Daily decisions can make or break facility performance.

In this episode of the Smart Buildings Academy Podcast, we take a deep dive into the BAS operator's role and how structured daily tasks create long-term gains in energy efficiency, equipment life, and tenant satisfaction.

This isn't about chasing alarms or reacting to complaints. It's about creating a system of proactive habits that give you control over comfort, cost, and system longevity.

Topics Covered

• Establishing consistent workflows to support BAS operations
• Prioritizing critical systems through alarm management
• Unlocking performance insights from schedule and trend log reviews
• Aligning BAS tasks with broader facility goals
• Leveraging BAS tools to streamline operator efficiency

This episode is for those ready to stop firefighting and start optimizing.

Commissioning can make or break the success of your BAS projects. But it's more than just a checklist.

This episode challenges how you approach commissioning, offering practical insight and proven tactics to ensure reliable startups every time.

If you're dealing with rushed schedules, inconsistent installs, or unclear field communication, this episode is for you.

Topics Covered

• The true role of commissioning in building automation
• A repeatable BAS startup workflow
• Field pitfalls that cost time and money
• Troubleshooting tactics that work in the real world
• Strategies that build long-term reliability

Get the guidance you need to simplify your startups and boost system performance.

Spec Smarts: What Every BAS Salesperson Should Know

If you're in BAS sales, your relationship with specifications and submittals can make or break your projects. Too often, opportunities are missed, or risks overlooked, simply because specs weren't fully understood or questioned.

This episode helps you build that essential spec literacy. You'll learn how to approach project specs and submittals with clarity and confidence, so you can better support your customers, reduce risks, and win more work.

Topics Covered

• How to decode and leverage Division 23, 25, and 26 specifications
• Navigating ambiguities and gray areas in project specs
• Building credible and accurate submittals
• Coordinating scope and responsibilities across trades
• Using specification knowledge as a competitive sales edge

Don't quote blindly. Know the spec, win the project, and protect your margin.

When comfort complaints roll in, it's easy to assume mechanical failure. But the real culprit? Controls. In this episode, we walk through how to identify and fix the most common HVAC control failures, fast.

If you're tasked with maintaining comfort and efficiency, you need a system to diagnose issues quickly and confidently. This episode gives you exactly that: a repeatable 30-minute troubleshooting process and real-world scenarios to sharpen your approach.

Topics Covered

• A proven 30-minute HVAC troubleshooting framework
• How to spot sensor, actuator, and VAV box failures
• Diagnosing sequence and logic issues without being a programmer
• Common BAS network pitfalls and how to catch them
• Real-world examples of HVAC control problems in action

Master the art of pinpointing control failures and reduce troubleshooting time without cutting corners.

Facility operations teams face growing pressure to improve performance and reduce costs. But too often, the building automation system is underutilized.

In this episode, you'll explore how to turn your BAS into a strategic tool, not just for monitoring, but for elevating your entire operations program.

Whether you're mid-fiscal year and trying to course-correct or you're looking to build stronger maintenance workflows, this episode breaks down real, actionable habits that can shift the trajectory of your facility's performance.

Topics Covered

• Building a living inventory of your HVAC and control systems
• How to approach preventive maintenance with real impact
• Using work order systems for accountability and insight
• Setting up alarms, trends, and reports that matter
• Why cross-training across trades boosts operational agility

These aren't silver bullets. They are foundational habits that drive sustainable success. Ready to rethink how you use your BAS?

Lining Out Electrical Subcontractors: Why It's Critical for BAS Success

Ever had a BAS project go sideways due to wiring issues, unclear expectations, or finger-pointing between trades?

Episode 520 of the Smart Buildings Academy Podcast is your guide to avoiding those problems. If you're responsible for delivering successful BAS installs, you'll want to understand the real cost of skipping the subcontractor line-out process.

From scheduling and leading effective meetings to practical tools that help avoid miscommunication, this episode provides clarity on a process that often gets overlooked until it's too late.

Topics Covered

• When and how to line out electrical subs for maximum project impact
• Key standards to communicate for wiring, labeling, and termination
• Documentation practices that can prevent disputes and rework
• Common pitfalls that derail BAS installs and how to sidestep them
• Real-world mistakes that cost thousands and the simple fixes

This isn't about theory. It's about protecting your time, your budget, and your reputation.

Performing a point-to-point checkout may seem routine, but it's the difference between a reliable BAS and one that fails under pressure.

In this week's episode of the Smart Buildings Academy Podcast, we dive into the real purpose behind point-to-point checkouts and why rushing through them can derail your entire project.

If you're in the field or leading a team, you'll want to ensure these checkouts are done right, because your commissioning team is counting on you.

Topics Covered

• Preparing the right tools and documentation before you ever touch a point
• Following a repeatable process for accuracy and consistency
• Preventing the most common errors field techs encounter
• Habits that lead to cleaner logs and better team coordination
• Pro tips for leveraging mobile tech and real-time communication

Start tightening up your checkout game.

Struggling to retain your building automation talent?

In this episode of the Smart Buildings Academy Podcast, we dive into how building automation companies can create effective career plans to improve retention, grow employee capabilities, and strengthen operational performance.

Your people are your most valuable asset, but how often do you give them a clear, structured path forward? Most companies don't and the best talent leaves.

This episode explores how you can change that.

Topics Covered

• Building a career architecture that aligns with technical roles

• Creating a measurable competency matrix for skill development

• Structuring 12-24 month individual development plans

• Linking training, mentoring, and shadowing to business KPIs

• Aligning pay bands and promotions with skills, not politics

Tune in to learn how to build a workforce strategy that supports your employees and your bottom line.

Rejected submittals delay projects, damage credibility, and create extra work for every stakeholder involved.

This episode of the Smart Buildings Academy Podcast outlines how to build submittals that meet expectations from the start. Learn how to improve your documentation, streamline reviews, and strengthen relationships with engineers and owners.

Topics Covered

• The role of submittals in BAS and HVAC projects
• Cost and impact of rejected submittals
• Common causes of rejection and how to avoid them
• Steps to create clear and compliant submittals
• Tools and communication strategies that support approvals

Strengthen your process and submit with confidence.

PM programs aren't just about checking boxes—they're the backbone of operational efficiency, cost control, and asset longevity.

In this latest episode, we explore the essential steps to building a preventative maintenance schedule that works. Whether you're starting from scratch or refining what you already have, this is your roadmap to reducing downtime and maximizing system performance.

Topics Covered

• How to evaluate your facility's critical systems and equipment
• Building a task list aligned with OEM guidance and real-world conditions
• Choosing the right task frequency and balancing your annual workload
• Documentation, accountability, and leveraging digital tools like CMMS
• Common pitfalls to avoid that can derail even the best-laid plans

Start building your PM strategy today—it's never too early to drive long-term results.