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The Smart Buildings Academy Podcast | Teaching You Building Automation, Systems Integration, and Information Technology

The weekly podcast where Phil Zito discusses topics related to building automation and provides useful tips and action packed examples to help you better understand building automation.
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The Smart Buildings Academy Podcast | Teaching You Building Automation, Systems Integration, and Information Technology
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Now displaying: 2023
Apr 17, 2023

🚀 Recorded live on 4-17 at 12PM PST: SBA 420 - The BAS Selection Bible: Your Go-To Guide for Evaluating and Choosing the Right System! 🏢

Hey, fellow BAS enthusiasts! Ready to make informed decisions about your building automation system? We've got you covered with our latest podcast episode, where we dive into the crucial aspects of selecting the right BAS solution, featuring insights from Phil Zito! 🎧 Join us as we explore:

🔑 Key BAS features, such as energy management, occupant comfort, integration, user-friendliness, and security

🤔 Comparing systems and vendors: research, criteria, reputation, costs, and ROI

📈 Scalability and compatibility: planning for growth, assessing infrastructure, and future-proofing your BAS 

🤝 Stakeholder involvement: effective strategies for collaboration and communication

Don't miss this chance to level up your BAS game and ensure your facility's long-term success! Tune in and apply the insights from this podcast to your own facility management journey. Let's build a smarter, more efficient future together! 🌟

Apr 14, 2023

In this episode, we'll guide you through the BAS Blueprint, providing you with the essential steps to evaluate systems, set goals, and budget for your facility. 🛠️

We'll walk you through conducting a thorough needs assessment 📋, engaging key stakeholders 🤝, setting SMART goals 🎯, and evaluating your existing infrastructure 🔍.

Plus, we'll discuss budget considerations, project timelines, and how to coordinate with vendors and contractors for a seamless BAS implementation. 🔄

Don't miss this in-depth, 30-minute journey into the world of BAS! Tune in now and kick-start your facility's transformation! 🎧

Apr 12, 2023

Hey there! Welcome to Episode 418 of the Smart Buildings Academy Podcast with Phil Zito. In this episode, we dive deeper into building automation systems (BAS) for facility management. We cover topics like the purpose and objectives of implementing a BAS, its components, protocols, benefits, and some real-world examples.

If you're new here, we have 417+ episodes for you to explore at smartbuildingsacademy.com. So, grab a drink, sit back, and let's talk building automation!

We kick off by defining a building automation system, which is an overlay of a control system, providing visualization and control of those control systems through a multi-layered architecture. We dive into the four-tier architecture, which includes the server layer, supervisory devices, field controller layer, and sensor actuator level. This architecture is common across all building systems like lighting, access control, and audio-visual, making it super important to understand.

Next, we chat about BACnet, the most common protocol for building automation systems. It helps different controllers from various manufacturers communicate with one another by creating a common data model and communication aspects for both serial and IP networks.

So there you have it! A quick summary of episode 418, where we explore the fascinating world of building automation systems. Don't forget to check out smartbuildingsacademy.com for more episodes, and feel free to send in your questions or comments. We love interacting with you all!

Apr 5, 2023

Are you a facility manager looking to enhance your building's performance and efficiency? Tune in to our latest episode where we cover the essential steps to successfully implementing a Building Automation System (BAS).

We'll walk you through:

1️⃣ Understanding BAS and its components

2️⃣ Assessing your facility's needs and goals

3️⃣ Selecting the right BAS solution

4️⃣ Developing a comprehensive implementation plan

5️⃣ Installation, commissioning, and testing

6️⃣ Staff training and ongoing support

7️⃣ Monitoring and optimization for continuous improvement

Don't miss this valuable guide to modernizing your facility and maximizing its potential!

Apr 3, 2023

In this episode we continue our multipart series on BAS Project Estimates.

We will cover:

  • How to create a bill of materials
  • How to identify item requirements for your BoM
  • And our live Q&A Session!
Mar 31, 2023

Your building automation systems been compromised. What do you do now?

Whether it's by ransomware, exploits, or other attacks there is still hope.

In this episode of the Smart Buildings Academy Podcast we are going to look at the response to cybersecurity attacks and intrusions.

We will look at actions you can take right now to ensure you have the ability to recover from an attack, how to preserve the environment for forensic analysis, and how to clean your systems post attack. We look forward to seeing you at this live session.

Mar 17, 2023

In this episode of the Smart Buildings Academy Podcast we talk with Abby Massey of Calvetti Ferguson. Abby has a deep understanding of the 179D tax code changes and how they impact the building automation market. 

In this episode you will learn:

  • What 179D is
  • The changes to 179D as part of the IRA
  • How you can use 179D to create more retrofit opportunities
  • The requirements of a 179D tax deduction
Mar 15, 2023

Everyone's talking about Smart Buildings. But how do you actually "do" a smart building?

In today's episode of the Smart Buildings Academy Podcast, we interview Sabine Lam of Google. Sabine has deep experience with developing and deploying an integrated system architecture across a broad portfolio of buildings.

Sabine and I explore how Google approached the problem of data sanitization, creating an integrated cross business architecture, and lessons learned deploying smart buildings architectures across a variety of building types and geographies.

 

Mar 8, 2023

How do you estimate a building automation project?

In this episode we continue our multipart series on BAS Project Estimates.

We will cover:

  • How to perform a takeoff
  • How to build a scope document
  • How to identify scope items
  • And our live Q&A Session!
Mar 6, 2023

In this episode of the Smart Buildings Academy Podcast, we continue our multipart series on cyber security.

In today's episode we are going to dive deeper into exploit phase, which is the second phase of a cyber security attack.

Here we will be looking deeper into techniques and tools that are used to exploit potential targets.

We will explore how to protect your building automation system and your BAS employees from this phase of an attack.

As always please ask any questions you have.

Mar 3, 2023

In this episode of the Smart Buildings Academy Podcast we are going to answer the listener questions we have gathered over the past several months. We will also be taking live questions from any of our listener/viewers as well.

Mar 1, 2023

Estimating building automation work can be very difficult.

You have so many moving parts and pieces that can affect your project cost.

In this Smart Buildings Academy Podcast series, we are going to dive deep into the topic of estimating.

This multipart series will discuss:

  • Estimating Techniques
  • Takeoffs
  • Bill of Material Generation
  • Cost category identification

If you're looking to learn how to estimate I encourage you to watch/listen to this new series.

Feb 22, 2023

In this episode of the Smart Buildings Academy, we are going to discuss how to identify energy and sustainability centered buyers.

It should be no surprise that building owners are focused on sustainability and energy.

Between regulations, incentives, and utility costs organizations are increasingly establishing energy and carbon guidelines for their facilities.

This presents a great opportunity for solution minded organizations to pursue these opportunities. In this episode we will discuss a framework to identify these customers and opportunities.

This will involve a live screenshare where we target specific customers and research these opportunities.

Feb 20, 2023

In this episode of the Smart Buildings Academy Podcast we continue our multipart series on cyber security. 

In today's episode we are going to dive deeper into reconnaissance, which is the first phase of a cyber security attack.

Here we will be looking deeper into techniques and tools that are used to actively and passively gather information on potential targets. 

We will explore how to protect your building automation system and your BAS employees from this initial phase of attack. 

As always please ask any questions you have. 

Feb 17, 2023

Cyber Security is not that hard.

Over the next several episodes we are going to be exploring cyber security concepts and tying them to building automation.

My hope is that by the end of this series you will have an understanding of cyber security theory and processes.

This is meant to be an interactive episode so be sure to tune in and ask questions as we explore this topic.

Feb 8, 2023

In this episode of the Smart Buildings Academy Podcast, we interview Saheel Chandrani with ABB.

I'm really excited for two reasons.

One, ABB is discussing my favorite topic, workforce! You can have the best technology but without a clear plan to develop and support the workforce nothing else you do matters.

The other reason I'm excited is because you, our audience, and I get to be on the front row seat of a new building automation solution release.

I think you will find Saheel to be very down to earth and transparent.

Feb 6, 2023

Nick Sanchez is the next generation of BAS technicians. 

The traditional strategy of hiring someone else's employees has failed. This strategy simply cannot produce the amount of talented employees you need to run your building automation business.

But where do you find folks like Nick? 

And how do you train folks like Nick?

In this episode of the Smart Buildings Academy Podcast I chat with Nick about how he got into the BAS industry, his experience with BAS training, and how he went from knowing nothing about this industry to a BAS tech in less than 3 months.

Jan 30, 2023

So you have a customer who might be interested in a retrofit, what next? 

One of the most common ways to start the retrofit sales process is to perform a site audit. To be clear, this is not a ASHRAE energy audit or a IPMVP pre-audit.

This audit exists to ensure you have an accurate understanding of what needs to be done in order to perform a site retrofit.

In this episode of the Smart Buildings Academy Podcast we discuss:

  • What a retrofit site audit is
  • How to perform a retrofit site audit
  • The exact steps you need to do on every site audit

Resources: Podcast Link

Jan 27, 2023

We are entering a retrofit market.

Those of you who have built your entire business around capital projects and construction work need to prepare.

There is a lot of opportunity in the market that will potentially be missed by people who are not prepared for it.

In this episode of the Smart Buildings Academy Podcast we discuss:

  • What a retrofit market is
  • Why I believe we will see a major retrofit market
  • How you can be prepared to address this market and win more work
Jan 25, 2023

In this episode of the Smart Buildings Podcast we are going to explore Measurement and Verification together.

We are going to look at:

  • Different types of energy audits and how to do them
  • The different measurement and verification methods and how to do them
  • General strategies for incorporating M&V and Audits into existing and new construction.
Jan 23, 2023

In this episode we will be discussing Smart Buildings Academy's plans for 2023 and beyond.

As you all well know we are big into transparency and collaboration.

One of the best ways to develop ideas and products rapidly is to place the concepts out into the market and test them.

Today we will be discussing the ideas we are exploring as a business both ideas that are 100% going to happen and things we are currently exploring.

Jan 19, 2023

In this episode, we're going to be talking with my good friend Donny Walker, of Newcomb and Boyd.

Donny, and I met back when I still worked at Johnson Controls was part of their analytics and system integration group. And even then I knew that Donny was a unique individual.

You see, I'd met a lot of consultants, I've met a lot of commissioning agents, I've met a lot of engineering firms. And I was like, this is interesting. I'm talking to a guy who gets it. He's not just about the spec. He's not just about only what the owner wants, he is about the system that delivers results.

In this episode we will dive deep into how to build out monitoring based commissioning programs that deliver results.

Jan 18, 2023

In this episode we discuss the talent management lifecycle with Lewis Martin of Charlton Morris. 

Lewis lays out a step-by-step planning for discovering, hiring, developing, and retaining talent within the smart buildings industry.

Resources:

https://podcast.smartbuildingsacademy.com/397

Jan 11, 2023

In this episode of the Smart Buildings Academy Podcast, we speak with Glen Spry on the topic of wireless energy management. 

Glen is going to take us on a journey looking at how energy management can be achieved with a wireless system. Beyond that Glen will help us to understand the impact of energy management on the grid and how to utilize energy data to better manage our facilities.

Jan 9, 2023

In this episode of the Smart Buildings Academy Podcast, we speak with Drew DePriest. 

Drew has an extensive background in the building automation space and has the unique experience of being a BAS technician, proptech professional, working as an OT professional for the CRE space, and working for a managed service provider as an owner's rep.

My hope is that you will get multiple looks at several career pathways during this podcast and you will leave with a better understanding of the possibilities within the smart buildings space.

 

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