Education & Training Archives - Page 5 of 27

Meet the BEACON fellows: Chelan County

August 21, 2025 By SBC staff

This article was originally shared by commerce.wa.gov, learn more about BEACON Project at: Building Efficiency and Clean Operations Network (BEACON) Fellowship Project – Washington State Department of Commerce

The Building Efficiency and Clean Operations Network (BEACON) Project launched in June 2025, placing 10 fellows across the state to provide free, technical assistance to building owners working to meet the Clean Buildings Performance Standard (CBPS). The Smart Buildings Center is supporting the project with training and technical support for the fellows. We are sharing features of BEACON fellows from different counties for the next few weeks that are published by the Department of Commerce. If you’re interested in receiving assistance from a BEACON fellow, please complete the BEACON Project Interest Form.

Chelan County: Ava Burk

Where is your host site?

My service area is Chelan County, and my host site is Wenatchee Valley College.

Can you tell us a little about yourself?

I am originally from Omaha, Nebraska, but I currently live in Wenatchee. I recently graduated from Wenatchee Valley College, and I was on the Sustainability Committee for the entirety of my time at WVC. I am passionate about nurturing a balance of enabled play in the natural world while enforcing the protection of it. There’s no other place I’d rather be than outside, which is why I am so keen on conserving nature.

Why did you apply to be a BEACON fellow?

I applied to be a BEACON Fellow because I want to create sustainable cities. Energy efficient measures are an incredibly effective way to begin transforming the relationship between the built environment and the natural world. Through sustainable initiatives, urban areas and the natural world can thrive in harmony. I am incredibly excited to be a part of this process.

Ava provides Clean Buildings Performance Standard (CBPS) support to Tier 1 and Tier 2 buildings in Chelan County. To receive services, please complete the BEACON Project Interest Form. You can also email Ava at [email protected].

Smart Buildings Exchange (SBX) Agenda Announced!

August 12, 2025 By SBC staff

The agenda for the 2025 Smart Buildings Exchange Fall Conference is now available on the SBX website. The event will feature a keynote address, two panel discussions and a networking happy hour – register to join us in Seattle on November 5th!

Keynote Address: PNW Leadership on the National Stage
Ash Awad, President & Chief Market Officer at McKinstry, will deliver a compelling keynote address highlighting how the Pacific Northwest is uniquely positioned to lead the US through the energy market transformation.

Two engaging panel discussions will follow, and the event will conclude with a networking happy hour, sponsored by Building Potential.

State of Buildings – what’s working, what’s not
Building owners and operators are facing a convergence of challenges—rising costs, growing decarbonization expectations, aging infrastructure, workforce shortages, cybersecurity threats, and evolving occupant needs. In this panel discussion, leaders from both the public and private sectors will share their candid perspectives on the current state of the industry: what’s working, what’s stuck, and what kinds of solutions they need most.

Innovation Showcase: Smarter, Safer, More Responsive Buildings
This panel will feature four rapid presentations, each highlighting how smart strategies are solving different performance challenges—from energy and emissions to security and space use.

Register now and save with early-bird pricing!

Join SBC and FEA on 8/14 at 8:30 PT for Future-Ready Facilities: Navigating Risk Through Property Resilience

July 16, 2025 By SBC staff

Smart Buildings Center and FEA are excited to partner for this educational LIVE webinar. Join us as we discuss risks and opportunities for your facilities in the ever-changing world of the built environment.

As risks to the built environment grow more complex – from environmental threats to technology disruptions – facility leaders must adopt a proactive approach to resilience. This session will share strategies for identifying vulnerabilities, mitigating emerging risks, and embedding resilience into everyday operations and long-term planning. Drawing on real-world examples, we’ll explore how to integrate resilience into facility planning. We’ll also highlight the new ASTM Standard Guide for Property Resilience Assessment as one of several tools to structure your approach. Whether you’re just starting your resilience journey or looking to strengthen an existing program, you’ll leave with actionable insights and planning tools to build readiness and ensure continuity in the face of disruption.

Registration Now Open for Qualified Energy Manager Certification

May 21, 2025 By SBC staff

Commerce and the Smart Building Center are offering a free virtual and in-person Qualified Energy Manager Certification course in June. Space is limited. A free and on-demand course will be available in the future.

The Qualified Energy Management (QEM) course is designed to equip building professionals with the knowledge and skills necessary to comply with the Tier 2 requirements of the Washington State’s Clean Buildings Performance Standard (CBPS). This comprehensive training is ideal for building operators, energy managers, and facility staff.

In accordance with the CBPS, a QEM must have two years of experience, including educational and/or professional experience, with commercial building operations and/or building energy management in addition to successful completion of this training. Upon completion of the Qualified Energy Management (QEM) course, you will be able to:

Establish the energy use intensity target (EUIt) according to Section 7.
Calculate the building’s measured energy use intensity (EUI) by completing Form C according to Section 5.2.
Submit forms as specified in Normative Annex Y documenting compliance.
State in writing on Form A that the Energy Management plan and Operations and Maintenance program requirements have been developed, implemented and maintained.
Submit and sign Form A.

QEM Virtual Training

📅Part 1: Wednesday, June 11|⏰8:30 AM-12:30 PM
📅Part 2: Monday, June 16|⏰8:30 AM-12:30 PM
💻 Fully Online • Live Sessions
Register Here

QEM Virtual Training

📅Part 1: Wednesday, June 27|⏰8:30 AM-12:30 PM
📅Part 2: Monday, June 30|⏰8:30 AM-12:30 PM
💻 Fully Online • Live Sessions
Register Here

QEM In-Person Training – Seattle

📍Smart Buildings Center
📅Friday, June 13|⏰8:00 AM-4:00 PM
🏢 Full-Day • In-Person Sessions
Register Here

QEM In-Person Training – Spokane

📍Scott-Morris Center
📅Wednesday, June 25|⏰8:00 AM-4:00 PM
🏢 Full-Day • In-Person Sessions
Register Here

Registration Open for Smart Buildings Exchange (SBX) 2025!

May 12, 2025 By SBC staff

Early-bird registration for SBX 2025 is now open at sbxconference.org/register

The Smart Buildings Center is excited to host the 5^th annual Smart Buildings Exchange (SBX) in 2025! This year’s event builds on a successful history of exploring smart and efficient building operations—but it’s not just more of the same.

SBX 2025 invites attendees to think bigger. This year’s focus is on how smart building strategies can solve today’s real-world challenges—like cutting operational costs, reducing peak energy use, and retrofitting fossil fuel-based equipment with heat pumps. For those navigating the evolving demands of building ownership, operations, and energy management, SBX 2025 offers a space to explore practical solutions while also engaging with the bold ideas shaping the future.

The fall conference theme, “Smart Buildings in Action: Leading the Future of Building Performance,” reflects our region’s growing leadership in reimagining the role of buildings—not just as energy users, but as dynamic assets that influence everything from grid interaction and occupant well-being to cost management, security, and building resilience.

SBX 2025 features both a virtual webinar series and an in-person event:

The webinar series, held in the months leading up to the conference, dives into practical applications and real-world examples of smart building technologies and solutions.

Register for the webinar series!

The in-person conference, to be held on November 5^th in downtown Seattle, will bring together regional and national leaders for thought-provoking discussions on the big ideas—exploring where we’re headed, what’s needed to accelerate progress, and how the Pacific Northwest fits into the national and global landscape.

Register for the in-person conference!

Sponsorship Opportunities
If you’re interested in learning about sponsorship opportunities, please view our Sponsor Prospectus and contact [email protected].

SBX Technical Webinar Series – 4/16 Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Building Controls & Security

March 26, 2025 By SBC staff

The SBX Technical Webinar series is in full swing as we prepare for the April 16th topic, Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Building Controls & Security. See below for the full schedule and register now for recordings of the previous sessions and the rest of this years’ worth of content!

Here’s the brief for April:
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming building automation systems (BAS) and smart buildings by enhancing efficiency, security, and occupant comfort. This webinar will explore some of the potential benefits, challenges, and technical considerations for utilizing AI in BAS.

Early-bird registration for SBX 2025 is now open at sbxconference.org/register

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