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

Have you ever stopped and thought about why we control systems the way we do?

Folks often ask me, "Phil, what is the number one thing a BAS professional needs to know".

Without any hesitation, my answer is Control Sequences. At the time I'm writing this I've had the honor of helping dozens of managers and owners of BAS companies create effective training programs for their employees. Without question, the number one course that these managers and owners are looking for is a training program that discusses control sequences.

Why is this?

This is because understanding control sequences is core to every other BAS function, bar none. That's why I'm starting a multi-week series where I will be discussing control sequences. This is the first episode of the series and in this episode, you will learn:

► What control sequences are and where they reside ► The three-step process for working through control sequences ► Why focusing on sequence flow is critical to success ► How to understand a sequence no matter how complex it is

Every day millions of buildings are operated. But not via a BAS.

No, these buildings are operated manually via timeclocks, hand/off/autos, and 2x4's.

The reality is we have failed these buildings. We have failed to adequately educate and inspire these buildings operators and owners to invest in a BAS.

That stops today!

In this episode I layout 6 reasons why a BAS is needed. I am arming you with 6 compelling reasons why your customers, managers, or maybe even you yourself need to invest in a BAS.

Specifically, you will learn:

► You can't run a building without a BAS ► You are shortening the life of your equipment without a BAS ► You are paying more to condition your spaces without a BAS ► You can't provide your tenants control without a BAS ► You need more manpower without a BAS ► You will have trouble getting people to come to a building without a BAS

Have you ever wondered what makes a building automation system work? In this episode I lay out the key principles that you need to know in order to have a solid foundation of building automation knowledge.

In this episode I talk with Ryan Hughson of Optigo networks about the major changes that are happening in BAS networking. Ryan and I discuss:

► What OT and IT networks are

► The big changes to BAS networking and how to address them

► Why the differences between IP and Serial Bus field controllers matter

► And much more

In this episode, I recap what BAM is about, how the podcast got started, and I look at some of the most listened to episodes in the first 100 episodes.

How do you go about scoping, designing, installing, and programming controls?

This is the most common question I receive, every day. And rightfully so.

Look, there's tons of amazing vendor training out there that teaches you how to use their tools to "do controls" but at the end of the day folks are still struggling to understand what parts they need, how much time they should budget, and how they begin the process of "doing controls". If this sounds like you then this episode is for you!

In this episode, I'm going to teach you how to analyze 3 common HVAC systems from the perspective of a controls designer. We wll look at:

► The BAS parts and pieces needed for VAV, AHU, and Chillers ► How to determine what labor to allocate and what steps to take during the install process ► The one simple trick that will save you up to 40% on install labor ► Why writing your own programs from scratch is a recipe for disaster and what to do instead ► And much, much, much more!

Can you learn new things from an old building? In episode 98 of the Building Automation Monthly Podcast, Andy Marsh (Build Pulse) and Phil Zito (Building Automation Monthly) discuss how to use analytics in "aged" buildings. If you've ever thought, "Man I'd love to take advantage of analytics and technology to improve my building, but I can't because it's to old" then this episode is for you! In this episode we unpack:

► How using analytics is no longer limited to brand new buildings or cash rich businesses

► The most common efficiency issues in a building and what you can do about them

► Why calculating the ROI on optimizing your BAS isn't as hard as you think

► How to manage the change that comes with adopting new building automation technology

► What the cloud and cyber security have in common (it's not what you think…)

Goals! It's that time of the year again. The time when millions of people around the world are creating goals to change their businesses and their lives.

Here at Building Automation Monthly we also have goals. And in this episode I am going to take you through the exciting things that we have planned for 2018.

I'm also going to do something I've never done before. I'm going to share some very personal information about an issue that I struggle with that is affecting my personal and business life.

Would you like to know the exact steps to take your building automation career to the next level?

In this episode, I lay out 7 tips that you can immediately apply to your building automation career. These are the 7 tips that I have personally used during my career to go from being a service technician to leading the technical integration program for Johnson Controls in less than 7 years.

One of the most important parts of having a successful building automation career is having a career plan.

As the old saying goes, if you don't know where you're going any road will get you there. And often that's how we approach our building automation careers.

This has become an even bigger problem with all of the new technology that is entering the industry. We need to have a plan in order to avoid being overwhelmed and learning things that will not advance our careers.

In this episode I take you through the exact nine-step process I used and continue to use to have a massively successful career in building automation.