This episode is for building automation professionals ready to improve performance without waiting for a capital project. It focuses on direct, practical actions you can take to increase efficiency, reduce energy waste, and streamline operations using your current BAS tools.

You'll walk away with a checklist of tasks that can be implemented immediately, helping you reduce noise in your system, sharpen team performance, and identify problems before they escalate.

Key areas covered in this episode:

• Auditing your system to spot performance gaps
• Fine-tuning schedules and setpoints to reflect real usage
• Cleaning up point databases for better system response
• Using trends and alarms to find hidden inefficiencies
• Strengthening internal skills and vendor relationships

Every building can run better. Start with these changes today.

Facility managers are expected to do more than ever. Your role now includes managing complex systems, reducing risk, and making decisions that impact the entire organization. This episode outlines what you need to understand to stay effective and relevant.

Building automation systems are evolving. They are no longer just tools for comfort control. They are critical assets for energy management, compliance, cybersecurity, and long-term planning. If your approach hasn't changed, it's time to catch up.

Key topics in this episode:

• How building automation systems have become strategic assets
•   Common vulnerabilities that expose BAS to cybersecurity threats
• The growing use of cloud-based systems and what to evaluate before adoption
• Risks of vendor lock-in and how to maintain system flexibility
• Using analytics to support planning, upgrades, and performance tracking

This episode is for professionals who want to lead building performance, not just maintain it.

If you're tired of constant alarms, short-term fixes, and feeling like you're always behind, this episode is for you.

This conversation focuses on helping building automation professionals step out of reactive mode and into a forward-thinking strategy that positions your facilities team as a critical part of business success. You’ll hear how teams can stop being viewed as a cost burden and start being seen as a strategic asset.

This episode challenges how you approach maintenance, documentation, and performance. It offers a roadmap to help your team work smarter, reduce waste, and align with organizational outcomes.

In this episode, we’ll explore:

• Why reactive maintenance drains time, money, and morale
• What separates strategic teams from reactive ones
• How data, analytics, and planning transform operations
• The impact of leadership on team performance
• What it takes to build a future-ready facilities team

Listen now to learn what’s holding your team back and how to take the next step.

Estimating in building automation is not just about pricing. It's about influencing how a project performs, how it's delivered, and whether it turns a profit. If you're involved in estimating, bidding, or scoping BAS work, this episode is built for you.

Michael Roper expands on the fundamentals from a previous episode and takes a deeper look at how to approach estimating with accuracy and control. The focus is on precision, awareness, and building estimates that hold up in the field.

In this episode, you'll explore:

• How strategic thinking affects estimating outcomes
• Where complexity hides in pricing and scope
• Why certain risks get missed during takeoff
• What separates accurate estimates from guesswork
• Which tools and internal knowledge help improve margin control

If you’ve ever dealt with missed labor, vague specs, or post-award surprises, this episode helps you tighten up the process and build confidence in your numbers

Facility owners are not waiting anymore. Across healthcare, higher education, government, and critical infrastructure, a growing number are building internal teams to self-perform automation work. This shift is not driven by cost, but by frustration, urgency, and the need for consistent, reliable service.

In this episode, you'll hear exactly why this trend is accelerating and what it means for your business. Owners are not trying to compete with contractors, but they no longer trust the current model to support their operations. If you're in the contracting or OEM space, this episode is a must-listen.

Topics covered include:

·       The sharp rise in owner-led training and self-performance initiatives

·       How inconsistent technician assignments are damaging service relationships

·       Why vague service agreements are no longer acceptable to facility managers

·       The operational risks driving owners to bypass traditional contractors

·       A practical framework to rebuild trust and maintain long-term service relationships

If you're ready to understand what owners really need and how to stay ahead of this shift, this episode will point you in the right direction.

This episode of the Smart Buildings Academy Podcast examines the transformation of a side project into one of the most recognized training providers in the building automation industry. It focuses on the strategic shifts, leadership lessons, and systemized processes that shaped Smart Buildings Academy from its inception to its current impact.

The story shared in this episode mirrors challenges many building automation professionals face when growing their careers or businesses. It presents a clear view into what it takes to scale, adapt, and lead with purpose.

Key topics covered include:

• Transitioning from individual training sales to enterprise solutions
• Building internal teams, systems, and culture without external investors
•  Creating scalable assessment tools that pinpoint skill gaps
• Adapting to market shifts and identifying long-term growth paths
• Exploring the next evolution in smart building workforce education

Discover what it takes to lead, adapt, and build lasting impact in the smart buildings industry.

If you're leading teams, overseeing projects, or managing budgets in building automation, this episode is for you. Training isn't just a line item. It affects how fast your jobs get done, how often your clients call back, and how long your employees stick around. This conversation challenges how you think about the cost of training by showing what happens when you measure its value the right way.

Instead of guessing, you'll learn how to track real numbers, get better results, and build a stronger team. You’ll hear case studies, practical metrics, and a clear process for capturing what training actually delivers.

Key topics include:

·       The full cost of training, including what most companies miss

·       How to measure performance gains before and after training

·       Real-world examples showing the business impact of trained teams

·       Metrics that reveal where your time and money go

·       A step-by-step guide to creating your own training ROI tracker

Start making your training dollars work harder. Listen in now.

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.

Explore the full BAS project lifecycle in this episode, from sales and design to installation and service.

This episode is for building automation professionals who want a sharper understanding of how BAS projects develop from concept to ongoing service. Whether you focus on sales, design, installation, or support, this discussion outlines what makes a project succeed at every stage.

You will walk through each phase of a BAS project and learn where common pitfalls emerge. The episode offers insight into aligning teams, improving documentation, and supporting system performance after handoff.

Key topics include:

·       Finding risks during scope and specification reviews

·       Creating clear and accurate design documentation

·       Managing installation and subcontractor coordination

·       Improving programming and graphics for user clarity

·       Building long-term service and lifecycle maintenance plans

Listen to examine your current project practices and identify where improvements can be made.

Is your HVAC knowledge aligned with today’s smart building demands?

This episode explores variable refrigerant flow (VRF) systems and their growing role in building automation. As building complexity increases and energy efficiency becomes a priority, VRF systems offer a different approach that requires new skills and understanding from BAS professionals.

If you work in building automation, this conversation will help you see where the industry is heading and what it means for your work.

Topics covered:

• Why VRF systems are gaining widespread adoption

• How VRF components interact to enable precise zone control

• Challenges with integration and proprietary communication protocols

• When VRF is the right choice, and when it’s not

• How AI and remote monitoring are shaping the future of HVAC

Don’t miss this opportunity to sharpen your edge in a changing BAS landscape.