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 and retention.
Which begs the question do employers really avoid training their employees? Or do employees not know how to ask for training?
In this episode of the Smart Buildings Academy Podcast we are going to layout an ROI based approach to training requests. You will learn how to analyze your role and the impact prospective training will have on your role. You will then learn how to communicate the results of that training in such a way as to align with your employers strategic objectives.
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
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!
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.
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.
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.
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 projects, then you'll want to tune in to this episode!
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.
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 just don't use the system they spent thousands and maybe even millions of dollars on?
In this episode of the Smart Buildings Academy Podcast we are going to unpack this topic and explore how to effectively engage owners in utilizing their building automation system.
Are you looking to grow your building automation business?
If so you're in the right place. In this episode of the Smart Buildings Academy Podcast we will be discussing how to scale the revenue of your business.
There's an old saying that the systems that got you where you are won't get you where you're going. I've seen this play out time and time again.
We are going to explore the foundational structures and systems needed to scale your building automation business.
In this episode of the Smart Buildings Academy Podcast I discuss the upcoming Facilities and Campus Energy Summit with Monica Mckenzie.
We tackle the importance of policy, regulations, and training to achieve energy management and sustainability goals.
We also dive into the purpose of the summit and why I believe it is a valuable summit to attend.
Mechanical plans and specifications dictate a lot of what we do as building automation professionals but have you ever stopped to think about your approach to reading them?
In my experience a project's plan's and spec's can be your greatest ally or your greatest enemy.
In this episode of the Smart Buildings Academy Podcast we will be discussing how to read through plans and specs, what information you should look for, how to handle conflicting information, and much more.
I hope to see you there.
BACnet is the most common protocol in the building automation space.
Yet every day I read questions on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Reddit asking how the protocol works.
You'd think after several decades our industry would understand this protocol.
In this episode of the Smart Buildings Academy Podcast, we are going to do a deep dive into BACnet. We are going to explore the protocol, its objects, the different communication methods, and much more.
Every week I get asked how to get a job in building automation or how to advance in building automation.
In this episode of the Smart Buildings Academy Podcast we are going to map out several career paths and build systems that will move you into your desired role in the shortest amount of time possible.
Finding the right employee is hard. Keeping the right employee is even harder.
Building automation, especially on the technical side has a reputation for being a revolving door of talent.
What do you do when your competitors try to steal your employees for 50 cents more an hour?
How do you avoid the endless loop of hiring and replacing employees?
In this episode of the Smart Buildings Academy Podcast, we will discuss how to identify, build, and maintain an engaging culture in your teams and your business.
Fuel and materials have increased and now you find yourself executing a project with a high material cost than the original forecast.
Unfortunately this is an issue that many are facing in our industry right now.
In this episode of the Smart Buildings Academy Podcast we are going to discuss how to use processes to overcome inflation. Together we will build a example process for your building automation work.
If you asked me what one single thing led us to growing the fastest growing BAS training business in less than 5 years I would tell you standards and processes.
In this episode of the Smart Buildings Academy Podcast we are going to discuss how to establish standards within your business that your team can implement.
These standards will lead to greater efficiency, productivity, profitability, and less stress.
The recession is here. What are you going to do about it?
As the value of the dollar decreases and disposable income starts to shrink you may feel that it is time to batten down the hatches in order to save enough cash to ride out the economy.
However, with the cost of energy rising and governmental policies that will further impact energy prices I believe this is the perfect time to grow your controls business.
In this episode we will discuss strategies to optimize and grow your controls business over the next 12-24 months.
In this episode of the Smart Buildings Academy Podcast, I interview Julian Palacios, our Director of Sales, on how he works with our customers to grow their existing sales teams.
We will highlight the use of data in sales management, pivoting strategies to increase market share/capture, the top sales gaps and how to close them, and how to analyze, adjust, and optimize your sales process.
This is the exact information companies pay us thousands of dollars for. You won't want to miss this event.
In this episode of the Smart Buildings Academy Podcast we will be discussing the BAS Project Management Framework. This will be a master class on how to manage BAS Projects. If you want to get better at managing BAS projects then you need to attend this episode.
Have you ever entered a room full of people that disliked your business and left with a sale?
When I worked for Keith Reller this was a regular occurrence.
Keith possesses a supernatural ability to connect with and motivate customers to buy.
In this episode of the Smart Buildings Academy Podcast I interview Keith Reller about how to sell and how to lead sales teams.
You will not want to miss out on this podcast episode.
Energy costs are skyrocketing.
The potential for rolling blackouts is increasing.
More now than ever companies need to find ways to reduce utility consumption while maintaining tenant comfort.
Join me on this episode of the Smart Buildings Academy Podcast where we both learn how to implement Guideline 36 in the built environment.
Programming is the easiest skill to learn in building automation.
Seriously, all you need to know in order to program is how to select the correct programming design pattern for specific HVAC functions.
In this episode of the Smart Buildings Academy Podcast we will be diving into how to select and develop design patterns.
Have you ever showed up to retrofit a VAV box and left installing a new central utility plant? Scope creep is the insidious destroying of project revenue and business profitability.
In this episode we will discuss how to protect yourself from project scope creep.
Set aside what you think you know about demand control ventilation. In this episode of the Smart Buildings Academy Podcast we're going to dive deep into the topic of demand control ventilation.