitment to excellence, innovation, and customer satisfaction, aligning with Leviton's mission to provide high-quality solutions.

Prysmian has commenced a $500 million expansion project at Encore Wire in McKinney, Texas, with the construction of a new medium-voltage cable production facility. The new plant will cover over 650,000 square feet and is expected to be operational by 2027, adding 120 jobs to the area. This investment marks the first phase of Prysmian's growth initiatives in North America. The company has a significant presence in North America, operating 29 plant locations with nearly 8,000 employees.

Siemens Energy and Eaton have formed a partnership to enhance the construction and deployment of data centers by providing grid-independent energy supplies and modular systems. Their collaboration involves developing scalable solutions to supply electricity to data centers, even in areas lacking grid infrastructure. Siemens Energy will offer a modular power plant featuring gas turbines and battery storage, while Eaton will supply electrical equipment. This partnership aims to reduce time-to-market and decrease CO2 emissions associated with backup generators.

Generac has teamed up with Ecobee to launch a smart thermostat that integrates with Generac's home standby generators and PWRcell 2 solar battery storage, aiming to enhance home energy management. This collaboration is designed to reduce energy costs, increase efficiency, and provide improved control for homeowners by optimizing HVAC systems and coordinating electrical loads during outages. The smart thermostat is set to offer up to 26% savings on annual heating and cooling bills by adapting to homeowners' habits. The product will be available through Generac’s dealer network, with the PWRcell 2 shipping soon.

In March 2025, investment in building construction in Canada decreased by 0.9% to $22.2 billion, primarily due to a 1.8% decline in the residential sector, despite a 1.3% increase in the non-residential sector. The residential decline was driven by a significant drop in multi-unit construction, while single-family home investments saw a minor increase. Non-residential investment grew in all subsectors, with notable gains in institutional, commercial, and industrial projects. Throughout the first quarter of 2025, overall construction investment rose by 3.3%, with the residential sector leading this growth, especially in multi-unit constructions.

ChargePoint and Eaton have partnered to simplify and expedite the rollout of electric vehicle supply equipment in the U.S., Canada, and Europe. They aim to create a one-stop shop for EV charging solutions, combining chargers, electrical infrastructure, and engineering services. This collaboration intends to streamline processes for purchasing, designing, and deploying EV equipment, addressing barriers to electrified transportation.