Smart Buildings Center and Building Potential Quarterly Snapshot

April 14, 2026 By SBC staff

Q1 Quarterly Recap

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

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: April 15 – How to Utilize Diagnostic Tools to Identify Energy Savings

The BOC

We’re always launching new BOC courses and are excited to announce that Level I and Fundamentals are happening right now! New courses are starting soon and we have the schedule lined up well into the Summer and Fall. Register today or share the word with our website at: theboc.info

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.

Have Con Will Travel!

We’re on the road and spreading the word at conferences around the region and beyond! Recently we visited EdCon and AEE West, sharing the news about SBX, The BOC and our advocacy work as Building Potential to lines of attendees at our booths. Will we see you at the next one? We keep a list of conferences we promote and attend at theBOC.info – Trade Shows

SBX 2026 Sponsorship Opportunities

April 1, 2026 By SBC staff

Sponsorship Opportunities for Smart Buildings Exchange (SBX) 2026 are now available! Please view our 2026 Sponsor Prospectus for full details on sponsorship levels and benefits.

SBX 2026 focuses on a defining challenge for our industry: how to capitalize on innovation and accelerate smart buildings adoption in a rapidly changing environment. In a world of rising costs, AI, evolving expectations, connected building systems, and growing building and cybersecurity concerns, the need for smarter, more resilient, and more scalable solutions has never been clearer. SBX 2026 will bring together leaders from across the built environment to examine what is driving progress, what is holding it back, and what it will take to move from promising innovation to widespread implementation.

The 2026 conference theme, “Accelerating Performance at the Speed of Innovation,” reflects both the urgency of the moment and the opportunity in front of us. As technologies advance and pressures on the built environment intensify, buildings are being asked to do more: reduce costs, improve resilience, respond to grid needs, support occupant outcomes, and deliver stronger performance in an increasingly complex operating environment. SBX 2026 will create space not just for inspiration, but for debate, problem-solving, and clearer pathways to action.

For more information, please see the 2026 Sponsor Prospectus and contact [email protected] with any questions or to become a sponsor.

OBEP Fellowship Case Studies Series, McMinnville Community Center

March 30, 2026 By SBC staff

Over the next 3 weeks we’ll be sharing 3 case studies from our OBEP Fellow detailing buildings around McMinnville, OR starting today with the Community Center!

What is OBEP?

The Oregon Building Energy and Performance project (OBEP) is a collaborative initiative led by the Smart Buildings Center, Strategic Energy Innovations, San Timoteo Energy Associates, in coordination with the Oregon Department of Energy (ODOE). This partnership supports under-resourced building owners in meeting the requirements of Oregon’s Building Performance Standards (OR BPS). As part of the initiative, the OBEP Fellow receives training in areas such as the Green Building Practicum, Building Operator Certification, and Oregon BPS compliance.

View or download the first case study here as a .pdf

Are you interested in the services provided by the OBEP Fellowship? Fill out the interest form here.

Celebrating the First Cohort of BEACON Fellows

March 26, 2026 By SBC staff

The Smart Buildings Center is a proud partner of the BEACON project and is celebrating the successes of the first cohort, we’re happy to join with Commerce in celebrating this historic moment.

On Friday, March 13, BEACON fellows, Climate Corps fellows, and BEACON and Climate Corps partners gathered in Bellevue to celebrate the end of the first cohort of BEACON fellows. Thank you to PSE for hosting this incredible group.

BEACON fellows presented on the highlights, successes, and lessons learned from their 10-month fellowships. They reflected on the technical support they provided to building owners, the sustainability projects they supported at their host sites, the relationships they built with utility providers, and the presentations they gave to local community groups.

Over the past 10 months, BEACON fellows conducted outreach to almost 200 unique entities and served 130 building owners and more than 400 buildings across 17 counties. Services included providing CBPS education, Clean Buildings Portal support, energy benchmarking services, energy management planning, operations and maintenance program support, and exemption and incentive application assistance.

BEACON fellows officially end their fellowships on March 31. With this date just on the horizon, project partners also shared words of encouragement for what’s next as fellows start their own job search.

As a reminder, BEACON Project partners are currently working to secure funding to stand up a second cohort of BEACON fellows, and there will be a gap in services between the first and second cohort. An announcement will be made when no-cost BEACON support resumes with a second cohort of fellows.

Meantime, you can receive ongoing no-cost CBPS support through the Commerce Clean Buildings Team and Smart Buildings Center Clean Buildings Help Desk.

Facilities Expos in April!

March 25, 2026 By SBC staff

APRIL 8-9, 2026 | Anaheim Convention Center, Anaheim CA

APRIL 29-30, 2026 | Oregon Convention Center, Portland OR
Swing by the BOC booth at the Oregon Expo!!

What is the Facilities Expo?

The Facilities Expo is a premier destination for facility managers, maintenance managers, and energy managers seeking innovative solutions, industry insights, and networking opportunities to optimize facility operations, enhance sustainability, and drive business success. As the leading regional event in the facilities management industry, the Facilities Expo offers a comprehensive platform for professionals to discover the latest trends, connect with industry experts, and access cutting-edge products and services that empower them to excel in their roles and achieve their organizational goals.

Register Now!

CalFlexHub 2026, April 15

March 23, 2026 By SBC staff

Register today! The CalFlexHub Final Symposium, to be held April 15 at 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. PT, will highlight information on the latest research and developments in load flexibility and showcase CalFlexHub’s portfolio of projects. Featured speakers include the California Energy Commission, utility specialists and industry innovators advancing price-responsive load flexible technologies.

This year’s symposium returns as a hybrid event with the option to attend in-person or remotely. If you are interested in joining us in person, please register by March 31. Please note, while we’ve previously offered free attendance, there is a fee associated for in-person attendance this year.

Register Here

Choose your attendance type: Register for either virtual or in-person attendance at the link above
Complete payment and access (In-Person Only): If joining us in person, visit this Berkeley Lab website to submit your payment and complete site access information required to enter the Berkeley Lab campus.
Check your inbox: In-person attendees will receive a confirmation email with additional details from [email protected].

Since its launch in 2021, CalFlexHub has been at the forefront of assessing research pathways, developing metrics, and accelerating the commercial adoption of load flexible technologies. This final symposium aims to showcase the program’s achievements, offer updates on CalFlexHub’s portfolio of demonstration projects; foster discussions on the latest pilots, research, and technological developments in load flexibility; and facilitate knowledge sharing from sector leaders. The symposium focuses on solution-centered conversations designed to address the various barriers to scaled adoption, emphasizing advancing these technologies and supporting ecosystems for all Californians. Preview the agenda below and learn more at the event page here.