SBC News - Smart Buildings Center

Smart Buildings Center Quarterly Look Ahead 2026

March 4, 2026 By SBC staff

Welcome to the Smart Buildings Center’s first Quarterly Look Ahead of 2026. Here’s the learning experiences you can look forward to this year:

SBX Plus

As part of our annual conference, SBX Plus aims to keep you connected to everything you can expect from the big show this November through a series of educational webinars. You won’t want to miss the topics below so register today!

SBX

And of course SBX will be held later this year in November on the 9 -10 in Seattle at the Bell Harbor Conference Center for the second year in a row! We had an amazing time last year with speakers, presentations, panel discussions and much more. We hope you will join us for SBX 2026 when registration opens later this year, in the meanwhile though, you can keep your finger on the pulse for all things SBX at sbxconference.org

The BOC Courses

theBOC.info is your one-stop shop to learn about upcoming courses and register for a Fundamentals, Level I, Level II or Multifamily course. It’s never been a better time to start your journey to becoming a certified Building Operator. Find out more about The Essential Credential and find a course starting in your region at www.theboc.info/find-training

NEEA Webinars

Our friends at NEEA are hosting several webinars in the coming months with a wide range of topics. You can find all the details for these webinars (and their recordings) at info.NEEA.org and register for these FREE one-hour sessions today!

Smart Buildings Exchange 2026 Update

February 9, 2026 By SBC staff

Please save the date for the Smart Buildings Exchange (SBX) 2026 in-person Fall Conference on November 9-10, 2026 in downtown Seattle! Registration, sponsorship and exhibitor opportunities, and a call for session topics and speakers will open soon, but for now we’d like to call your attention to the year-round virtual component of the event, the SBX Plus Virtual Series.

We invite you to register for the first SBX Plus Virtual Session on Wednesday, February 18^th from 11am-12pm Pacific Time on Thermal Energy Networks as a Driver for Building Decarbonization. Experts from McKinstry and the Building Decarbonization Coalition will share insights on how thermal energy networks enable efficient heating and cooling while significantly reducing building-related carbon emissions. Register at the link below to learn how these systems integrate with electrification strategies and support long-term decarbonization goals for campuses, districts, and portfolios.

Register for the Feb 18th SBX Plus virtual session here!

Important note: Full SBX Conference registration is not yet open. If you register for the February SBX Plus Virtual Session, the $79 registration fee will be credited toward a full SBX Conference pass (including access to the in-person and entire virtual series).

To ensure you get the discount, please select the single webinar option for February 18 and enter “SBX” in the discount code field at checkout. We’ll follow up with details on how to get your discount when the full registration becomes available.

Energy Efficiency Jobs in America Report

January 15, 2026 By SBC staff

This article originally shared via the Building Performance Association

The Energy Efficiency Jobs in America report offers more than national trends. It also includes easy-to-use, state-by-state data that shows how the energy efficiency workforce is growing across the country. This information can be helpful for nonprofits looking to understand local job trends and the impact of clean energy work in their communities.

Energy efficiency continues to be the largest part of the U.S. clean energy workforce. In 2024, the industry added nearly 100,000 jobs nationwide and grew by 4%, making it the fastest-growing energy sector. This growth reflects ongoing investments at the state and local level.

We encourage you to check out your state’s data to see how these trends show up locally. The data can support program planning, grant applications, reporting, and partnerships as nonprofits work to create jobs, strengthen communities, and expand access to energy efficiency solutions.

Explore the Report

Where Does Your State Rank?

If you haven’t checked it out yet, our report includes state-specific data, including total jobs per state, business sizes, total number of EE businesses, percentage of veterans, and more.

Top 5 States by Total EE Employment:

1. California: 312,090
2. Texas: 182,506
3. New York: 135,393
4. Florida: 132,060
5. Illinois: 89,878

Find Your State

Washington and Oregon

Building Potential and Smart Building Center Year End Recap!

December 18, 2025 By SBC staff

2025 Building Potential-Year in Review final

2025 was a year of meaningful impact and expanded reach for Building Potential and the Smart Buildings Center. Across programs, partnerships, and services, we deepened our role as a trusted resource for the building industry while supporting owners, operators, and practitioners in meeting energy and performance goals.

The Smart Buildings Exchange (SBX) continued to be a cornerstone of our programming, drawing more than 300 attendees across the annual virtual series and over 200 registrants for the fall conference. In addition, 70 industry groups leveraged the Smart Buildings Center’s free event space as a regional hub for collaboration, education, and knowledge sharing.

Our direct technical support services delivered measurable results. The City of Seattle Benchmarking Help Desk held 318 video calls and responded to 2,112 inquiries, contributing to an exceptional 98% compliance rate citywide. Building on this success, the Clean Buildings Help Desk expanded statewide, providing free benchmarking and compliance support to buildings navigating Washington’s Clean Buildings Performance Standard. Meanwhile, the Tool Lending Library supported hands-on building improvements, with 585 tools checked out over the course of the year.

Education and workforce development remained central to our mission. More than 500 participants engaged in the Qualified Energy Manager (QEM) Program, building capacity and capability for CBPS compliance. The Building Operator Certification (BOC) program also saw significant success, with over 650 students earning a BOC credential in 2025—an achievement that reflects both the dedication of participants and the strength of the program’s instruction and support.

Through education, technical assistance, and partnerships, we continued to advance energy efficiency, workforce development, and building performance outcomes—positioning the organization for continued success in the year ahead.

Happy Weatherization Day 2025!

October 29, 2025 By SBC staff

Washington State is excited to announce and proclaim that October 30th is Weatherization Day! In his Weatherization Day 2025 Proclamation Governor Bob Ferguson acknowledges the Weatherization Assistance Program and Washingtons long standing commitment to assist low-income households and provide them with energy-efficient homes. Join us in observing this special day and acknowledging all the hard work and effort that has gone into the Weatherization Assistance Program since its inception in 1978!