SBC staff, Author at Smart Buildings Center

Last Call for Call for Speakers! SBX 2026 Call for Speakers Deadline is Friday 7/17

July 15, 2026 By SBC staff

Interested in speaking or have speaker suggestions? We want to hear from you!

Ready to share your expertise or know great speakers who should be considered? Complete our speaker suggestion form to tell us about yourself or the suggested speaker(s), areas of expertise, and which topics would be a good fit. Submissions will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and our programming team will be in touch with those whose experience aligns with our conference themes.

Submit Speaker Suggestion Form by July 17th!

Original post continues below, check it out for more SBX 2026 News!

We’re excited to announce our SBX Day 2 Lunch Keynote “Smart Buildings in a Chaotic World.”

Joseph Aamidor, an experienced product leader and expert in smart buildings, real estate decarbonization, and facility operations, will deliver a keynote on the forces reshaping the built environment centered on questions like ‘what’s next for smart buildings?’ and ‘where is this industry headed and what will it take to lead it?’ Joseph provides product and market strategy guidance to building owners/operators, established building management firms, technology providers, investors, and early-stage innovators. Previously, he served as Director of Product at Lucid Design Group and was a product manager at Johnson Controls. Stay tuned for more exciting speaker announcements soon!

The early-bird registration deadline is August 15^th. Register now to join us at the event on November 9^th & 10^th and save!

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SBX 2026 is where the Pacific Northwest’s smart buildings community comes together to do the hard work of figuring out what’s next. Whether you join us as an attendee, a speaker, or a sponsor, we hope to see you there.

Questions? Reach us at [email protected]

More information: www.sbxconference.org

WA Commerce: District energy campus upgrades committee update

July 13, 2026 By SBC staff

During the 2026 Legislative Session, the supplemental capital budget (SSB 6003) was passed, with Section 1024 directing the Washington State Department of Commerce to convene a District Energy Campus Upgrades Committee.

The committee helps drive data-informed decisions about cost-effective investments that reduce emissions, improve the energy efficiency of state buildings, and identify opportunities for state agencies to support decarbonization projects within available budgets.

On July 6, an RFP was launched to hire a contractor to lead the Committee, produce a report with a prioritized list of recommended capital projects for state campuses, and develop an analysis of barriers to state agencies using energy-as-a-service and participating in public-private partnerships. If you have Washington Electronic Business Solution (WEBS) account, you can log into WEBS to access the RFP. You can also find information on the Clean Buildings website.

Commerce is hosting a pre-proposal conference on Monday July 13 at 1 p.m., where you can learn more and ask questions about the RPF.

Join the July 13 pre-proposal conference

Please note, under the legislative proviso, only nonprofit entities are eligible to apply.

Commerce also launched an application to serve on the committee on July 6. Eight voting members will serve on the Committee from September 2026-June 2027, and Committee members will play a key role in reviewing decarbonization plans and developing a system to prioritize proposed decarbonization projects. To review the full committee members’ responsibilities, review the Section 1024 of SSB 6003 and the committee application.

Commerce will provide regular updates in the Clean Buildings Bulletin. A new section dedicated to the District Energy Campus Upgrades Committee will be launched on Commerce’s Clean Buildings webpage soon. If you have any questions, please reach out to [email protected].

Smart Buildings Center Q2 Quarterly Recap

July 10, 2026 By SBC staff

SBX ‘26

SBX Registration is OPEN – Smart Buildings Exchange Nov 9-10 2026 register today and use this link to direct your colleagues to the registration site. Early Bird registration is open through 8/15, don’t miss the discounted rate!

SBX+, our webinar series leading up to the 2 day in-person event, will be happening virtually from February to October. You can get access to both the webinar series and the in-person event for a bundled rate. Recordings are available.

Next up: Sept. 16 – Retrocommissioning as a Tool for Compliance with Building Performance Standards

Building Operator Certification – Fall Courses

Registration is now open for our Fall BOC courses. Building Operator Certification® (BOC) is the leading training and credentialing program for Operations & Maintenance and energy management professionals looking to make their buildings more comfortable, efficient and environmentally friendly, all while reducing energy bill costs. Find training here. Or grab a seat at our informational webcast on August 5th to see what BOC training can do for you (and your building)! Come with questions, leave with answers. Save your spot here.

Building Operator Certification Releases Revised Skills Standards and Curriculum Assessment

The Building Operator Certification program has published a revised Skills Standard and Curriculum Assessment, reflecting the latest critical work functions; knowledge, skills, and abilities; and workforce needs—an essential step in ensuring that the program continues to equip our students with the competencies required to manage increasingly complex, high-performance facilities.

Read more about the Skills Standard and Curriculum Assessment on the announcement blog post here.

Benchmarking Helpdesk

Congratulations to the more than 88 percent of covered buildings that have achieved compliance under Seattle’s Energy Benchmarking law for the 2025 data year! Owners of buildings that remain noncompliant should see the Penalties page for more information.

To support the transition to the new Seattle Building & Energy Portal, the Benchmarking Help Desk will be suspended from June 18 through July 16. During this time, OSE customer support via phone, email, 1-1 scheduling, and weekly office hours is unavailable. However, customers are still able to work directly with utilities to obtain data and complete self-guided updates in ENERGY STAR® Portfolio Manager®.

Help Desk services will resume on July 16, alongside the launch of the new Seattle Building & Energy Portal. Stay tuned to seattle.gov/energybenchmarking in the coming weeks for more information on how the Help Desk experience will change moving forward.

Tool Lending Library

The TLL continues to offer a wide array of tools to service professionals in Washington and Oregon. You can always find an updated list of tools here along with instructions on how to request a tool and videos and guides for tool use and care.

A New Event Calendar and Call for Shared Content

Smart Buildings Center and Building Potential now have a sync’d calendar for events, trainings, conferences and more! Click the links above to be taken to their respective pages. You can scroll the existing content, add the calendar to your own calendar app, and adjust the settings or print for a physical copy.

This resource is intended to be a shared hub for information and one that you can contribute to. With that in mind we’ve created a simple Google form you can fill out to send in your suggestions for content. You can find a link to the form at the bottom of each page or simply click here.

And with the same spirit of collaboration in mind, we are always looking for new posts, listings, news and content to share on our blogs and newsletters. Please reach out to us using this form with any content you would like to see shared on TheBOC.info, SmartBuildingsCenter.org, or BuildingPotential.org. We’d love to hear from you and help get the word out!

AESP Announces Nerdy Energy Bar Talk

July 9, 2026 By SBC staff

Our friends at AESP are excited to announce a new regular series, Nerdy Energy Bar Talk, coming to the Olympic Bar next week. Check out the full announcement below!

Please join us July 14^th 4-6 PM for our first Nerdy Energy Bar Talk in celebration of PNW Climate Week! Grab a drink and geek out with the AESP Evergreen Board Members where we will swap ideas, explore hot takes, and discuss “did-you-see-this?” moments from across the energy sector. No slide deck required—just good conversation with people who speak energy.

Where: Olympic Bar, Seattle WA

When: July 14^th 4-6pm

RSVP here: Nerdy Energy Bar Talk · Luma

We hope to make Nerdy Energy Bar Talk a regular series. Let us know if you would like to host a future Nerdy Energy Bar Talk or have suggestions for future locations!

OSE: 2026 Building Decarbonization Grants, Applications Open Through 8/10

July 7, 2026 By SBC staff

2026 Building Decarbonization Grant Program Now Accepting Applications!

The Building Decarbonization Grant program is open to applications through August 10 and will award up to $4 million for projects at BEPS-covered buildings. These grants will help fund engineering design and capital retrofit projects to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from recipient buildings ahead of BEPS compliance deadlines. As in 2025, OSE will prioritize buildings like nonprofits, affordable housing, senior housing, and other facilities serving frontline communities, as well as buildings whose current energy data show them exceeding upcoming BEPS greenhouse gas intensity (GHGI) targets. However, all buildings covered by BEPS are eligible and encouraged to apply. All grant information is posted on the Building Emissions Navigator webpage.

Key Details

Pre-Application Info Session: OSE’s info session on May 6 covered the application guidelines, eligible projects, tips for project readiness, and examples of prior awardee projects. Those unable to attend can view a recording of the session and access the presentation slides on the Navigator webpage.

Eligibility: Buildings must be covered by Seattle’s BEPS to be eligible. These include multifamily or nonresidential (i.e., commercial) buildings larger than 20,000 square feet.
Application: Apply via the link on the Navigator webpage. In the coming weeks, OSE is hosting two information sessions on Zoom, with pre-registration required. The sessions will be recorded and posted on the Navigator webpage.
- Wednesday, May 27, 12:30 – 1:30 PM. Register here
- Tuesday, June 16, 5 – 6 PM. Register here
Deadline: Submit the online application form by August 10, 2026, at 8 PM to be considered.

Technical Assistance: Free technical assistance is available to applicants on a first-come, first-served basis. Buildings owned or occupied by nonprofit organizations, or serving Seattle’s Frontline communities will be prioritized, but all buildings are eligible. Apply for assistance now!

Building Emissions Navigator Coaching Cohorts

To help you understand BEPS and develop your path to compliance, the City of Seattle provides support through the Seattle Building Emissions Navigator. The Navigator offers free group training and customized technical assistance for your building — and it’s available to building operators, owners, and property management teams.

Three cohorts are currently underway, and the Navigator will host at least one additional cohort starting this fall:

Virtual cohort with four monthly workshops, starting September 16

Before enrolling in the program, you must attend a one-hour online info session or watch the info session recording. Then email [email protected] to request an enrollment form.

Portland OR Job Openings at Franklin Energy!

July 2, 2026 By SBC staff

Are you looking for a new role in the Portland, OR area? Our friends at Franklin Energy are hiring! If you’re interested in any of these roles, click the links in the job title below to be taken straight to the job listing.

Franklin Energy is redefining the clean energy future as the only integrated provider of comprehensive solutions, combining unmatched expertise in strategic consulting, program delivery, product solutions, and design/build services. Powered by our advanced AI-driven technology platforms, we deliver seamless, tech-driven support across the entire energy service ecosystem to accelerate impactful change and ensure an unmatched customer experience. Since 1994, Franklin Energy has been a trusted partner in protecting communities and our planet, paving the way for a sustainable future for all. Learn more at www.franklinenergy.com and join us in leading the clean energy revolution.

Strategic Energy Management – SEM Coach

We are seeking an Energy Coach with 2+ years of experience to join our team. This role is central to supporting energy efficiency programs in the Pacific Northwest, with a primary focus on Strategic Energy Management (SEM). The Energy Coach will work with multiple commercial building owners and occupants to help identify and implement Operations and Maintenance (O&M) strategies that drive energy savings. A key aspect of this role is managing multiple program participants and projects, ensuring strong coordination, follow-through, and accountability.

The ideal candidate is an excellent communicator, highly organized, and eager to learn. They will have experience engaging customers, leading energy conversations, and supporting organizations in adopting sustainable energy practices.

SEM – Senior SEM Statistical Analyst

We are seeking a Senior Strategic Energy Management (SEM) Statistical Analyst to lead advanced Measurement & Verification (M&V) for commercial and institutional buildings. This role requires a strong understanding of building systems, energy use patterns, and how these factors influence whole building regression models. The ideal candidate combines technical depth in energy analytics with practical knowledge of building operations to drive accuracy, consistency, and innovation in our M&V processes.

Coolkeeper – Field Technician

This position is responsible for performing the installation, removal, modification, inspection, and/or service of a specific type or set of types of Direct Load Control devices while exhibiting safe, courtesy, and helpful behavior and maintaining compliance with company standards. Services are targeted to the residential markets.