Project Sustainability

Heat is the deadliest of all the weather hazards. Peggy Smedley and Kirstin Dow, professor, Dept. of Geography, University of South Carolina, talk about heat mapping. She says it is timely in Columbia, South Carolina, and the way we have built our cities actually traps heat from solar radiation—the roads and buildings heat up.

They also discuss:

• How machine learning can help with heat mapping.
• Some examples of things that can be done to reduce heat in cities.
• How to train the next generation to integrate this into other decisions they make.

heat.gov

(9/6/23 - 68)

IoT, Internet of Things, Peggy Smedley, artificial intelligence, machine learning, big data, digital transformation, cybersecurity, blockchain, sustainability, future of work, podcast, Kirstin Dow, University of South Carolina, heat mapping, worker of tomorrow

Peggy Smedley and Benedict Talplacido, VP of brand strategy and marketing, Sunflare, talk about solar panels. He says people have different motivations for wanting solar panels, but most are interested in saving money. 

They also discuss:

• The benefits that exist depending on where you are in the country. 
• The various types of solar panels that homeowners need to consider.
• The true cost of solar and how long it will take to recoup the cost of panels.

sunflaresolar.com 

(8/30/23 - 67)

IoT, Internet of Things, Peggy Smedley, artificial intelligence, machine learning, big data, digital transformation, cybersecurity, blockchain, sustainability, future of work, podcast, Benedict Talplacido, Sunflare

Peggy Smedley and Brad Wills, director, strategic customers and programs, Schneider Electric, talk about what led to the company launching its latest innovation to turn existing home energy panels into smart panels. He says it gives more flexibility and a whole platform with a simple app. 

They also discuss:

• The value of this technology for the homeowner.
• How to plan for home resiliency.
• The rise of electric vehicles and how they fit with the home.

shop.se.com

(8/23/23 - 66)

IoT, Internet of Things, Peggy Smedley, AI, artificial intelligence, machine learning, big data, digital transformation, cybersecurity, blockchain, sustainability, future of work, podcast, Brad Willis, Schneider Electric

Peggy Smedley and Elizabeth Parks, president, Parks Associates, talk about home-energy solutions and smart lighting. She says new research shows 13% of U.S. households have a smart light bulb and 6% have a smart-lighting control system, keeping in mind 1% is about equal to 1 million households.

They also discuss:

• The benefits and driving forces behind smart lighting adoption.
• How much electricity consumed in the house comes from lighting.
• What consumers want out of a smart home.

parksassociates.com 

(8/16/23 - 65) 

IoT, Internet of Things, Peggy Smedley, artificial intelligence, machine learning, big data, digital transformation, cybersecurity, blockchain, sustainability, future of work, podcast, Elizabeth Parks, Parks Associates

Peggy Smedley and Elizabeth Parks, president, Parks Associates, talk about what type of home energy solutions homeowners are most interested in today. She says it is tracking a lot of smart-home-energy devices, solar panels, and electric vehicles. 

They also discuss:

• That energy costs are increasing, which is a big driver to some of the new solutions.
• How many households have a smart thermostat.
• The differences in various markets such as single-family homes and rentals.

parksassociates.com 

(8/9/23 - 64)

IoT, Internet of Things, Peggy Smedley, artificial intelligence, machine learning, big data, digital transformation, cybersecurity, blockchain, sustainability, future of work, podcast, Elizabeth Parks, Parks Associates

Peggy Smedley and Akshita Iyer, CEO and Founder, Ome, talk about smart home technology and sustainability in the home. She says in the last few years sustainability has been an increasingly important topic, especially for the younger generation.

They also discuss:

• The genesis of the product around being able to retrofit existing appliances.
• How to be more sustainable by upgrading what you already have.
• The power of the technology for helping people age in place.

omekitchen.com 

(6/28/23 - 63)

IoT, Internet of Things, Peggy Smedley, artificial intelligence, machine learning, big data, digital transformation, cybersecurity, blockchain, sustainability, future of work, podcast, Akshita Iyer, Ome

Peggy Smedley and Akshita Iyer, CEO and Founder, Ome, talk about convenience in the home. She says today more than ever our lives have changed; in the last few years, the home has become more important than ever before.

They also discuss:

• How many parents struggle with the work-at-home-life balance—and how automation can help.
• The importance of bringing cohesion with how we interact with all these technologies in our home.
• How companies are making technology more affordable by bringing down the large upfront cost.

omekitchen.com 

(6/21/23 - 62)

IoT, Internet of Things, Peggy Smedley, artificial intelligence, machine learning, big data, digital transformation, cybersecurity, blockchain, sustainability, future of work, podcast, Akshita Iyer, Ome

Peggy Smedley and David Eby, founder and CEO of Cooktop Safety, talk about how homes can benefit from a smart cooktop monitor. He says energy monitoring can pinpoint different energy consumed by the oven or the burners and can provide value for users.

They also discuss:

• The design of the product and safety in the home.
• How technology can eliminate grease fires.
• How the technology is secured.

cooktopsafety.com 

(6/14/23 - 61)

IoT, Internet of Things, Peggy Smedley, artificial intelligence, machine learning, big data, digital transformation, cybersecurity, blockchain, sustainability, future of work, podcast, David Eby, Cooktop Safety

Peggy Smedley and David Eby, founder and CEO of Cooktop Safety, talk about the technology behind his smart cooktop monitor. He says it is a new technology that helps mitigate injury and property damage and loss.

They also discuss:

• The fire suppression business and how it has always been after the fact—but that technology can help predict and prevent a fire before it happens.
• How AI (artificial intelligence) can do behavior predictions at the cooktop, which is the leading cause of all residential fires.
• How this technology can help age in place safely.

cooktopsafety.com 

(6/7/23 - 60)

IoT, Internet of Things, Peggy Smedley, artificial intelligence, machine learning, big data, digital transformation, cybersecurity, blockchain, sustainability, future of work, podcast, David Eby, Cooktop Safety

Peggy Smedley and Joe Whitaker, vice president of business development, Origin Acoustics, talk about some of the brands leading the charge in a mixed format in the audio world. He shares examples of audio that looks like art.

They also discuss:

• Brands that make more attractive, louder, and powerful technology, and the technologies that disappear.
• If homeowners should wait for the price to come down.
• Future proofing a home.

originacoustics.com 

(5/31/23 - 59)

IoT, Internet of Things, Peggy Smedley, artificial intelligence, machine learning, big data, digital transformation, cybersecurity, blockchain, sustainability, future of work, podcast, Joe Whitaker, Origin Acoustics

Peggy Smedley and Joe Whitaker, vice president of business development, Origin Acoustics, talk about the history of speakers and how they have advanced. He says speakers have been around for a long time and we have seen a transition or a growth that is more based on the technology of audio rather than availability.

They also discuss:

• The three parts of the history of the speaker.
• The biggest technological advancement with speakers.
• The advantages and downfalls of Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and hard wired.

originacoustics.com 

(5/24/23 - 58)

IoT, Internet of Things, Peggy Smedley, artificial intelligence, machine learning, big data, digital transformation, cybersecurity, blockchain, sustainability, future of work, podcast, Joe Whitaker, Origin Acoustics

Peggy Smedley and Joe Whitaker, vice president of business development, Origin Acoustics, talk about how acoustics and speakers can make the sounds of life and home so much better. He says audio is an important thing for the spirit. 

They also discuss:

• One important thing to remember about any space: the purpose of the music you are playing.
• How furniture, tile, artwork, and other components in a home can impact audio and acoustics.
• Three types of speakers beyond free standing speakers. 

originacoustics.com 

(5/17/23 - 57)

IoT, Internet of Things, Peggy Smedley, artificial intelligence, machine learning, big data, digital transformation, cybersecurity, blockchain, sustainability, future of work, podcast, Joe Whitaker, Origin Acoustics

Peggy Smedley and Joe Whitaker, vice president of business development, Origin Acoustics, talk about smart building trends and the smart building market in general. He starts by talking about some of the more popular trends, which happen to be surrounding speakers.

They also discuss:

• What resi-mertial means, which is the style of residential used in commercial spaces.
• Why it is important to have the right individual help with the right sound.
• How homeowners can get the right sound in the home and outside.

originacoustics.com 

(5/10/23 - 56)

IoT, Internet of Things, Peggy Smedley, artificial intelligence, machine learning, big data, digital transformation, cybersecurity, blockchain, sustainability, future of work, podcast, Joe Whitaker, Origin Acoustics

Peggy Smedley and Ian Bryant, operations manager, Premiere SAV, talk about acoustics and speakers. He says there hasn’t been a huge change in speakers in the past 20, 30, 40 years, but what has changed is the way we experience it and the design aspects.

They also discuss:

• Retrofitting speakers into homes.
• Considerations for speakers indoors and outdoors.
• The importance of running the infrastructure in new homes.

premieresav.com 

(5/3/23 - 55)

IoT, Internet of Things, Peggy Smedley, artificial intelligence, machine learning, big data, digital transformation, cybersecurity, blockchain, sustainability, future of work, podcast, Ian Bryant, Premiere SAV, Matter, smart home

Peggy Smedley and Ian Bryant, operations manager, Premiere SAV, talk about smart home trends. He says the most impactful thing happening this year has been the introduction of Matter, which is the standardization of protocol for communicating among all your smart home devices. 

They also discuss:

• The rise of direct-to-consumer products and the role of the integrator.
• What homebuyers are looking for now in the smart home.
• Where homebuyers should start when planning to build a smart home.

premieresav.com 

(4/26/23 - 54)

IoT, Internet of Things, Peggy Smedley, artificial intelligence, machine learning, big data, digital transformation, cybersecurity, blockchain, sustainability, future of work, podcast, Ian Bryant, Premiere SAV, Matter, smart home

Jason Turner, vice president and co-founder, PowerShades, returns to the show to talk with Peggy Smedley about the advantages of motorizing your window shades. Most people when they buy a home or move into a new home are already considering something for the windows—and motorizing window shades offer unique benefits.

They also discuss:

• How they bring greater energy savings.
• How motorized shades can be connected to so many other things.
• Custom schedules and how homeowners can take advantage of cloud-based control.

powershades.com 

(4/19/23 - 53)

IoT, Internet of Things, Peggy Smedley, artificial intelligence, machine learning, big data, digital transformation, cybersecurity, blockchain, sustainability, future of work, podcast, Jason Turner, PowerShades

Peggy Smedley and Bailey Parker, executive director, Gills Creek Watershed Assn., talk about watersheds and why they are important. She says think of it as a catch basin—every bit of water that comes into that point is the watershed.

They also discuss:

• How urbanization is impacting watersheds and why every little act counts.
• What happened following the flood of 2015 when Gills Creek broke through dams and destroyed homes.
• The Gills Creek Watershed Assn., the Adopt a Stream program, the Watershed Champion program, and how it fits into what South Carolina is doing.

gillscreekwatershed.org 

(4/12/23 - 52)

IoT, Internet of Things, Peggy Smedley, artificial intelligence, machine learning, big data, digital transformation, cybersecurity, blockchain, sustainability, future of work, podcast, Bailey Parker, Gills Creek Watershed Assn.

Peggy Smedley and Sheeva Sairafi, cofounder and president, HoldOn, talk about sustainable household goods. She gives backstory about her company and how it makes nontoxic plant-based products that are all fully certified home compostable in an effort to help reduce plastic pollution and give people a sustainable option for their trash and zip-seal bags.

They also discuss:

• The problem HoldOn is trying to solve.
• The different sizes of the products and how consumers can access them.
• The response since launching HoldOn.

holdonbags.com - Use code PEGGY20 for 20% off on your first order of sustainable bags from HoldOn!

(4/5/23 - 51)

IoT, Internet of Things, Peggy Smedley, artificial intelligence, machine learning, big data, digital transformation, cybersecurity, blockchain, sustainability, future of work, podcast, Sheeva Sairafi, HoldOn

Peggy Smedley and Chris Howells, senior training and development manager, AprilAire Academy, talk about the importance of indoor air quality in our homes. He says we take on average 20,000 breaths per days, which is 3,000 pounds of air we are putting into our body, and we spend 90% of our times indoors. With all this in mind, it is important to understand the quality of air we are breathing.

They also discuss:

• Four major components of the indoor air quality industry.
• How humidity and temperature impact the survival of bacteria and viruses.
• Training for professionals coming into the homes and training for homeowners.

aprilaire.com 

(3/29/23 - 50)

IoT, Internet of Things, Peggy Smedley, artificial intelligence, machine learning, big data, digital transformation, cybersecurity, blockchain, sustainability, future of work, podcast, Chris Howells, AprilAire Academy

Peggy Smedley and Diane Cook, professor, Washington State University, talk about smart homes and what she has done with the CASAS Smart Home project at Washington State University. She explains how the project started with her interest in finding an application of machine learning that would challenge the field and force her to find new methods, while also having a significant societal implication. 

They also discuss:

• The home of the future and the Texas State Fair—and how it guided her project.
• How she finds what her next goal and core objectives will be.
• What she has learned from the applicants and the professors—and where the project is headed next.

casas.wsu.edu 

(3/22/23 - 49)

IoT, Internet of Things, Peggy Smedley, artificial intelligence, machine learning, big data, digital transformation, cybersecurity, blockchain, sustainability, future of work, podcast, Diane Cook, Washington State University