Electrical Contractor

A new report published in September 2026 by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), Washington, D.C., revealed that single-family home construction is largely on the decline nationwide, while multifamily homes are on the rise. To measure what classifications of homes are on the rise or decline, NAHB used its Home Building Geography Index (HBGI). The HBGI classifies U.S. counties into seven major classifications based on their population size and density.

According to the newest U.S. Solar Market Insight report released in September 2026 by the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) and Wood Mackenzie, the United States has enough operating solar capacity to power more than 50 million homes, or just over one-third of all American homes. According to the report, America’s solar industry added 11.4 gigawatts (GW) DC of new electricity generating capacity in Q2 2026, a 45% year-over-year increase and a 43% increase from Q1.

This year’s NECA Innovation Zone, just outside the show entrance, featured the new Creator Circuit, which included podcast booths (including the Innovation Overload Podcast), a ring light recording booth and the NECA Ted Talk Stage.

The NECA 2026 Project Excellence Award winners were recognized on stage at NECA 2026 Las Vegas on Oct. 6. The winning projects were completed in 2025 and were judged on the following criteria: originality in construction techniques and scope of work, quality of workmanship, difficulty of installation, application of technology to aid construction and use of preconstruction or prefabrication. The full photo gallery of the 2026 Project Excellence Awards winners can be viewed here.

The 25 winners of the 2026 NECA Showstopper Awards were announced on Monday, Oct. 5 at NECA 2026 Las Vegas. The annual Showstopper Showcase highlights the newest products on the market and included nearly 200 entries this year. A panel of expert judges determined the top 25 entries, which ranged from new products to innovative takes on existing ones. The 25 winners are listed in alphabetical order below and will be featured in the January 2027 issue of ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR.

On Oct. 4, ELECTRI International held the Electrical Contracting Innovation Challenge (ECIC) during NECA 2026 Las Vegas. At the Opening General Session on Oct. 5, winners were announced. The University of Wisconsin-Madison won, Iowa State took second place and Wayne State University came in third. University of Wisconsin-Madison’s prize was $4,000, Iowa State’s $3,000 and Wayne State University’s $2,000. Ava Wendelburg with University of Wisconsin-Madison won best presenter.

On Monday, Oct. 5, 2026, the NECA Show welcomed approximately 450 apprentices from the Las Vegas region and more for Apprentice Appreciation Day. The event included presentations from several speakers. Mike Holt, founder of Mike Holt Enterprises and a regular contributor to ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR Magazine, talked to the apprentices about his life story and some of the adventures he’s been on (including being a barefoot water ski champion).

By Angy Steiner, Sales Director at Resideo A new generation of residential smoke, combo, and carbon monoxide (CO) alarms are entering the market—developed for today’s residential construction, retrofit and property management needs. The BRK® family of next generation Smoke, Combo and CO Alarms represent a comprehensive, ground-up redesign, delivering innovation that aligns life-safety devices with the realities of modern residential construction.

One of the primary indicators of the U.S. economy, construction employment, goes through regular up and down cycles as it reacts to interest rates, spending patterns and other changes in the marketplace. Recent numbers showed that the indicator has been on an upward trend. According to an analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) information by the online market research firm ConstructConnect, total U.S. construction employment increased by 22,000 in August.

For years, electrical procurement followed a standard sequence. The project was designed, drawings were issued, the electrical contractor was awarded the job and equipment was released. Data center construction is challenging that sequence. With larger electrical loads, tighter schedules and a significant amount of electrical infrastructure, waiting until construction begins to consider procurement can create problems before electricians ever arrive on-site.