Business View Magazine | March 2018

182 reach today.In fact,as referenced earlier,awhole new segment of installers,known as system integrators, have surfacedwho are trained and able to connect disparate applications over one single system inter- face.This newtrade is in direct response to growing market needs for home and building automation,and the electrical communityof manufacturers,distribu- tors,contractors,and builders are examiningways to improve their technological skills and knowledge to address this demand.These knowledge and skillset upgrades are especiallynecessarygiven the emerging low-voltage DCpower options available; safe-touch low-voltage DC is fast becoming the power of choice for many system integrations today. These innovations are also bringing about change among thosewho distribute and install electrical products.The ecosystem is expanding to include a new set of players,including thosewho specialize in elec- tronics and data communication.This expansion gives rise to newbusinessmodels and allows themarket to collaboratewith other entities to offer connected solu- tions.The changes and resulting opportunities already evident in the electrical market today,point to a bright future—one that the electrical industry is proud to be at the cusp of. BUILDING A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE Leading jurisdictions across Canada and the United States are introducing net zero policies and programs that focus on reducing carbon emissions.With goals for LEED-certified“smart”buildings,propertyman- agers and business owners are exploring integrated and energy-efficient systems that help reduce energy costs.This focus on energymanagement is especially important when you consider that energyaccounts for the largest percentage of costs within a building.While electrical products are known to consume energy to operate,electrical manufacturers and distributors are banding together to address this energyparadoxby offering full lines of energy-efficient solutions such as Analyze Traffic Patterns Reallocate Space Improve Security Workspace Optimization with Presence Sensors Enable Business Analytics ELECTRO-FEDERATION CANADA