The Smart Buildings Academy Podcast | Teaching You Building Automation, Systems Integration, and Information Technology – Details, episodes & analysis

The industry is shifting and BACnet Secure Connect (BACnet SC) is becoming the new standard for protecting BAS networks from cyber threats. This episode walks you through what it is, why it matters, and how to prepare for the transition while keeping operations running smoothly.

We’ll explore:
• How BACnet SC strengthens cybersecurity for BAS networks
• The key differences from BACnet over IP
• Practical considerations before implementation
• Real-world migration strategies and lessons learned
• The future of BACnet SC in smart buildings

Discover how BACnet SC can help secure your BAS network and set the foundation for future-ready building operations.

If you're responsible for training your building automation team and not seeing the results you need, this episode will challenge how you're approaching it. Most internal training programs fail because they miss the mark on what actually drives job performance. This episode will help you refocus on what matters.

We unpack what makes a training program succeed, where most fail, and how to build one that aligns with real work in the field. This is a direct, practical look at solving workforce gaps through focused upskilling.

In this episode, we’ll explore:

• The common breakdowns that weaken internal BAS training
• Core elements that lead to long-term skill retention
• A step-by-step method for designing a results-driven program
• How to measure training impact and know if it's working
• The tools worth using and the ones to avoid

If you want your techs producing real outcomes on the job, this episode will give you the clarity to move forward.

In the latest episode of the Smart Buildings Academy Podcast, you will uncover what lies beneath temporary fixes that may seem harmless but carry significant hidden costs. If you've ever overridden an alarm to stop complaints or zip-tied a damper and walked away, this episode is for you.

This conversation examines the operational, financial, and safety impacts of short-term solutions. It also prompts a critical look at what these practices are truly costing your facility.

In this episode, you will explore:

• What qualifies as a "band-aid fix" and why they are widespread
• The escalating risks created by temporary repairs
• The financial impact of recurring quick fixes
• Cultural patterns that support reactive maintenance
• Practical steps to improve building reliability and performance

Listen to rethink what “just keeping it running” means and discover how to shift toward stable and efficient operations.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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

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