Blog - Page 80 of 121 - Smart Buildings Center

Is the Workforce Ready for High Performance Buildings? Report Finds Major Skills Gaps

September 30, 2020 By SBC staff

Melanie Danuser and the Smart Buildings Center team contributed to the ACEEE report “Training the Workforce for High-Performance Buildings: Enhancing Skills for Operations and Maintenance.”

By Mariel Wolfson, Editor/Writer

We know that improving the energy efficiency of the U.S. building stock can reduce building-related carbon emissions by as much as 50%. High performance buildings, which are energy-efficient, durable, resilient, and offer excellent indoor air quality, will be critical for cutting emissions and meeting our climate goals. Yet these buildings also require highly specialized knowledge to optimize performance.

This specialized knowledge is the focus of a new ACEEE report released today. The report — based on an original survey and expert interviews with professionals who work with high performance buildings as owners, managers, and technicians — identifies the precise skills that education and training programs should prioritize to ensure that the workforce can meet current and future demands.

The vast majority of respondents — 92% — said that operations and maintenance (O&M) is the most critical skill area for the buildings workforce of the future…

Continue reading the blog post

Download the report

City of Seattle Fossil Fuels Transition Jobs Study

September 30, 2020 By SBC staff

Seattle’s Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Inventory shows that city-wide emissions have stopped decreasing, and in some cases are beginning to increase; the City of Seattle will not be able to make significant progress towards emissions reduction without decarbonizing our energy supply. The City is exploring policies and programs that would transition Seattle away from fossil fuels to zero-emissions energy in our cars, trucks, buses, and buildings.

The City of Seattle is seeking input from you on how such a transition may affect your business or employment and what you may need for this transition.

If you identify as either a fossil fuel-related or clean energy-related business or organization, or an intensive user of either, please complete this 10 to 15 minute survey, linked below, by Thursday October 8th. Your perspective will provide invaluable input into policymaking processes. All information will be treated as confidential and not shared with any third party.

Survey Link: https://arcg.is/eCGmK0

Every Day, Commercial Lighting Gets More Complex – and Much More Beneficial

September 30, 2020 By SBC staff

The advent of LED technology brought an unprecedented year-over-year proliferation of commercial lighting options and applications. And while this fast-paced evolution has made commercial lighting more complex than ever, it also offers building operators and managers a wide variety of nuanced solutions to provide long-lasting energy- and cost-savings for building owners and every-day benefits to occupants.

Learn more >

Webinar: 2020 City Clean Energy Scorecard

September 30, 2020 By SBC staff

Tuesday, October 6, 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM EDT

Which cities are leading the United States in clean energy efforts and which are falling behind? Join us to learn and discuss the findings of the 100-city scorecard, the most comprehensive national report tracking city progress toward climate goals.

As cities struggle to safely put people back to work and recover from the COVID-19 recession, our speakers will explore what cities are doing and can do better to advance energy efficiency and renewable power — critical tools for creating jobs, lowering utility bills, building resilience, reducing pollution, protecting health, and mitigating climate change. Speakers will also focus on the ways their programs are based on community input and designed to serve all residents.

Register Now

DOE Announces $80 Million 2020 BENEFIT Funding Opportunity

September 30, 2020 By SBC staff

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) released the Buildings Energy Efficiency Frontiers & Innovation Technologies (BENEFIT) 2020 Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA). This funding opportunity will provide up to $80 million for projects that enhance energy demand flexibility across buildings and the grid, enabling greater affordability, increased energy productivity, and improved occupant comfort.

The BENEFIT FOA has been issued by the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy’s Building Technologies Office since 2014. This year’s FOA broadens DOE’s investments in cutting-edge, energy-saving building technologies, systems, and practices that will impact various segments of the buildings industry.

The FOA includes topic areas on advanced building construction, workforce development, and a variety of building technologies, including advanced lighting, HVAC, and thermal energy storage, among others.

How to Apply

More information, submittal requirements, and instructions for applying to this FOA (DE-FOA-0002196) can be found on the EERE Exchange. To be eligible for consideration, a concept paper must be submitted no later than November 5, 2020 by 5:00 p.m. ET.

Questions about this FOA may be submitted to [email protected] no later than three business days before the application deadline. Please note, feedback on individual concepts will not be provided through Q&A.

Submission Deadlines

Submission Deadline for Concept Papers: November 5, 2020 by 5:00 p.m. ET
Submission Deadline for Full Applications: January 20, 2021 by 5:00 p.m. ET

To read more about this FOA, visit the EERE Exchange.

Smart Buildings Week Recap – Webinar Recordings Now Available

September 24, 2020 By SBC staff

Thanks to those of you who participated in Virtual Smart Buildings Week last week! We enjoyed hosting these compelling discussions and really appreciate our panelists sharing their knowledge and insight. If you missed the sessions or would like to watch them again, the recordings are now available on the Smart Buildings Center YouTube channel.

Using Data and Analytics to Improve Performance
This opening session explores the here and now of smart buildings, systems typically involved in a smart strategy, data analytics and integration management, interoperability opportunities/challenges, and the smart buildings of tomorrow.

Watch Recording
Download Slides

Grid Enabled Efficient Buildings
This session covers the “classic” demand response programs and actions, the dynamic two-way communication between buildings and the utility, how both building owners and the utility derive value from having this grid interactive capability, and ideal program features that would help make GEBs a reality.

Watch Recording
Download Slides

Achieving Persistent Operational Performance
This session examines the nexus of building operations and technology, finding plug-and-play and interoperable platforms, the role of human systems in optimizing the operation of buildings, addressing the root causes of building inefficiencies, and bridging the IT/OT divide.

Watch Recording
Download Slides

Creating Intelligent Spaces
This closing session explores how IoT is transforming the world and built environment; how smart technologies and practices lead to improved organizational productivity, better space utilization, and more efficient and healthier buildings; and key considerations that can help building owners and operators make a successful transformation to buildings that are more agile, flexible, efficient, and productive.

Watch Recording
Download Slides

Thank you again for joining us for Smart Buildings Week, and stay tuned for announcements about upcoming smart buildings events!

Contact Us