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

SBA 513: Strategies for Dealing with Undersized Chilled Water Plants

Undersized chilled water plants aren’t just inconvenient—they’re a daily operational headache for many facilities teams. If you’ve ever battled poor tenant comfort, rising energy bills, or emergency equipment failures, this episode is for you. This week, we’re diving deep into how to recognize and respond to chilled water systems that can’t keep up with building load. Whether you're managing an aging plant, dealing with building expansions, or planning long-term upgrades, this episode lays out a layered strategy roadmap. We explore: What really causes chilled water plants to underperform Immediate control tweaks that make a measurable difference Tactical load management for temporary relief Medium-term retrofit and supplemental cooling solutions Capital planning strategies to future-proof system capacity These aren’t just ideas—they’re battle-tested solutions for real-world HVAC challenges.  

SBA 512: Understanding Air Handler Sequences for OR’s and Clean Rooms

Air handlers in critical spaces are not your everyday systems. When it comes to operating rooms and clean rooms, standard HVAC playbooks don’t cut it. If you're working in these environments—or supporting teams who do—understanding the deeper logic behind sequences of operation is essential. This episode is your go-to resource for elevating your knowledge around critical environment control strategies. Here’s what you’ll explore: How air handlers are adapted for high-stakes applications The role of pressurization and airflow tracking in contamination control Key compliance frameworks every tech and operator should know Alarm strategies that actually support uptime and safety Tactics for troubleshooting issues before they impact operations Don’t leave critical space performance to chance.

SBA 511: Creating an Effective Alarm Design & Management Strategy for Large Facilities

How many alarms in your BAS require action? If your alarm console feels like chaos, you're not alone. This episode explores how a structured alarm strategy improves operations in large facilities. It focuses on reducing noise, building trust in the system, and ensuring alarms drive the right actions. This episode helps you align your alarms with what matters so your team can respond with clarity and confidence. In this episode, we explore: What alarms should be and how to distinguish them from notifications The impact of alarm flooding, nuisance alarms, and poor prioritization How to develop a clear alarm philosophy and define actionable thresholds Tactics to standardize, suppress, and escalate alarms effectively The connection between alarms, energy efficiency, and predictive maintenance The right alarm strategy keeps your team focused, your systems efficient, and your tenants comfortable.

SBA 510: How to Measure the ROI of Building Automation Training

Training is often the first thing cut when budgets tighten. But what if you could show that training delivers measurable ROI? This episode of the Smart Buildings Academy Podcast focuses on how to justify training investments using numbers that matter to leadership. You’ll learn how to turn training into a proven profit driver. We cover: Why training is undervalued and how to change that What to track before and after training to prove ROI A clear framework to quantify training impact Real-world examples from contractors and facility owner How to position training as a profit engine If you need to defend or grow your training budget, start here.

SBA 509: Vendor Lock-in Vs. Internal Capabilty

Are you truly in control of your building systems, or dependent on your vendor? Vendor lock-in increases costs, slows down repairs, and limits flexibility. But there’s a clear way to reduce risk: internal capability. This episode of the Smart Buildings Academy Podcast walks through how to shift control back to your team through targeted training and planning. Key topics include: Common signs and causes of vendor lock-in Financial and operational impacts of relying on one provider How training restores technical and strategic leverage Steps to build and maintain in-house capability When to use vendors and when to manage tasks internally If you want more control and less cost, this episode is for you.