Join us for the Smart Buildings Exchange 2026!

Smart Buildings Center

Energy Efficiency Innovation Center, Tool Library & Data Visualization

Upcoming Lighting Design Lab Courses

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Energy Management Systems Part 1
Thu, May 26 | 10am-noon | FREE

DAY 1 of 2. Getting the most energy savings out of your HVAC requires building systems to be capable of adjustment, such as variable speed drives or demand limiting, as opposed to simple on/off control. However, these strategies often add a higher level of complexity making it more challenging to keep persistent energy savings over time. Energy Management Systems and Analytics are often offered up as a solution to this problem. This course will provide a deep dive exploration on the reality of energy management systems and how they are not a one-size-fits all endeavor and how each one needs its one requirement and parameter for success.

Energy Management Systems Part 2
Thu, Jun 02 | 10am-noon | FREE

DAY 2 of 2. Getting the most energy savings out of your HVAC requires building systems to be capable of adjustment, such as variable speed drives or demand limiting, as opposed to simple on/off control. However, these strategies often add a higher level of complexity making it more challenging to keep persistent energy savings over time. Energy Management Systems and Analytics are often offered up as a solution to this problem. This course will provide a deep dive exploration on the reality of energy management systems and how they are not a one-size-fits all endeavor and how each one needs its one requirement and parameter for success.

Commercial Refrigeration Part 1
Tue, Jun 14 | 10am-noon | FREE

DAY 1 of 2. This course reviews elementary refrigeration concepts, components, and configurations of refrigeration systems. It delves into various types of control strategies for restaurants, grocery stores, cold storage, and industrial applications, and it examines case studies that focus on energy efficiency measures. Finally, students are invited to investigate areas of special interest, such as evaporative condensing units, CO2 refrigeration, etc.

Commercial Refrigeration Part 2
Thu, Jun 16 | 10am-noon | FREE

DAY 2 of 2. This course reviews elementary refrigeration concepts, components, and configurations of refrigeration systems. It delves into various types of control strategies for restaurants, grocery stores, cold storage, and industrial applications, and it examines case studies that focus on energy efficiency measures. Finally, students are invited to investigate areas of special interest, such as evaporative condensing units, CO2 refrigeration, etc.

Adjustable Speed Drives/Variable Frequency Drives Part 1
Tue, Jun 21 | 10am-noon | FREE

DAY 1 of 2. Attendees will learn about adjustable speed drives and their practical/ proven energy and efficiency applications. This course examines the evolution and application of adjustable speed drive technology, manual/automated control strategies, and the short/long term benefits on energy savings and equipment. Furthermore, this course dives deep into the electrical principles of adjustable speed drives, common issues, the value of preventative maintenance, common troubleshooting solutions, and investigates real world success stories.

Adjustable Speed Drives/Variable Frequency Drives Part 2
Tue, Jun 23 | 10am-noon | FREE

DAY 2 of 2. Attendees will learn about adjustable speed drives and their practical/ proven energy and efficiency applications. This course examines the evolution and application of adjustable speed drive technology, manual/automated control strategies, and the short/long term benefits on energy savings and equipment. Furthermore, this course dives deep into the electrical principles of adjustable speed drives, common issues, the value of preventative maintenance, common troubleshooting solutions, and investigates real world success stories.

Attend the USGBC Smart Building Summit – May 11th & 12th!

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Hear from building and technology experts about integrated, high-performance buildings.
On May 11 and 12, participate in the first Smart Building Summit, hosted by USGBC’s Pacific region communities. This event will bring together diverse players to discuss the optimization of the design and operation of integrated, high-performance buildings. Join industry leaders in exploring opportunities to advance how smart buildings can support climate, health, equity and resilience. The program will feature a keynote address from futurist Saul Griffith and other luminaries. Read a Q&A with Saul here.

The initial program
In addition to inspiring keynotes from Saul Griffith and others, the two-day summit will feature four program sessions. Each session will be followed by a hosted industry conversation to dive deeper. Preview the four main sessions below and find additional information at www.usgbcsmartbuildings.org.

The Challenge of Smart Building Integration
In this session, panelists will discuss the challenges of integrating new climate and other building technologies so that they speak to one another, work together, and can be managed by the building engineers through a single software platform. Smart technologies include energy and lighting controls, building management systems, dynamic glazing, air quality, occupancy sensors, security, and elevators. Challenges and solutions will be presented.

Smart Building Operators: The Workforce of the Future
Evolving technologies in integrated high-performance buildings require skilled personnel to operate increasingly complex buildings and are raising the bar on advanced skills needed to operate IoT-connected and -optimized systems. As a result, owners are facing a workforce gap in highly skilled labor, while at the same time new opportunities for high-road jobs are emerging. In this session, we will explore workforce development challenges in the evolution of smart buildings and discuss opportunities to support high-road jobs for vulnerable communities.

Optimizing Smart Buildings and the Grid
In the future, smart buildings will not only manage their performance but also serve as flexible, clean energy resources to the electric grid. This panel discusses the technologies enabling that transformation, as well as the challenges in integrating legacy energy infrastructure.

State-of-the-art AI and Machine Learning in Buildings
AI and machine learning will become critical for all buildings in the future. This session will examine what will be necessary for best-in-class buildings and their operation. We will hear from early adopters and academic researchers expanding possibilities for buildings of today and tomorrow.

Smart Buildings Center subscribers can receive a 20% discount on registration by following the link below.

Register Now!

 

Smart Buildings Exchange Preliminary Agenda Now Available!

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The preliminary agenda for Smart Buildings Exchange 2022 is now available at sbxconference.org/agenda! The free, three-day virtual event to be held August 22-24 will explore the market opportunity for smart buildings through interactive conference sessions featuring a mix of panel discussions and case study presentations on the future of energy services and the built environment, grid-interactive efficient buildings, the role of smart buildings in carbon emission reductions, and more.

View the agenda and register for free today!

In-Person Networking Events
On August 24th, regional in-person networking events featuring a livestreamed conference session on how smart technologies can support building performance reporting will be held. If you are interested in hosting an in-person SBX networking event in your region, please contact Britton Rife to coordinate. Recommended guidelines for hosting the in-person networking events can be found here. Stay tuned for more details as plans are developed!

Sponsorship Opportunities
For more information about ways your organization or business can participate in the conference, please download our Sponsorship Prospectus or contact Stan Price for customized sponsorship/partnership opportunities.

Register for free today!

 

Upcoming Lighting Design Lab Classes

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The Networked Lighting Controls Value Proposition
Thu, Apr 14 | 10am-noon | FREE

The real opportunity brought forth by NLC systems revolve around reducing maintenance efforts, increasing productivity, and serving as the infrastructure to concepts such as Space Utilization, Asset Tracking, Horticultural Lighting and Automation, LiFi, Tunable White or Circadian Lighting, integration to the Smart Building Ecosystem, and a plethora of IoT applications. This value proposition is forward looking and is not adopted as a mainstream plan of action – how do we get there? In this webinar we will discuss some of these non-energy benefits, how to get a foot in the door, and how to navigate the conversation with different types of stakeholders with diverse agendas.

Register here

Networked Lighting Controls Fundamentals – Day 1
Thu, Apr 21 | 10am-noon | FREE

DAY 1 OF 2. Part one of this comprehensive online class will introduce you to modern lighting control strategies and equipment. Part two will offer guidance on successful implementation and programming approaches for these systems. System concepts, design, installation, sequence of operations, and startup will all be discussed over the course of the class.

Register here

Networked Lighting Controls Fundamentals – Day 2
Thu, Apr 28 | 10am-noon | FREE

DAY 2 OF 2. Part one of this comprehensive online class will introduce you to modern lighting control strategies and equipment. Part two will offer guidance on successful implementation and programming approaches for these systems. System concepts, design, installation, sequence of operations, and startup will all be discussed over the course of the class.

Register here


Energy & Alterations: Meeting the Alterations Requirements of the Energy Code
Thu, May 05 | 10am-noon | FREE

This 2-hour webinar will summarize the “alterations” requirements of the Seattle and Washington state energy codes and offer suggestions for potential design solutions. It will provide an overview of the alterations provisions of Chapter 5, with a special focus on replacing existing gas or electric resistance space heating and water heating systems with heat pump systems. Alterations to envelope, lighting, electrical, metering, and HVAC systems will also be covered, as will Seattle’s “substantial alterations” rules in addition to “additions.” The webinar will conclude with a substantial Q&A period for discussion of specific applications.

Register here

Networked Lighting Controls for Healthcare
Thu, May 12 | 10am-noon | FREE

This class will build on the foundation of our one- and two-day Networked Lighting Controls classes by examining controls that may be effectively applied to areas of specific interest to the healthcare environment including clinics, patient rooms, procedure areas, and related spaces. We will consider how networked lighting controls may help to improve patient and staff perception, productivity, and patient outcomes. We will specifically discuss how lighting controls implementation may relate to current research regarding light and health, circadian entrainment, and shift workers.

Register here

Online Open House about Building Performance Standards Policy Development – April 5th  

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The Office of Sustainability and Environment is conducting stakeholder and community engagement on creating draft legislation for new City of Seattle regulations for commercial and multifamily buildings 20,000 square feet and larger that would reduce climate-polluting emissions and transition towards cleaner, healthier places to live and work. Called ‘Building Performance Standards,’ these carbon emissions targets would become gradually stronger over time towards a goal of cleaner, healthier, ‘net-zero’ carbon emissions buildings by 2050, while improving the quality of life for residents and creating local, well-paying jobs. OSE will present about the potential regulations and the links between buildings, climate pollution, equity, and health. The meeting will include listening sessions to hear participant’s ideas and concerns. OSE is planning another online open house for late spring in the evening (date TBD). Presentations and meeting summaries will be posted online after the events.

Learn about Building Controls On-Demand

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Building controls can drive big energy savings – if you can master them. Slipstream is here to help. We partnered with energy experts to guide you at every step of your controls learning journey – from the fundamentals to advanced building controls. From design to implementation. Including how your daily facility operation and energy management strategy will benefit when building controls work for you.

Visit our free on-demand library for:

  • 17 short sessions for energy managers
  • 20 in-depth sessions for building operators and facility engineers
  • Up to 18.5 hours of continuing education credits

Learn more

Slipstream was awarded a grant by the Department of Defense (DoD) Environmental Security Technology Certification Program (ESTCP) to develop this comprehensive training library on building controls for you. These courses cover everything from the fundamentals of building HVAC systems and controls to advanced control strategies for intelligent building operations and more.

Courses are grouped by topic. You can follow the recommended learning flow from simple to more complicated topics. Sign up for free today to access these courses and watch them on-demand.

Learn more about these training courses or sign up today!

Contact Us

Smart Buildings Center
Pacific Tower
1200 12th Ave. S., Suite 110
Seattle, WA 98144

206-538-0832

[email protected]

Smart Buildings Center is a project collaboration with Building Potential