In this episode of the Smart Buildings Academy Podcast I interview Bill Spohn of TruTech Tools. Bill has a tremendous level of experience in the Smart Buildings Space. We discuss: New technologies that can be used for takeoff and measurement. How developments in the residential space can translate to the commercial space How the future of building techniques will translate to the commercial sector. And Much More. Resources https://podcast.smartbuildingsacademy.com/387...
Nov 28, 2022•1 hr 17 min•Ep. 387
In this episode of the Smart Buildings Academy Podcast I will answer any questions you have live. I will also be asking past questions asked by our listeners.
Nov 23, 2022•44 min•Ep. 386
In today's episode of the Smart Buildings Academy Podcast we are going to review the ASHRAE 55 standard. ASHRAE 55 Thermal Conditions for Human Comfort is a fascinating standard. In this standard we will learn: How space type and utilization factor into comfort design How to identify setpoints and conditions based on space load How to comply with the ASHRAE 55 standard And much more
Nov 21, 2022•32 min•Ep. 385
With people begrudgingly returning to the office how can you increase the attractiveness and suitability of the work environment? In this episode of the Smart Buildings Podcast we discuss how to increase the efficiency of space utilization and planning with Akira Jones of HH Angus. In this Podcast we discuss: How is space utilization and efficiency planning different in the modern built environment? How do you know if you need space utilization and efficiency planning? What are the silos, that t...
Nov 18, 2022•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 384
In this episode of the Smart Buildings Academy Podcast, we will be exploring the ASHRAE 62.1 standard. ASHRAE 62.1 is a key standard that is tied to indoor air quality in buildings. But how does ASHRAE 62.1 work? We will be exploring: • How the standard is structured. • How to determine the required indoor air quality (IAQ) • The different methods for achieving the 62.1 standard Resources: https://podcast.smartbuildingsacademy.com/383
Nov 16, 2022•33 min•Ep. 383
In this episode of the Smart Buildings Academy Podcast, we will be exploring the ASHRAE 90.1 standard. ASHRAE 90.1 is a key standard that is tied to multiple upcoming utility regulations and initiatives. But how does ASHRAE 90.1 work? We will be exploring: • How the standard is structured. • The two implementation methods; Performance and Prescriptive. • How modeling works with ASHRAE 90.1. • How 90.1 ties into potential energy conservation measures. Resources: https://podcast.smartbuildingsacad...
Nov 14, 2022•43 min•Ep. 382
How do you actual succeed with analytics? This is a question I get asked often. In this episode of the Smart Buildings Academy Podcast, Devan Tracy of Lockheed Martin discusses how she built a successful analytics platform from the ground up. If you've found yourself thinking, "Analytics seem like a good idea but I'm not sure they'll work for me" or "Where would I even get started on an analytics journey" this podcast is for you! Resources: https://podcast.smartbuildingsacademy.com/381 ©️ 2022 L...
Nov 11, 2022•58 min•Ep. 381
Are you struggling to find technical talent? Are you unable to execute backlog due to labor shortages? If so you're not alone. In this episode of the Smart Buildings Academy Podcast we unpack how to develop talent right now. For as long as I can remember the prevailing belief has been that it takes years to train a building automation technician. In this episode we are going to unpack how we built a 11-week training program that has trained postal workers, hotel lobby clerks, and gas station att...
Nov 09, 2022•36 min•Ep. 380
5 years ago we founded Smart Buildings Academy with the hopes of gaining 1,000 students by 2025. Today we are the largest vendor-agnostic provider of building automation training programs. In the beginning of this journey it was just me and my co-founder, who happens to be my wife. Along the way we've created 30+ training programs with over 2,000 hours of training lessons, 370+ Podcast episodes, thousands of blog articles, and we proved that online delivery is an effective delivery model for BAS...
Nov 07, 2022•37 min•Ep. 379
In this episode of the Smart Buildings Academy Podcast we will be discussing troubleshooting BACnet MS/TP. You will learn: Common BACnet failures The signs of each failure type How to troubleshoot each BACnet failure type
Nov 04, 2022•29 min•Ep. 378
In this episode of the Smart Buildings Academy Podcast we are going to discuss how to properly select inputs and outputs for your BAS projects. You will learn: How to look at a specification and select input/output devices How to decide between multiple different devices How to properly size and select inputs and outputs for your BAS project
Nov 02, 2022•35 min•Ep. 377
In this episode of the Smart Buildings Academy Podcast we discuss server virtualization. You will learn: The different types of servers How servers work How server virtualization works Why you would want to use a virtualized server
Oct 31, 2022•19 min•Ep. 376
Security Certificates can protect your communications, ensure that rogue devices are not on your network, and verify the authenticity of the devices that do connect to your network. But do you know what certificates are, how they work, and how to deploy them? In this episode of the Smart Buildings Academy Podcast we are going to do a deep dive on security certificates.
Oct 28, 2022•31 min•Ep. 375
Your backlog is full. You find yourself taking calls from GC's asking where your technicians are every, single, day! You're expected to execute 10,000 man hours of labor with only 5,000 manhours of techs. Welcome to the world of BAS project management, and the bad news is it's only getting more intense. Material shortages, labor challenges, and inflationary cost pressures make effective project management seem impossible. The good news is there is a way to succeed as a project manager. In this e...
Oct 26, 2022•30 min•Ep. 374
Things tend to fall apart after they are built, buildings are no exception. Yet every day I'm seeing new construction projects completed with NO post occupancy maintenance strategy. Do customers need agreements for planned service? If so what should these agreements include? And most importantly how can you convince your customers to buy a planned service agreement. In this episode of the Smart Buildings Academy Podcast we are going to explore the scoping, selling, and execution of planned servi...
Oct 24, 2022•30 min•Ep. 373
What is one of the biggest costs in a retrofit project.. wiring! I remember back when wireless first hit the market. It was clunky, unreliable, and quite frankly a headache! Not anymore! Wireless systems are robust, fast, and effective. But how do we use them? How do they work? And how do we fix them when something goes wrong? In this episode of the Smart Buildings Academy Podcast we will explore the fundamentals of wireless systems!
Oct 21, 2022•46 min•Ep. 372
Did you know that having a meter in the wrong place is sometimes worse than not having a meter at all? In order to meet the increased demand for net-zero and energy efficiency we first must understand our energy use profile. In order to accomplish this we need to have meters! In this episode of the Smart Buildings Academy Podcast we discuss the different types of meters, where to place meters, how to tie meters into your BAS, and how to interpret metering data.
Oct 19, 2022•32 min•Ep. 371
Did you know that the Inflation Reduction Act changes 179D to allow for a tax deduction of up to $5/sq foot for energy efficiency retrofits? But this is dependent on your energy baseline! In this episode of the Smart Buildings Academy Podcast we are going to look at how to perform a energy audit so that we can establish a baseline and identify potential retrofit solutions.
Oct 17, 2022•34 min•Ep. 370
KNX is a protocol that is seeing increasing adoption across the United States. In this episode of the Smart Buildings Academy Podcast we will research KNX together. Throughout the episode we will explore what the protocol is, how the protocol works, and what the protocol does.
Oct 14, 2022•37 min•Ep. 369
In today's Smart Buildings Academy Podcast Episode we discuss 9 energy management strategies that you can implement right now to reduce your energy consumption and demand.
Oct 12, 2022•46 min•Ep. 368
In this episode of the Smart Buildings Academy Podcast we lay out 7 tips for performing effective site audits for your building automation customers. Building owners need to understand their current building systems to manage the increasingly aggressive energy standards and goals rolling out. This episode will help you tackle this topic with actionable tips that work right now.
Oct 10, 2022•40 min•Ep. 367
As one of the largest providers of training in the building automation industry we see employers investing millions to train their employees each year. Yet our industry has a belief that employers do not want to train their people. This makes no logical sense on the surface. Trained employees stay longer, produce more profit, and deliver better customer satisfaction. Outside of those benefits, we have seen firsthand how many organizations now have strategic initiatives around talent development ...
Oct 05, 2022•30 min•Ep. 366
In this episode of the Smart Buildings Academy Podcast we continue our deep dive on how to design IP controls layouts including ring, bus, and star topologies as well as how to deploy IP controls on both existing and new projects. We will be using the whiteboard and exploring the three IP architecture types and how to design them
Oct 03, 2022•40 min•Ep. 365
How do you design and deploy IP BAS controls for your BAS projects? In this episode of the Smart Buildings Academy Podcast we are going to do a deep dive on how to design IP controls layouts including ring, bus, and star topologies as well as how to deploy IP controls on both existing and new projects. If you've been wondering how to use IP controls on your new and existing buildings this is the episode for you!
Sep 30, 2022•36 min•Ep. 364
Lately we've been seeing a lot of talk about "openness". This topic tends to pop up every couple years. In this episode of the Smart Buildings Academy Podcast we are going to discuss the four types of "openness", how to evaluate the openness of a building automation system, and specific specification language to clarify what open means to your project and organization.
Sep 28, 2022•32 min•Ep. 363
In this episode of the Smart Buildings Academy Podcast we discuss how to transition from HVAC field work to Building Automation Work. Lately we've received a lot of questions on how to transition from HVAC to BAS. In this episode we are going to tackle the financial and the technical side of changing careers. Additionally we are going to discuss why you would want to switch from HVAC to BAS in the first place.
Sep 26, 2022•36 min•Ep. 362
Chicago Public Schools is one of the largest School Districts in the United States. In this episode of the Smart Buildings Academy Podcast, Paul Valente with CPS takes us through how they have used technology and processes to deliver the optimal learning environment for their students. In this episode we discuss integrating legacy assets, the importance of engaging IT in your capital projects, how to effectively deploy and utilize analytics, and much more.
Sep 23, 2022•42 min•Ep. 361
It's that time of the year! All of that wonderful summer construction work is complete, and those warranty calls are coming in. What was a profitable project is now slowly dying, death by 1,000 warranty calls. But what if it didn't have to be like this? What if there was a way to avoid these warranty calls in the first place? In this episode of the Smart Buildings Academy Podcast, we'll discuss 7 ways you can avoid non-billable warranty calls on your projects. If you like having profitable BAS p...
Sep 21, 2022•44 min•Ep. 360
Installation makes up large portion of the labor costs on a building automation project. So naturally if you can improve the efficiency of your installation work you'll see a good return on most BAS projects. But how? What are the areas you should focus on as a BAS installer or as the manager/leader of installers? In this episode of the Smart Buildings Academy Podcast we will be discuss the key tips and tricks that will improve your installation efficiency.
Sep 05, 2022•31 min•Ep. 359
Energy, comfort, sustainability. What do these three words have in common? These three, are just a few of the areas directly affected by building automation. Every day millions upon millions of square footage of buildings is being operated. But, are these buildings being operated efficiently? We've all seen the BAS computer from the 1970's sitting in the closet. That bright green text on the black screen beckoning us to setup a schedule or change a setpoint. Why does it seem that some owners jus...
Sep 02, 2022•32 min•Ep. 358
