ControlTalk NOW — Smart Buildings VideoCast|PodCast for week ending Dec 18, 2016 begins with special thanks to two of our Platinum Sponsors: Optergy and Panel Shoppe. We have amazing interviews with Blue Ridge Technology’s President Bill Dunkelberger, Distech’s Vice President, Sales & Energy Services, Dan Flaherty, and ControlTrends People Episode 6 with EasyIO’s Lim Hoon Chiat. Updated coverage of 2017 AHR EXPO; 2017 Lynxspring Exchange Conference date set; Johnson Controls Showcase at the 2017 AHR EXPO; Acuity Brands Lighting Technology Center; KMC, Lynxspring, and Belimo Impact Videos; and DOE’s Solar in Your Community Challenge.
Don’t Miss AHR EXPO 2017 — New Technology & Industry Best-Practices Highlight the Largest AHR Educational Program Ever. AHR 2017’s New Technology & Industry Best-Practices Highlight the Largest AHR Educational Program Ever! With over 75 seminars, technical sessions and certifications offered at the Convention Center, there’s something new to learn at the Show. Many are free with no advance registration necessary. Use the Online Interactive Floor Plan to Map Out Your Time More Effectively!
Lynxspring Announces Dates for 2017 Lynxspring Exchange Conference — October 1–3, 2017 at the Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort & Spa. LEE’S SUMMIT, MISSOURI (PRWEB) DECEMBER 07, 2016 Lynxspring, Inc. (http://www.lynxspring.com), a premier developer and provider of open, IP-control solutions for building automation, energy management, cyber protection, and device-to-enterprise integration today announced they will hold their second biennial Lynxspring Exchange Conference on October 1 – 3, 2017 at the Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort & Spa at Gainey Ranch in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Johnson Controls Leads the HVAC Industry with Innovation and New Technology at the 2017 AHR Expo. Johnson Controls will showcase several innovative new technologies at the 2017 AHR Expo, January 30 to February 1 in Las Vegas (booth numbers C2929, C3124 and C3329). The technologies include Verasys, YORK® YVFA chiller, YORK EcoAdvance, BlueStream Hybrid Cooling System and VRF Smart Gateway. These technologies are designed to advance energy efficiency and increase building intelligence.
Touring Acuity Brands Lighting Center. Dan Flaherty, Distech’s Vice President, Sales & Energy Services, takes the ControlTrends Community on a tour of Acuity Brands’ Disney-like technology center, a new mecca for young engineering talent. Join in as Dan shows us some of the really cool ways lighting technology has significantly enhanced the user experience within the Hospital, K-12, and Retail spaces. With the acquisition of Distech and DGLogik, Acuity has re-engineered the way lighting and sensors are deployed and how lighting sensor data and the Distech Eclypse Building Automation Systems are driving the next-gen smarter buildings. Gone are the days of the 72 degree thermostat… for sure.
Our next ControlTrends Interview is with Bill Dunkleberger, President of Blue Ridge Technologies, a manufacture of proven energy management solutions with a focus on Unified Lighting Control. Blue Ridge Technologies (BTR) solutions complete the Building Automation System. Bill Dunkelberger is an industry expert on occupant-centric building and lighting control. Join in as Bill explains the origins of lighting integration issues and how Open Systems, Open Devices, Open Standards, and Open Distribution are the future. We also get to meet Christy O’Neil, BRT’s Support Manager and finalist for the 2016 ControlTrends Support Person of the Year.
2016 ControlTrends Most Impactful Video of the Year — Take One: KMC+DELL Customer Beginnings. Award winning KMC Controls is proud to be a partner with Dell as the building automation industry leaps into the 21st century. The introduction of IoT to building automation systems is changing the way that occupants interact with their environment, their level of comfort, and the efficiency of buildings. Go ahead, we don’t mind if you call us building geniuses.
ControlTrends People Episode 6: EasyIO’s Lim Hoon Chiat. In this episode of ControlTrends People, we explore the life of Lim Hoon Chiat. Lim is now recognized as one of the most successful and prolific minds in our industry. In Episode 6, we follow Lim’s rise from the humblest of origins in Singapore, where as a child, he tinkered with discarded parts to make a television set work for three months, through his days at the University and winning an International Robotic Competition, to his present position at EasyIO. Lim shares the influence and effect that his earliest mentor had on his life and how the philosophic fundamentals of simplicity, constantly challenging one’s self, and the desire to maintain a worldly perspective developed into a life-long passion for innovation.
2016 ControlTrends Most Impactful Video of the Year — Take Two: Introduction to the Lynxspring Onyxx BH311 BACnet to Haystack Data Pump. Overview: The Onyxx BH311 Data Pump provides BACnet to Haystack network communication and data exchange. The Onyxx BH311 Data Pump is part of Lynxspring E2E, an edge-to-enterprise ecosystem for the Internet of Things, that enables collaboration between smart systems, smart devices, intelligent equipment and Cloud services. The Helixx Framework embedded in the Onyxx BH311 handles the BACnet to Haystack protocol translation, translating BACnet points to manageable Haystack points.
Belimo’s New Advanced Butterfly Valve Technology for High Flow Applications. The newly designed butterfly valve and actuator assembly is the most intelligent, energy efficient, and reliable high flow solution in the HVAC market. With a focus on the ease of installation, application flexibility and longevity, this series sets new performance standards in HVAC applications. Innovative – User Friendly – Reliable, Belimo’s New Advanced Butterfly Valve Technology for High Flow Applications is the Most Intelligent Butterfly Valve on the Market!
DOE: Solar in Your Community Challenge — Application Deadline is January 6, 2017. Dear SunShot Supporter: Have you heard about the Solar in Your Community Challenge yet? It’s a $5 million prize competition funded by the SunShot Initiative that aims to expand solar electricity access. Specifically, it focuses on low-and moderate-income (LMI) households and nonprofits that haven’t been able to take advantage of the booming solar market. Challenge participants are eligible to win cash prizes and technical assistance over the course of 18 months.
In this episode of ControlTrends People, we explore the life of Lim Hoon Chiat. Lim is now recognized as one of the most successful and prolific minds in our industry. In Episode 6, we follow Lim’s rise from the humblest of origins in Singapore, where as a child, he tinkered with discarded parts to make a television set work for three months, through his days at the University and winning an International Robotic Competition, to his present position at EasyIO. Lim shares the influence and effect that his earliest mentor had on his life and how the philosophic fundamentals of simplicity, constantly challenging one’s self, and the desire to maintain a worldly perspective developed into a life-long passion for innovation, and how those philosophic fundamentals and passion are the driving force behind the industry-leading products developed by EasyIO. Truly, a genuinely personal and wonderfully detailed story, we invite you to listen in — as Lim navigates through the meteoric shower of technology that changed our industry and the impact that technology has made on his own amazing career. It is no wonder that Lim and EasyIO have played a leading role in the Smart Buildings Controls Renaissance, and as you will soon hear, the best is yet to come.
ControlTalk NOW — Smart Buildings VideoCast|PodCast for week ending December 12, 2016 congratulates the 2016 ControlTrends Awards finalists! ControlTrends would like to thank the ControlTrends Community members who participated in the nomination process, and now that we’ve entered the final voting phase, please make sure to check your email for your official voting ballot, or go to the ControlTrends website and click on the voting link in the upper right-hand corner. It’s going to be a magical evening with all the Hollywood Red Carpet and Banquet trimmings. If you are going to be in Las Vegas for the AHR EXPO 2017, reach out to one of our participating sponsors to see if they might have a ticket for you!
Congratulations to the 2016 CONTROLTRENDS AWARDS CATEGORY FINALISTS who will competing for awards in 24 Categories. The winners will be announced live from the stage of the Hard Rock Cafe, January 29, 2016. Special Award presentations will include: BACnet International, Project Haystack, ControlTrends Hall of Fame Inductee, Petock Award, and 2016 ControlTrends Young Guns.
Building Automation VAV Controller of the Year Manufacturer or Product Johnson Controls Distech Controls KMC SimplyVAV ProLon Neptronic Honeywell Spyder Schneider Electric MNB-V2 Alerton
Building Automation Plant/Equipment Controller of the Year EasyIO FG-32+ Johnson Controls FX-PCG Alerton Ascent Control Module ACM Distech ECB-600 Series Lynxspring JENEsysONE Contemporary Controls BAScontrol20
Energy Savings Solution Product of the Year Belimo Energy Valve JCI VSD Active Energy SkyFoundry Schneider Electric, Building Insights Optergy Blue Ridge Technologies Lighting Control
Peripheral Product of the Year ACI Dwyer Instruments Functional Devices VERIS Contemporary Controls BAPI Dent Instruments Sierra Monitor Corporation
Wireless Product/Solution of the Year EasyIO FW- Series Johnson Controls WT 4000 Schneider Electric SmartStruxure Lite Honeywell RedLINK ACI MeshNet 900 Alerton WTS
Lighting Integration Provider/Solution of the Year Blue Ridge Technologies Acuity Lighting WattStopper DLM Cisco, Digital Ceiling Control Network Solution, elitedali Daintree
3rd Party Visualization Software of the Year J2 Innovations FIN Builder DGLogik DGLux5 BAS Services Graphics Proton, Optergy Activelogix Periscope QA Graphics Clock Works, KGS Buildings Forest Rock, Energy Vision
Building Analytics Solution of the Year Niagara Analytics SkyFoundry SkySpark Aurora, Optergy Schneider Electric Clock Works, KGS Buildings CopperTree Kaizen
Light Commercial Solution of the Year EASYIO FG-32+ Johnson Controls Verasys Schneider Electric Viconics Proton, Optergy Prolon KMC Commander Honeywell RedLINK Siemens EcoView
Innovative Product of the Year EasyIO FW-14 Tridium Niagara 4 Johnson Controls Verasys Belimo New Butterfly Valve Optergy Proton Lynxspring Onyx Edge Controllers Candi BAS Controls EAC-916 Siemon, Smart Building Cabling Solution
Building Automation Control System of the Year Distech Controls Johnson Controls FX Schneider Electric Struxureware Honeywell WEBs Lynxspring JENEsys Siemens Talon KMC Controls
VFD Manufacturer/Product of the Year ABB Johnson Controls VSD Series Danfoss Honeywell Smart VFD Schneider Electric Altivar Siemens BT300
Best Technical Support Person — Large Manufacturer Dimitri Papadopoulos, Johnson Controls Kevin Callahan, Alerton Sylvia Price, Tridium Chris Hinton, Schneider Electric Gerald Williams, Distech Michael Hines, Honeywell Brian Parks, Belimo Greg Halloway, Delta Dave Rodela, Siemens
Best Technical Support Person — Small Manufacturer SK Foo, EasyIO Barry Gordon, ACI Marc Bergeron, ProLon Aaron Sanchez, J2 Innovations Christy O’Neil, Blue Ridge Technologies Scott Gregson, Innotech Controls Chris Ryan, Lynxspring Diego Mateo, Contemporary Controls
Best Technical Support Company — Large Manufacturer Belimo Johnson Controls Tridium Vykon Distech Controls Honeywell KMC Controls Siemens
Best Technical Support Company — Small Manufacturer EasyIO ACI Contemporary Controls ProLon Functional Devices Blue Ridge Technologies Lynxspring Neptronic
The PID Award Lim Hoon Chiat, EasyIO Chris Eichmann, Johnson Controls Sarah Monteleone, Connect Air Dan Flaherty, Distech Controls Gina Elliot, Schneider Electric Bill Dunkleberger, Blue Ridge Technologies Richard Bogle, Honeywell Gary Weber, Belimo Pranay Prakash, Tridium Luis Megares, Neptronic Josh Felperin, Siemens Controls
ControlTrends Executive of the Year — Small Manufacturer Sarah Monteleone, Connect-Air Eugene Mazo, DGLogik Marc Bergeron, Prolon Steve Guzelimian, Optergy Bill Dunkleberger, Blue Ridge Technologies Troy Schwenn, ACI Jim Hewetson, Functional Devices Terry Swope, Lynxspring Biagio Di Lorenzo, Neptronic
ControlTrends Executive of the Year — Large Manufacturer Jenny Stentz, Johnson Controls John Sublett, Tridium Martin Vileneuve, Distech Controls Chad Blackmer, Belimo Annette Clayton, Schneider Electric Larry Weber, Honeywell John Karczmarczyk, Siemens
ControlTrends Vendor of the Year — Large Manufacturer Belimo Johnson Controls Distech Controls Honeywell Schneider Electric Siemens
ControlTrends Vendor of Year — Small Manufacturer EasyIO ACI ProLon Lynxspring Blue Ridge Technologies Functional Devices Contemporary Controls
ControlTrends Systems Integrator of the Year ATS, Seattle CBRE|ESI, Brookfield, WI Alpha Controls & Services, IL Automated Air, Australia Control Systems Consultants, Terrell, TX Harris Controls, Minneapolis, MN. Pacific Controls, Asia McKenney’s , Atlanta Beveco, Netherlands Krueger Electric, Kelowna, BC (CANADA) HVAC Concepts LLC, Frederick, MD Navitas System Integration, Plymouth, MA Renick Brothers, Slippery Rock. PA MRSoluciones, Mexico City
ControlTrends Woman of the Year Sarah Monteleone, Connect Air Renee Joseph, Johnson Controls Lisa Hickey, Belimo Angie Jarvis, ProLon Jenny Graves, Tridium Amy Doran, Alerton Annette Clayton, Schneider Electric Laura Kevitt, Vykon Monica Ferraro, Distech Ruth Hershey, Siemens Lindsay Baker , Comfy Therese Sullivan, buildingcontext.me
Welcome to ControlTalk Now the Smart Buildings Video Cast and Podcast. Due to travel and the holidays, this episode will be a bit different. We had to put it together on a much shorter time frame, so you will not see the usual show notes and intros and outros. No worries, next week we will get back to the full format. So sit back and enjoy the show!
Click here, if you want to see Eric’s photo project.
ControlTalk NOW — Smart Buildings VideoCast|PodCast for week ending Nov 20, 2016 is highlighted by guest appearances from Schneider Electric’s Channel Brand Development Leader, Stacy Kimbell and Steven Guzelimian, President of Optergy. Also featured, Local 449 Steamfitters’ new Training Facility Grand Opening and PA Governor Tom Wolf’s pipe cutting ceremony; Ask a Controls Expert with David Cates; AHR Expo 2017 Innovation Awards update; Siemens’ EcoView End-to-end Energy Management Solution; Sierra Monitor Corporation’s IIot-ready BACnet gateways, routers, and network explorers; and ControlTalk Rewind with Josh Bradshaw.
ControlTalk NOW’s first guest, Schneider Electric’s Channel Development Leader, Stacey Kimbell tells us about My Energy University, one of the best kept secrets in the industry. Energy University is a 24/7 website with over 200 courses that attendees can receive Continuing Educational Credits and course certificates to further their careers. An amazing wealth of content, these agnostic courses are usually 45 minutes long with a course test at the end. Anything and everything relating the HVAC and Building Automation industry. Truly, an invaluable asset available to every member of the industry.
Honeywell’s Roger Rebennack and Renick Brothers at Local 449 Steamfitters’ Training Facility Pipe Cutting Ceremony with PA Governor Tom Wolf. the ultra-modern $20.2 million facility will be well-suited to train tomorrow’s Steamfitters and features four Honeywell WEBs-N4 building automation training stations that are connected to the facility’s boilers, chiller, and other building equipment.
Ask a Controls Expert with Stromquist’s own David Cates who answers an inquiry on a combination gas valve. A combination gas valve is used to control gas pressure and provide safety features. Controlling the pressure is required to avoid fires and explosions caused by too much pressure. If the pressure is not high enough, though, the appliance will not get the amount of ignited gas required for it to function properly.
AHR Expo 2017 Announces Innovation Awards Ceremony. WESTPORT, Conn., November 16, 2016 – As a highlight of the 2017 Air-Conditioning, Heating, Refrigerating Exposition (AHR Expo), to be held next January 30 to February 1 in Las Vegas, the 2017 AHR Expo Innovation Awards ceremony has been scheduled for Tuesday, January 31. From 1:00 to 2:00 pm in Las Vegas Convention Center room N253 (on the second floor of the North Hall), the 2017 AHR Expo Innovation Awards will honor the most inventive and original products, systems and technologies showcased at this year’s Show in the categories of: building automation; cooling; green building; heating; indoor air quality; plumbing; refrigeration; software; tools & instruments; and ventilation.
Siemens’ EcoView EMS is an End-to-end Energy Management Solution designed specifically to meet the energy management needs of restaurants, medical offices, retail shops and other small commercial businesses. Already at work in many facilities across the United States, EcoView is a proven solution for lowering energy consumption and bills. Wireless technology, drop-in thermostats, and cloud-based applications make it affordable and simple to install and use. It also provides great visibility and control of HVAC and lighting from one central point, which helps increase productivity.
Sierra Monitor Corporation Bridges BACnet to the Cloud. Milpitas, California – November 17, 2016 – Sierra Monitor Corporation, a provider of Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) solutions that connect and protect high-value infrastructure assets, today announced that its industry-leading BACnet gateways, routers, and network explorers are now “IIoT-Empowered out-of-the-box” and are shipping with new software that allows customers to securely register, access, and manage their field-installed products from Sierra Monitor’s FieldPoP device cloud.
Josh Bradshaw on ControlTalk Now The Smart Buildings Podcast
ControlTalk Rewind: Josh Bradshaw. If you missed the October 30th ControlTalk Now Smart Buildings Video Cast, you missed what Silcon Valley Tech Guru Josh Bradshaw had to say about how Silcon Valley is influencing Smart Buildings. No worries you can hear what Josh had to say right here right now! Josh tracks the newest technology coming out of Silicon Valley. Josh’s blog WorkTechWork is the go to place for people interested in the latest IoT technology trends and everything from sustainable energy, wearable technologies, smart homes, and smart buildings. Josh Bradshaw’s mantra is “Don’t work for technology… make technology work for you.”
ControlTalk NOW — Smart Buildings VideoCast|PodCast for week ending Nov 13, 2016 features an interview with Therese Sullivan of BuildingContext.Me, our eyes and ears covering Silicon Valley and the possibility of buying back your data from your cloud services provider. Much more to follow: EasyIO Europe training dates; Yardi Matrix 2016 Review and 2017 Forecast Webinar; CoRE Tech 2016 Review; Flame Safeguard Parable from CGNA Distributors; Honeywell N4 Certification Discount; Sophos’ James Lyne How to Hack CCTV Cameras; and ControlTalk Rewind with Ken Sinclair, “The Times They are A Changin’.”
ControlTalk NOW interview with Therese Sullivan of BuildingContext.Me, our eyes and ears from Silicon Valley. In this interview Therese tells us about her latest Silicon Valley coverage and delivers another round of advanced sapience, issuing a not so far-fetched warning about the next lock-in battlefield — waged in the cloud, where your data is being sold, and like it or not, you may have to buy it back from your service provider.
EasyIO Europe CPT & EasyStack Training Sessions Coming Up. We are very pleased to inform you about the upcoming CPT and EasyStack trainings. The CPT training is scheduled for the 28th and the 29th of November. The EasyStack training is scheduled for the 30th of November and the 1st and the 2nd of December. The trainings are the best way to get to know how to work with the CPT tools and the EasyIO FG series and EasyStack.
Yardi Matrix – 2016 Review and 2017 Forecast – Webinar Thursday, Nov 10, 2016 10:00AM PDT – 11:00AM PDT. Professional investors are worried. 2016 has done little to allay the fear that the investment cycle has hit a slowdown, and questions have emerged. Is this the end of a successful long run and will those still in the market be left holding assets with diminishing values?
CoRE Tech 2016 – Realcomm Nov 16-17, 2016 Program Details: The CoRE Tech education program is designed to give CORPORATE REAL ESTATE DIRECTORS, CIOs, FACILITY MANAGERS, BUILDING ENGINEERS, ENERGY and SUSTAINABILITY EXECUTIVES, PORTFOLIO MANAGERS and ASSET MANAGERS the technology tools they need to positively impact the bottom line of their companies – from automating business processes, to general technology solutions specifically for corporate real estate organizations, to smarter intelligent building technologies.
A Flame Safeguard Parable from the Distributors at Controls Group North America.There is a saying we have all heard, “penny wise, pound foolish.” which I’ve taken to mean, “making decisions to save small amounts of money (pennies), that end up making bad sense for affecting larger amounts of money and potential liability.” In this video, created by the elite Flame Safeguard Distributors that are members of Controls Group North America, you get to experience a realistic simulation of what could happen when you take financial shortcuts at the sake of safety. Contact your nearest CGNA Distributor for assistance.
Honeywell Discount on Niagara 4 Certification Training. 50% Discount on Niagara 4 Certification Training! Honeywell is offering a 50% discount to Authorized System Distributors towards Niagara 4 (WEBs-N4) Certification training (unlike the WEBs-N4 Crossover training) when an order of $60K or greater of WEBs integration products that are purchased between now and November 21, 2016. In addition, Authorized WEBs Contractors earn double CPRO points on any order amount of WEBs integration products purchased between November 11, 2016 through December 2, 2016.
How to Hack a CCTV Camera with Primitive Methods from James Lyne of Sophos. Sophos researcher James Lyne demonstrates how to hack an Internet-connected CCTV camera and an Android-powered phone using staggeringly simple methods. James Lyne is global head of security research at the security firm Sophos. James, a self-professed ‘massive geek’ has technical expertise spanning a variety of the security domains from forensics to offensive security. He has worked with many organizations on security strategy, handled a number of severe incidents and is a frequent industry advisor.
ControlTalk Rewind: Ken Sinclair “The Times They Are A Changin’.” “The Times They Are A Changin’” Bob Dylan said this in a song in 1964, and our very own Ken Sinclair echoes this sentiment in 2016. If you missed the October 30th Episode of ControlTalk Now The Smart Buildings Video Cast, you missed our awesome interview with Ken in which he lays out the changes that are afoot in the Building Automation and Smart Buildings controls world. Make no mistake, these changes will have a dramatic effect on all of us. So if you missed the show, no worries, you can see the interview with Ken right here right now.
ControlTalk NOW — Smart Buildings VideoCast|PodCast for week ending Nov 6, 2016 begins with a review of Ken Sinclair’s November edition of Automated Buildings followed by: Functional Devices Tech Tuesday with Henry Smith; Next Generation Innovation Episode 2 features Comfy’s Lindsay Baker; Gas Pressure Regulator’s 101 with Matt Koenig; Honeywell’s Release of WEBs-N4.2 with Spyder and Stryker Tools; Siemens OpenAir Damper Actuators; Sierra Monitor’s ProtoAir Wireless Gateway; Call for speakers and sponsors for the Haystack Connect 2017; Optergy, one CIO’s most promising energy management solution providers; EasyIO’s Mike Marston’s TCOM Video; and the 2 latest BAM podcasts from Phil Zito.
Ken Sinclair’s Automated Buildings November Theme — Open Edge Software Fuels Self-learning Operability. Ken Sinclair, owner and editor of automatedbuildings.com continues his quest of pulling the lid off of the next future of our industry — before it’s bottled. Granting IoT no sanctuary, Ken Sinclair’s November pursuit is clear: “Our revolutionary themes for the last few months have led us to the importance of the open software movement as part of our journey.”
Functional Devices’ Energy Saving Applications — TECH TUESDAY with Functional Device‘s customer support engineer, Henry Smith. “Whether it is for environmental or monetary reasons, many people constantly look for ways to save energy. I am one of those people, and I have implemented many energy saving technologies in my own home. I have automated lighting, a smart thermostat which controls a high efficiency heat pump, and many energy saving appliances. These additions have cut my average monthly electric bill by about 10%.”
Episode 2 Next Generation Innovation features Lindsay Baker from Comfy. In episode 2 of Next Generation Innovation, young guns Rob Allen and Brad White catch up with Lindsay Baker from Comfy. Topics include: How Comfy is redefining how Smart Buildings use social media and a unique version of crowd sourcing to make buildings more energy efficient, how women are able to make smart buildings even smarter, and what it’s like to be a venture capitalist funded company. Great interview and very insightful tale always.
Boilers and combustion burners need gas pressure regulators installed correctly
The Right Way to Install a Gas Pressure Regulator. It’s getting cold outside…..well maybe not yet, but it will start getting cold soon. When it get’s cold we turn the heat on, and when we turn the heat on, we find out what broke during the warm days of spring and summer. In the spirit of making sure replacement heating stuff get’s installed properly, we are re releasing one of our most popular technical videos on how to install a gas pressure regulator the right way.
Honeywell’s New Packaged Release of WEBs-N4.2 with Spyder and Stryker Tools. Honeywell is pleased to announce the release of the WEBs-N4.2.36.34 Software packaged that includes Spyder, Stryker, Venom and BACnet FF Tstat programming tools. This release includes user interface enhancements, bundled Web Start application, as well as the Niagara Analytics 2.0 modules.
Siemens OpenAir Damper Actuators — Speak Your Language. Siemens’ OpenAir speaks your language: Long-life, sturdy damper actuators for HVAC applications, air volume control as well as fire and smoke protection dampers. OpenAir is a comprehensive portfolio of damper actuators tailored to suit your requirements. You’ll benefit from a wide selection of positioning forces, control signals, communications standards and add-on options.
Let’s go Wireless: Cool New Product from Sierra Monitor. The ProtoAir wireless gateway is an external, high-performance, low-cost building automation and industrial control protocol gateway for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) that provides manufacturers instant multi-protocol deployment of field protocols, enabling new or legacy devices to easily interface with other protocols.
Call for Speakers and Additional Sponsors of Haystack Connect 2017. Project Haystack (www.project-haystack.org), a non-profit, 501(c) organization focused on developing common standards to streamline the interchange of data among today’s smart devices, systems and equipment, today announced the Call For Speakers for Haystack Connect 2017 and the latest additions to the list of Sponsors.
CIO’S 20 MOST PROMISING ENERGY MANAGEMENT SOLUTION PROVIDERS. ControlTrends Awards Platinum sponsor and nominee, Optergy, is poised to make an impact on the Smart Buildings Controls market in North America. Check out this press release and video to get the 411 on Optergy. This might be the first time you have heard of Optergy, but it will not be the last! Optergy, a business division of the Oberix Group, a a software provider of building automation and energy management tools, has announced it has received notable recognition as one of the “20 Most Promising Energy Management Solution providers” of 2016 by CIOInsights.
EasyIO’s Mike Marston Video — Use TCOM for Tight Integration to N4 and AX. EasyIO’s Mike Marston’s Video on how to use TCOM for tight Integration to N4 and AX demonstrates how very cool and efficient the process is. All the Points, Schedules and Histories are instantly accessible. EasyIO is able accommodate general and specific applications featuring the SOX, TCOM, FGP2P and BACnet MSTP communication protocols.
Don’t Miss Phil Zito’s PodCasts: What is a BAS? and What is a Network? Part 1. BAM 036: What is a BAS? In Episode 36 of the Building Automation Monthly Podcast I discuss the age old question. What is a BAS? In today’s episode I will cover: What is a BAS; BAS vs Control Systems; Control System types; Common functions of BAS; Control Processes; and Control Devices. BAM Episode 36: What is a BAS?
ControlTalk NOW — Smart Buildings VideoCast|PodCast for week ending Oct 30, 2016 features interviews with three industry experts: Ken Sinclair, owner and editor of Automated Buildings; Josh Bradshaw, Silicon Valley’s tech-tracking guru; and Fearless Phil Zito, author and editor of Building Automation Monthly. Take a look at OPTERGY’s Aurora and Proton solutions — Building Management has become a whole lot easier; Belimo’s up-coming webinar on their smart butterfly valve technology; John Sublett, Tridium’s CTO, interviews ControlTrends; and Mike Marston reviews EasyIO’s Sedona based FG-32+ architecture. Please note, the nomination period for the 2016 ControlTrends Awards is well underway! This is your opportunity to nominate your favorite products, solutions, vendors, technical support people and executives.
ControlTrends’ first guest is Ken Sinclair, owner and editor AutomatedBuildings.com. Ken continues his inquiry concerning the impacts of IoT and self-machine learning in the BAS world, as well as the rapidity of change that is circling the building automation industry. Is our HVAC industry preparing itself for the explosive and disruptive evolution or will it get hit broadside? If you still need convincing that major changes are afoot, be sure to review the attention-getters and direct links to Ken’s references and articles.
Optergy — Dedicated to the Business of Managing Buildings, Facilities and Enterprises. Optergy is a technology company dedicated to improving the business of managing facilities with tools to improve efficiency, performance and processes, whilst providing key stakeholders with the information and reporting to make informed strategic decisions. Combining these systems improves the way our clients go about their business. This can be as simple as having a single interface to view their sub systems, or monitoring progress against budget.
The New Belimo Butterfly Valve—Advanced Technology for High Flow Applications. The New Belimo Butterfly Valve: Join us to learn about the newly designed butterfly valve and actuator assembly that is the most intelligent, energy efficient, and reliable high flow solution in the HVAC market. Highlights include patent pending self-adjusting end stop algorithm to ensure zero leakage, Near Field Communication (NFC) for easy troubleshooting, commissioning, and programming, and brushless DC motor technology that reduces energy consumption by up to 80%.
ControlTrends’ second guest is Josh Bradshaw, who tracks the newest technology coming out of Silicon Valley. Josh’s blog WorkTechWork is the go to place for people interested in the latest IoT technology trends and everything from sustainable energy, wearable technologies, smart homes, and smart buildings. Josh Bradshaw’s mantra is “Don’t work for technology… make technology work for you.”
Tridium’s John Sublett Interviews ControlTrends’ Ken and Eric. Tridium’s Chief Technology Officer, John Sublett turns the tables on ControlTrends with his interview with Ken and Eric. Beginning with how ControlTrends got started, John deftly steers the conversation along the open systems and integration highway, traversing the trends and the new drivers in the industry; the speed and formidability of technology and the blurry lines it creates; and perhaps most importantly, there is a lot of open road and smart building integration opportunity still ahead.
ControlTrends’ third guest is Fearless Phil Zito. One of the sharpest knives in the building automation drawer, Phil is owner and editor of Building Automation Monthly and as Phil promises, “You’ll leave educated!” And, “When it comes to working in the building automation space, no skill stands out more than HVAC. Having a solid understanding of HVAC fundamentals will get you far in the building automation space.”
FG-32+ Architecture — All EasyIO Products Run Sedona Framework. EasyIO’s Mike Marston provided ControlTrends with this update: “All EasyIO products run Sedona Framework and Sedona is very much alive. We have 300,000 plus Sedona controllers installed across 40 countries and our new FW14 Wi-Fi mesh controllers also run Sedona. Here is the Sedona Framework deployed in an FG32+:”
Here is Your Official 2016 ControlTrends Awards Nomination Ballot! The nomination period for the 2016 ControlTrends Awards is well underway! This is your opportunity to nominate your favorite products, solutions, vendors, technical support people and executives. Help us recognize the heroes and superstars of our HVAC and Building Automation industry. Nominate those people, products, and solutions that help sustain our industry and make it so important and successful. The top five or six nominees in each category will then be placed on the final voting ballot in December. Please pass this nomination ballot to your co-workers and colleagues! Click here to start the nomination process. Please share this link with your network.
ControlTalk NOW — Smart Buildings VideoCast|PodCast for week ending Oct 23, 2016 starts with the release of the 2016 ControlTrends Awards Nomination Ballot! This is your opportunity to ensure your organization’s champions and the great people, products, and solutions in our industry are recognized. Two new categories have been added to the awards: ControlTrends Women of the Year and ControlTrends Most Impactful Video of the Year. Also this week: Video from the Geek Group; AHR EXPO Innovation Award Announcement; CANDI announces its PowerTools software has been integrated with the Intel® Building Management Platform (Intel® BMP); $6.5 Million DOE Funding Opportunity; Next Generation Innovation Episode 001 released; Contemporary Controls at Plugfest 2016; EasyIO’s Mike Marston Demos FW-14; and CBERD: U.S. and India PACE Update.
Electronics How-To: Relays the Basics a Contractor Needs to Know. Cool video from the Geek Group on relays! Based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, The Geek Group provides access to science, technology, engineering and math by developing programming and facilities for individuals and institutions to learn, explore, innovate and play at an independent pace according to their needs. The Geek Group has many thousands of members scattered across the globe, in every state in the US and one hundred and forty-two countries. Come help us build Awesome! Thanks Chris, well done.
ControlTrends Breaking News
AHR Expo Innovation Awards Donates $22,500 to Opportunity Village. WESTPORT, Conn., October 18, 2016 – Each year as part of its submission process, the AHR Expo Innovation Awards Competition collects entry fees that are then donated in full to a charitable organization within regional proximity to the corresponding year’s show. For 2017, the AHR Expo announces Opportunity Village as the recipient of $22,500 in AHR Expo Innovation Awards proceeds, to be directly applied toward HVACR upgrades and new equipment purchases at three existing and one new campus location.
CANDI Integrates with Intel Building Management Platform to Provide Edge-to-Cloud IoT Data Access. October 20, 2016 – CANDI today announced that its PowerTools software has been integrated with the Intel® Building Management Platform (Intel® BMP), which is now available. Intel® BMP is a manageable IoT platform with built-in security that enables cloud-based smart building applications and services with easy access to the data and things in small to mid- sized buildings. CANDI-enabled gateways simplify smart building deployments by making it quick and easy—and often automatic—to integrate smart products such as meters, switches, thermostats, lights, sensors, cameras, and building controls.
Make Your 2016 ControlTrends Awards Nominations Today!ControlTrends is excited to announce that the 2016 ControlTrends Awards nomination period has begun. This is your opportunity to ensure your organization’s champions and the great people, products, and solutions in our industry are recognized. Two new categories have been added to the awards: ControlTrends Women of the Year and ControlTrends Most Impactful Video of the Year. Click here for the Nomination Ballot!
ENERGY DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES $6.5 MILLION TO SCALE UP THE ENERGY EFFICIENCY OF US COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS. Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) Number: DE-FOA-0001518: The Building Technologies Office (BTO) has announced the availability of $6.5 million for DE-FOA-0001518, “Scaling Up the Next Generation of Building Efficiency Packages.” BTO seeks proposals driving innovation in real building technology demonstrations while also fostering the collaboration of dynamic demonstration teams. The General Services Administration (GSA) Green Proving Ground program is a key collaborator, will participate in the review committee, and offer demonstration host sites.
Next Generation Innovation Episode 001. Next Generation Innovation is all about Smart Buildings and Smart People from The Young Guns Perspective. Rob Allen from Stromquist and Company along with his rotating co-hosts Josh Felperin, Jason Houck and Brad White invite guests to discuss HVAC, Lighting, Security and Smart Building Controls and their perspective of how it all fits and works together. Whether you’re a manufacturer, contractor, distributor or end user there will definitely be something you’ll enjoy on the Next Generation Innovation podcast.
Contemporary Controls Plugging in from New Hampshire, at the 2016 BACnet International Plugfest. October 2016 – The BACnet International Plugfest 2016 at the InterOperability Lab at the University of New Hampshire, Durham, New Hampshire gave attendees the opportunity to live test new products and features. The conference, for manufacturers of BACnet products, allows attendees to test their BACnet products with BACnet devices from other attendees in a neutral and friendly environment. “One of the benefits of attending PlugFest is the chance to test new products,” said Mingshu Wang, an engineer at Contemporary Controls. “We attend PlugFest every year because it gives us a unique chance to see how our products interact with those from another company.”
EasyIO’s Mike Marston Demos the FW-14 Live at Pittsburgh’s Carpenter’s KML Apprentice Training Facility. ControlTrends had the opportunity to join Mike Marston, VP Worldwide Sales at EasyIO Holdings, when visited with Pat Butler, Facility Manager at KML Carpenters, and Dave Simmers, a Systems Integrator with Renick Brothers Mechanical Contractors. Mike demos the awesome new FW-14 wireless controller technology that uses BACnet over IP and Mesh to Mesh integration between controllers using live wire sheets (no uploading/down loading). Great demo video!
CBERD: The Eagle and the Tiger: U.S.-India Partnership Advancing Building Energy Efficiency Innovations. The United States and India have a long and successful strategic partnership in the energy sector. In November 2009, the United States and India launched the Partnership to Advance Clean Energy (PACE), which is working to accelerate inclusive, low carbon growth by supporting research and deployment of clean energy technologies. Under PACE-R (research), the U.S. and India support research in solar energy, building energy efficiency, advanced biofuels, smart grid, and energy storage.
ControlTalk NOW — Smart Buildings VideoCast|PodCast for week ending Oct 16, 2016 features highlights and interviews from three major industry events: Johnson Controls’ CBC16 in Nashville; KMC’s Genius Summit in Chicago; and Siemens’ National CPS Business Sales Meeting, also in Chicago. The Race to the Small Space continues as these three Vendors renew their focus on the Small to Midsize Building Markets with a host of feature-rich products. Haystack Connect 2017 update; Upcoming ACI Interface Device Webinar; Sierra Monitoring Corporation’s BACnet Survival Kit, Special Limited Offer; and don’t miss Phil Zito’s review of ControlTalk NOW’s 200 episode.
200th Episode of ControlTalk NOW — Smart Buildings VideoCast|PodCast and DAY 2 of Johnson Controls’ CBC16. ControlTrends is delighted to bring you our 200th episode of ControlTalk NOW — Smart Buildings VideoCast|PodCast for week ending October 9th, 2016, while covering DAY 2 of the Johnson Controls’ CBC16! Providence would have us at Nashville’s Gaylord Opryland, which was an ideal venue — full of special people to help us celebrate our momentous occasion. Special thanks to Roger Rebennack, Jenny Stentz, Chris Eichmann, Rick Van Buren, Al Anderson, Russ Carfagna, John Donahue, Dave Gottfried, Jeff Hurwitz, Joe Chandler, Jim Hayman, Pete Walsh, Paul Burke, and the too numerous to name well-wishers and supporters of ControlTrends, that helped make this milestone happen!
Day Two Night Lights from the Johnson Controls CBC16. This video captures just a few of the great products and people at the Johnson Controls CBC 2016 Vendor Showcase. Listen as Sabrina Eder, Channel Account Manager, tells Rob Allen why she has been recognized as a ControlTrends Young Gun Award and for her continued success with customers. Troy and Tom tell ControlTrends about JCI’s sales operations and channel sales for APW, as well as a introduction to one of the most exciting entries into “the race to the small space,” the Johnson Controls’ Verasys.
Highlights From The KMC Genius Conference. From Nashville to Chicago, and from JCI to KMC, this has been the week of Smart Buildings Controls meetings. KMC’s Genius Conference theme was “Command Your future”. KMC rolled out all the stops with a great location, great speakers, innovative ideas, and training on KMC’s new light commercial system, the Commander.
Project Project Haystack Organization Announces New Members and Haystack Connect 2017 Conference Sponsors. Richmond, Virginia – October 12, 2016 – Project Haystack (www.project-haystack.org), a non-profit, 501(c) organization focused on developing common standards to streamline the interchange of data among today’s smart devices, systems and equipment, today announced the latest additions to the growing list of associate member companies and confirmed sponsors of next year’s Haystack Connect 2017 Conference scheduled for May 8 – 10, 2017 at the Saddlebrook Resort near Tampa, Florida.
ACI’s Brant Kasbohm’s INTERFACE DEVICE Webinar, 10/26/16 10:00 A.M. CST. Brant Kasbohm, ACI’s Interface Webinar Presenter will conduct a brief, educational overview of ACI’s Pressure Sensors including “How To” videos and product demonstrations. A “Q & A” session will conclude Brant’s 15 minute presentation. Questions? Send Brant an email: bkasbohm@workaci.com.
Sierra Monitoring Corporation’s BACnet Survival Kit — Special Limited Offer. Sierra Monitor Corporation addresses the industrial and commercial facilities management market with Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) solutions that connect and protect high-value infrastructure assets. BACnet Survival Kit Product Information and Description: Do you have a BACnet integration project and require various products to commission the site? No need to look elsewhere – we’ve got you covered. Introducing the BACnet Survival Kit: your all-inclusive BACnet integration toolkit.
ControlTrends coverage of the Siemens CPS Business National Sales Meeting in Chicago features interviews with John Katzmarszyk, VP Americas, Commercial Products and Solutions, who explains Siemens’ effort to be more open, honest, and engaging to their partners, make more products and solutions available, and be more effective business partners. ControlTrends’ next interview is with Siemens Territory Manager and ControlTrends Woman of the Year nominee, Ruth Hershey. Ruth reviews her eighteen year career that began in the electronics industry with Omron and the great experiences she has enjoyed with Siemens and the HVAC industry.
Phil Zito Breaks Down Episode 200 of ControlTalk NOW The Smart Buildings Video Cast. Smart Buildings Controls Expert Phil Zito, from Building Automation Monthly, shares his thoughts on Episode 200 of ControlTalk Now The Smart Buildings Video Cast. Click here to check out Episode 30 of Phil’s Building Automation Monthly Podcast on the ControlTrends Podcasting Network. Phil does a great job of laying out his seven steps to creating successful sequence of operations for our building automation controls system. Great job Phil!
ControlTrends is delighted to bring you our 200th episode of ControlTalk NOW — Smart Buildings VideoCast|PodCast for week ending October 9th, 2016, while covering DAY 2 of the Johnson Controls’ CBC16! Providence would have us at Nashville’s Gaylord Opryland, which was an ideal venue — full of special people to help us celebrate our momentous occasion. Special thanks to Roger Rebennack, Jenny Stentz, Chris Eichmann, Rick Van Buren, Russ Carfagna, John Donahue, Dave Gottfried, Jeff Hurwitz, Joe Chandler, Jim Hayman, Pete Walsh, Paul Burke, and the too numerous to name well-wishers and supporters of ControlTrends, that helped make this milestone happen!
CBC16, DAY 2: Full of immense energy and insight, Johnson’s CBC16, DAY 2, kicked into high gear with Chris Eichmann’s hearty welcome, followed by Jenny Stentz, who told the 700 plus audience the revitalized and compelling Johnson Controls’ story, a story that creates value with partnership; is proactive, and predictable; and one with assigned account managers that will be the new key to success, because they are incentivized as a team — to share insights and best practices for results. Johnson Controls has intentionally organized this approach to deliver new solutions. Read more about DAY 2 and the rest of ControlTalk NOW below!
Keynote Address by Clay Nesler. Smart, Green and Resilient – Market Trends in Sustainable Buildings: The 2016 Johnson Controls Energy Efficiency Indicator survey of 1,248 energy and facility management executives provides insight into current and planned investments, key drivers and organizational barriers for improving energy efficiency across their facilities. The presentation continues with a near-future vision for a day in the life of a smart, green building and closes with a discussion of potential implications for the HVAC distribution and contracting community. Clay ended with reference to famed fiction writer, William Ginson’s view of the future: “The future is already here. It’s just not evenly distributed.”
Second Keynote Address was by Dr. Alan Beaulieu, President of ITR Economics. A prodigious economics expert and author, Alan engaged the audience with economic analysis punctuated with humor as he discussed the serious economic forecast for North America and discussed ways to recognize trends and economic indicators well enough to understand how they are likely to impact your business.
The amazing DAY 2 was rounded out with afternoon Product Breakout Sessions, Cocktails and Dinner, followed by Live Entertainment. Stay tuned for ControlTrends’ Night Lights coverage of the CBC16 evening activities!
October is National Cyber Security Awareness Month! Marc Petock Warns Cyber Incidents are Disruptive and Potentially Catastrophic! Lynxspring’s Cyber Security expert, Marc Petock reminds us that October is National Cyber Security Awareness Month, which is an annual campaign to raise awareness about cyber security. From Marc Petock: “We live in a world that is more connected than ever before. The Internet touches all aspects of our business and personal life. From a business perspective, the negative consequences that cyber incidents can cause are disruptive and potentially catastrophic. The value of taking additional measures and procedures to increase the cyber security posture of your systems, far outweigh the risk of not making them secure.”
Belimo Innovation Contest — Internal Leakage in Zone Valves Causes Loss of Energy and Money. Let’s Fix This! Internal leakage in zone valves causes loss of energy and money! Zone valves are used for room temperature control for heating or cooling. Leaky zone valves lead to significant energy losses. Help Belimo find a simple method for detecting and measuring internal leakage in zone valves. Fixing the leakage problem will improve energy efficiency and reduce operating costs. The sought-after solution shall be user-friendly, non-invasive, portable and applicable to an operating heating or cooling system in a building.
DOE’s Better Buildings — September’s Top-10 Solutions. Better Buildings is an initiative of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) designed to improve the lives of the American people by driving leadership in energy innovation. Through Better Buildings, DOE partners with leaders in the public and private sectors to make the nation’s homes, commercial buildings and industrial plants more energy efficient by accelerating investment and sharing of successful best practices.
HVAC Control Valve Training with Tim Chamblee. Sit in on this valve trying class taught by Tim Chamblee at Stromquist & Company. Tim is a master trainer and in this class he breaks down different HVAC control valve and actuator types and gives you information that will help you select.install and troubleshoot HVAC valves and actuators.
ControlTalk NOW — Smart Buildings VideoCast|PodCast for Week Ending Sep 25, 2016 features Intelligent Buildings’ Director of Cyber Security, Fred Gordy, who details the exposure and vulnerability of Operational Technology, which run our buildings. Watch as Fred reviews, step by step — the hacker’s modus operandi. Sameer Pradhan, Director of ControlTrends India, updates the ControlTrends Community on India’s colossal Smart City imitative; Schneider Electric releases their new MG350 Smart Actuators with alarming features; Contemporary Controls’ newest network solution offers greater speed and diagnostics; Larry Andriunas takes the helm at Kodaro, LLC; and this week’s ControlTalk Rewind takes us back to the future with Ecorithm’s Dr. Igor Mezic and artificial intelligence.
Schneider Electric Has a Hit with The New MG350 SmartX Actuators. Awesome video and cool new actuator series from Schneider Electric. The SmartX MG 350 is the first NEW SmartX Actuator released globally. It is designed to control two and three-way globe valves in a wide range of applications. The MG350 SmartX Actuator is the platform for the future, acting as the foundation of both a SmartStruxure solution and SmartStruxure Lite solution. The critical information delivered by the actuator helps the BMS operate at optimal efficiency.
ControlTalk NOW’s first interview is with Fred Gordy, Intelligent Building’s Director of Cyber Security. As our industry’s leading cyber security expert, Fred focuses on the specific vulnerabilities concerning Operational Technology, controllers on building networks that control the HVAC equipment and building systems and equipment versus Information Technology. Operational Technologies were designed for availability and comfort, which was suitable at the time, but when the need to share information across subnets made Broadcast BACnet Management Devices necessary, as well as using a public IP address, the security imperative was not factored into the equation. Watch this video! and, visit the NIST Cyber Security Framework website for basic recommendations to protect your Operational Technology.
Larry Andriunas Larry Andriunas announces the launch of Kodaro, LLC, a software development company which he will lead from California’s Bay Area. Operating in the building automation industry, Kodaro is hard at work creating ways to connect building controls through software drivers, software applications, and enterprise solutions. “I’m very excited about launching Kodaro,” said Andriunas, a 28-year building controls expert. “The building automation industry is at an interesting time where new technologies are finally converging. Kodaro will lead the way for innovation in support of contractors and integrators.”
ControlTalk NOW’s second interview is with Director, ControlTrends India, Sameer Pradhan. Sameer Pradhan is also the Managing Director of CICC Automation Technologies, a leading international building automation systems provider. Sameer recently chaired a panel discussion on Smart Connected Intelligent Buildings — The Foundation for Smart Cities,” that discussed in great detail, the critical aspects of the smart city standard and its core component, the intelligent building. India has presently identified 60 cities that will be included in this massive initiative. Great update!
Contemporary Controls: The Need for Speed and Diagnostics. Contemporary Controls is introducing the unmanaged EISK8-GT/H 8 port gigabit Ethernet switch with hub functionality. Yes, we purposely “broke” the address learning functionality of the switch so that all messages – directed, multicast, broadcast – are flooded to all ports on the switch allowing a protocol analyzer tool such as Wireshark® the ability to observe all traffic on the network.
How Using Artificial Intelligence in Smart Buildings will make them smarter
ControlTalk Rewind: Using Artificial Intelligence to Make Smart Buildings Smarter. Last Spring Ken and I had the opportunity to interview a couple of very interesting characters, who put a new spin on how to make smart buildings smarter through the use of artificial intelligence. This is next-gen analytics! Dr. Igor Mezic, Ecorithm’s Chief Scientific and Technology Advisor & Co-Founder, and John Morris, VP Marketing and Sales. Ecorithm is able to provide faster and more accurate results that other analytics companies, and why Ecorithm’s SaaS is necessary for the entire lifetime of the system.
ControlTalk NOW — Smart Buildings VideoCast|PodCast for week ending Sep 18, 2016 highlights the trends impacting our industry: CGNA’s Fall Meeting; New ControlTrends Awards category will recognize the top women in the HVAC Industry; Josh Bradshaw’s Smart Clock interview; Honeywell Release of WEBs-N4.1 Software; Johnson Controls Upcoming ABCS Meeting in Nashville; KMC’s Upcoming Genius Summit 2016 in Chicago; JCI’s VP of Products & Distribution Jenny Stentz’s Rewind; Tridium’s Pranay Prakash’s IoT Presentation; Belimo’s Energy Savings Tool; KMC’s Block Programming Series; DOE’s Development of Offshore Wind Energy; and ControlTrends People CTP 004, with Automation Integrated’s Chris Farve.
Josh Bradshaw Interview: Fans of tech meet fans of Harry Potter. This clock is the closest thing to the Weasley clock technology can provide. I just signed up as a backer on Indegogo and so should you! In this video Anton Zriashchev, CEO at Glance Clock gives a demo and I even ask him about the Weasley clock so you can hear what he has to say. Best of luck with your crowdfunding launch today Anton & team!! #smarthome #smartclock #iot #harrypotter #indegogo.
Stromquist’s Young Gun Rob Allen gives us a tour of Eric’s office and his fashionable standing desk. ControlTrends update: Rob Allen and Chris White are about to launch the Next Generation Innovation series, which is all about our industries’ bright young superstars and their careers — and their insights into the evolution of our industry and what we need to do — to enhance the image of the HVAC and BAS as an important and meaningful career.
NATIONAL OFFSHORE WIND STRATEGY: FACILITATING THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE OFFSHORE WIND INDUSTRY IN THE UNITED STATES. Offshore wind energy holds the promise of significant environmental and economic benefits for the United States. It is an abundant, low-carbon, domestic energy resource. It is located close to major coastal load centers, providing an alternative to long-distance transmission or development of electricity generation in these land-constrained regions.
Honeywell Releases WEBs-N4.1.27.20 (N4.1.1) Software Packaged Release with Tools. Honeywell is pleased to announce the release of the WEBs-N4.1.27.20 (N4.1.1) software packaged with Spyder, Stryker and Venom programming tools. Main Features: Packaged release with Honeywell tools within Niagara N4.1.27.20 software build; Supports both the newer WEB-8000 and legacy WEB-300E/600E/700 controllers; and Supports Windows 10 operating system on Supervisors & Workbench.
BELIMO Releases New Damper Actuator Energy Savings Estimator Tool. Just Released: Damper Actuator Energy Savings Estimator Tool! Belimo Damper Actuator Energy Savings Estimator is now available online. The Damper Actuator Energy Savings Estimator Tool was developed to help quantify the cost savings verses other brands. Belimo damper actuators provide significant energy savings from their low power consumption.
Tridium’s Pranay Prakash on how the Internet of Things, Big Data, and the Cloud will Help Smart Buildings. If you missed the 2016 Niagara Summit, you missed Pranay Prakash and his take on how the Internet of Things, Big Data and the Cloud. Learn how these will affect the way we do smart building controls. For more than 15 years, Tridium’s Niagara Framework® has fundamentally changed the way devices and systems connect. In 77 countries, from leading corporations to the latest startups, a large and active community has formed around Niagara.
KMC Announce Block Programming. As of September 2016, KMC Controls has released block programming via the Control Basic Block editor, supported in Connect, Total Control and Niagara. The KMC Control Basic Block editor provides a simple drag-and-drop interface to program BACnet Controllers, specifically KMC Conquest® products: BAC-5901, BAC-9001, BAC-9021, BAC-9301 & BAC-9311. By giving customers the freedom and choice to program controllers the way they want, block programming is a natural extension of KMC’s commitment to provide open, secure and scalable solutions from single-building to enterprise-level installations.
Control Talk Rewind: Johnson Controls Jenny Stentz: Could Johnson Controls Enable the First Battery Powered Building? If you missed the August 7th episode of ControlTalk Now The Smart Buildings Video Cast and Podcast you missed our interview with Jenny Stentz, VP of Products & Distribution North America, at Johnson Controls, the world’s largest building controls provider and battery maker. Jenny gives ControlTrends fresh insight into Johnson Controls’ realigned sales and the leadership role Johnson Controls has taken in the building and energy storage space. Johnson Controls offers the latest innovations in renewable technology, efficiency technology, controls technology, and battery storage technology and is focused on the ease of doing business with its channel partners.
CTP 004 ControlTrends People Takes a Deep Dive into the Life of Automation Integrated’s Chris Favre. On this episode of ControlTrends People, the life stories of the great people in the building automation controls industry,that make smart buildings smart, we learn about Automation Integrated’s Chris Favre. Chris is the Executive Vice President at Automation Integrated. Automated Integrated is based in Oklahoma City, but as a true master systems integrator and co-winner of the 2015 ControlTrends System Integrator of the Year Award, work on Smart Buildings projects all over the world.
ControlTalk NOW — Smart Buildings VideoCast|PodCast for week ending Sep 11, 2016 comes from Chicago, IL, where ControlTrends attended the 2016 Controls Group North America Fall Members Meeting, as 46 of North America’s top Distributors and Systems Distributors met and welcomed Johnson Controls into the Industry’s Elite as a preferred vendor. See Dubai’s Floating Seahorse — incomparable underwater luxury; Thermokon Sensortechnik partners with Belimo Americas; Don’t miss OPTIGO Networks Webinar: I Can Hack into Your Building. Try’n Stop Me; Tridium Releases Niagara 4.2 and Niagara Analytics 2.0; Mike Marston is interviewed in CTP 3 ControlTrends People, Life Stories of the People that Make Smart Buildings Smart; and Lynxspring”s Onyxx® BACnet® to Haystack Data Pump helps to overcome the data organization challenge.
Room with an Underwater View: The Floating Seahorse — A New Smart Beach Home. Our friend Marc Petock, from Lynxspring, showed us the new definition of a beach home. ABOUT THE PROJECT: Having successfully sold out phase one and two of The Floating Seahorse in just eight months, The Heart of Europe is proud to launch the third phase! The Tzar Edition of The Floating Seahorse is the third phase of Seahorses available at The Heart of Europe. The Tzar Edition will be located on St Petersburg Island which is designed in the shape of a heart and takes inspiration from The Maldives.
Thermokon Sensortechnik GmbH Germany Announces Belimo Americas as New Distribution and Support Partner. Thermokon Sensortechnik GmbH Germany is pleased to announce that Belimo Americas will take over the distribution and support of our EasySens® EnOcean product range and high-tech Room Operating Units in the Americas as of 1st of October 2016 for existing Thermokon Americas customers. EasySens®, the leading, self-powered, intelligent wireless system, has been a great success in the American markets and is currently enjoying a steady growth.
OPTIGO Networks Webinar: I Can Hack into Your Building. Stop Me. Thursday, Sep 15th, 11AM PDT| 2PM EDT. 6 million commercial buildings in the US are believed to be secure. Every single one has exposed building controllers, security cameras and access control systems that an entry level hacker can hack into. Join Fred Gordy, Director of Cyber Security at Intelligent Buildings, and Ping Yao, CEO of Optigo Networks as they discuss the incredible vulnerabilities in our buildings’ systems, and what to do about it.
Tridium Releases Niagara 4.2 and Niagara Analytics 2.0 — Real-time Business Intelligence, Enabling Users to Make Smarter, Swifter Decisions. Integrated release allows for real-time business intelligence, enabling users to make smarter, swifter decisions leading to less waste and expense! Richmond, Va., Sept. 7, 2016 – Tridium Inc., a global Internet of Things (IoT) software technology leader, today announced the release of Niagara 4.2 which includes integration of Niagara Analytics 2.0. Together, these new releases bring the benefits and efficiencies of data-driven performance to users.
CTP 3 ControlTrends People, Life Stories of the People that Make Smart Buildings Smart Meet EasyIO’s Mike Marston. ControlTrends People is a new PodCast series that focuses on the life stories of the people in our industry that make it great. As we strive as an industry to reach full recognition and parity, we deeply believe that if we capture and share the persona of the great leaders and visionaries of our industry, we will continue to build a compelling image that will draw more young talent needed to sustain our industry. Our third episode features Mike Marston, VP Worldwide Sales at EasyIO Holdings.
Lynxspring Announces Release 1.0 for the Onyxx® BACnet® to Haystack Data Pump. Release 1.0 adds additional features, performance improvements, and UI enhancements for greater ease-of-use. Lynxspring is pleased to announce the immediate availability of Release 1.0 of the Onyxx® BACnet® to Haystack Data Pump. With this new release, we have improved the performance and incorporated new features and functions as requested by our fast-growing customer base.
ControlTalk NOW — Smart Buildings VideoCast|PodCast for week ending September 4, 2016 was a newsworthy week indeed. Tridium’s highly effective and successful President and General Manager, Nino DiCosmo, has been recruited away to a leadership position in another industry. Honeywell’s Jeff Tolnar will step in as the interim president. More information to follow. ControlTrends People PodCast was launched this week featuring, Nino DiCosmo and Marc Petock, and our in-depth interview with industry oracle, Ken Sinclair, delivers real deep-dive insights into what direction our industry is moving, at an accelerated IoT pace. Therese Sullivan’s ReWind reviews emerging technologies; Honeywell WEBs-AX 3.8.111 (3.8.u1) software package is released; and we get a macro view of energy savings from BTO’s David Nemtzow.
Smart Building Controls Rewind: Therese Sullivan. Revisit Building Context’s Therese Sullivan interview on ControlTalk Now:The Smart Buildings Video Cast and Podcast. Therese gives us an update on Haystack Connect, the 2016 RealComm|IBcon show, the right way to use twitter, and much more! Therese is a writer/technologist and marketing professional that provides news and analysis for commercial building system integrators, facilities managers and real estate professionals about innovations in building automation with emphasis on data analytics, mobile apps, cloud services and wireless networking.
Honeywell WEBs-AX 3.8.111 (3.8.u1) Packaged Software Release with Spyder, Stryker, Venom, and BACnet FF Programming Tools. Honeywell is pleased to announce the release of the WEBs-AX 3.8.111 (3.8.u1) software package with Spyder Tool (version: 6.4.5), Stryker Tool (version: 4.0.18, supporting Stryker BACnet VAV, Venom and BACnet FF programming tools. This release supports the new WEB-8000 based controllers, Java Web Start Applications, Windows 10 operating system, and Auto-download of Java security policy files.
CTP 1 ControlTrends People, Life Stories of the People that Make Smart Buildings Smart. ControlTrends People is a new PodCast series that focuses on the life stories of the people in our industry that make it great. As we strive as an industry to reach full recognition and parity, we deeply believe that if we capture and share the persona of the great leaders and visionaries of our industry, we will continue to build a compelling image that will draw more young talent needed to sustain our industry. We chose Nino DiCosmo, as our first Podcast because of his genuine passion and leadership — and for the enormous success he has brought to Tridium, the leading industry framework in Smart Buildings. Here’s Nino DiCosmo up-close and personal.
Ken Sinclair’s Automated Buildings September Theme — “The Self Learning Edge Revolution.” ControlTrends Community, hold onto your hats and meters! Because in this September edition of Automated Buildings, owner, editor — and oracle, Ken Sinclair, proposes that there is a edge controller revolution underway (right now, under our noses) that will completely disrupt the industry as we know it. Not only are these gadgets more open and more powerful, but they will be created and run by tinker kids in millennium maker culture.
Building Technologies Office — A Word from BTO’S Acting Director: 140 Million Places to Save Energy. David Nemtzow: “There are currently some 130 million residential units in the United States – which most of you think as homes. We at the Building Technologies Office (BTO) are prone to think of them as energy consumption structures. The 5+ million commercial buildings that make up our offices, schools, hospitals, and grocery stores? They also represent a huge opportunity for energy savings. Together, all of these buildings represent 40% of the energy consumed within the U.S., 76% of all electricity, and are responsible for 34% of all U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. That makes for a lot of space for improvement.”
CTP 2 ControlTrends People, Life Stories of the People that Make Smart Buildings Smart. ControlTrends People presents inspiring and motivational stories that open our eyes to the many paths taken to the prominent positions in our industry. Many accounts offer endearing insights and self-told anecdotes about the triumphs and setbacks that molded their careers and shaped ControlTrends People throughout their professional journeys. Our second ControlTrends People PodCast features Marc Petock, VP of Marketing for Lynxspring and Connexx Energy. Marc is a highly accomplished Global Technology Marketing Executive known for positively impacting the growth and performance of the organizations he has managed during his 30+year career.
Nino DiCosmo — Makes His Mark at Tridium, and is Moving on. Nino DiCosmo, the highly successful President and General Manager at Tridium, is moving on. ControlTrends learned of Nino’s decision to take another position last week. Nino’s visionary leadership was punctuated by the successful development and launch of next generation software Niagara 4, a complete brand refresh and re-positioning of Tridium’s Niagara software from a buildings controls focus to IoT innovative software company, while achieving over 37% revenue growth over past 3 years. During the transition period, Honeywell’s Jeff Tolnar, will serve as interim president of Tridium
ControlTalk NOW — Smart Buildings VideoCast|PodCast for week ending August 28, 2016 — Is aptly referred to this week as “The Show that Almost Was,” because of travel constraints and preparations for the 2016 CTA Awards. Still, we are able to present an abbreviated time-lapse preview of the ControlTrends People, a new PodCast series that focuses on the life stories of the people in our industry that make it great. Special thanks to Tridium’s Jenny Graves, Nino DiCosmo, Pranay Prakash, John Sublett and Ed Merwin for their hospitality and support. Also, this week, Contemporary Controls’ introduced their new EIA-485 Terminator; an Updated Ken’s Calendar; and a Heads-up on two important Webinars: Belimo’s Webview and OPTIGO Networks’ Visual BACnet.
Contemporary Controls’ New EIA-485 Terminator Provides Fail-Safe Biasing for BACnet MS/TP and Modbus RTU Networks. New EIA-485 Terminator Provides Fail-Safe Biasing for BACnet MS/TP and Modbus RTU Networks. Contemporary Controls‘ 485-TER is a standalone active terminator that is used on popular EIA-485 networks such as Modbus RTU and BACnet MS/TP providing sufficient termination and biasing for stable operation. Fail-safe bias ensures that an un-driven line assumes a defined state.
ControlTrends Keeps an Eye on 2016 Events with Ken’s Calendar. While it has been an amazingly busy and productive year so far, many more events are on the horizon. ControlTrends will continue to post the event information as we receive notice or become aware of the event. Please note that the information is gathered from various sources, and the times, dates, and locations may have changed. Be sure to visit the appropriate website or contact the event coordinator to ensure the most up-to-date information.
Belimo — Communicating with the Energy Valve through WebView, the New Data Analysis Tool, and BACnet Webinar. Join us for a 30 minute webinar on the communication features of the Belimo Energy Valve. We will review connecting to the Energy Valve’s web server TCP/IP from a laptop or PC and discuss how to download data files using the New Belimo Data Analysis Tool. You will also learn how to use the Belimo ZTH US tool to easily adapt the flow settings of the Energy Valve as well as information on the BACnet features of the Energy Valve will be discussed.
OPTIGO Webinar: Troubleshooting BACnet in Wireshark — Featuring Steve Karg, Sep 8th, 2016, 11AM PST. Not sure what is happening in your building network? Dealing with poor network performance? Use Wireshark, a free network packet analyzer, to dig into the network traffic to uncover the root cause of the issue. Wireshark is a free network packet analyzer that helps troubleshooting by capturing network packets and allowing you to browse the network traffic to isolate the issues in a network. OPTIGO Networks provides advanced visualization tools to help you gain insight into the health of your BAS deployments.
ControlTalk NOW — Smart Buildings VideoCast|PodCast for Week Ending August 21, 2016 introduces the ControlTrends Community to the executive forces now driving Distech’s redoubled efforts to deliver maximum synergy and value within the building space. Gain some invaluable insight into the innovation at work inside Acuity Brands Inc. Scott Muench and J2 Innovations at Realcomm| IBcon; Updated Honeywell software and contractor releases; Lynxspring reveals their JENEsys® Edge 100 Controller; Intel’s influence on the Smart Building; NexDefense SANS Institute Fictional Cyber Attack; and BASSG — Getting Better all the Time!
J2 Innovations on using data to make buildings smarter.
The Easy Way to Move and Use Data in a Smart Building. Data, data everywhere! Big data is in vogue in the building automation and smart buildings controls industry, but like everything else that is new and exciting, there are lot’s of things that have to be dealt with once the initial buzz of excitement is replaced with “how the heck do we implement this?” For one thing, the cost… data might be free, but moving it around and using it can get expensive quickly.
You Missed the VFD Training Live Stream… We will post a copy of class soon! Tim Chamblee conducted Variable Frequency Drive training and provided an in-depth explanation of the application benefits, the potential energy savings, and the importance of proper grounding and wiring methods — and then demonstrates of the standard VFD applications, and highlighted the tremendous energy savings opportunities — available using a VFDs. Look for many more live training events from the Stromquist & Company in the near future.
Honeywell | Home 3rd Quarter 2016 Residential Partner Update. Please join us as we introduce Honeywell’s latest residential products designed to better serve your business. FROM THE HONEYWELL NEWSROOM: A recent study from Honeywell found that 9 in 10 Americans long for a connected device to automate and control features in their home when they’re out of town. In fact, more Americans (39%) worry about locking their doors than about packing essentials like toothbrushes, underwear or mobile phone chargers (36%), and one-third of Americans with a security system can’t even remember if they turned on the alarm before leaving.
Honeywell Releases MAXPRO Driver for WEBs-AX Software. Availability of MAXPRO driver for WEBs-AX Software. Honeywell is pleased to announce the release of the MAXPRO driver for WEBs-AX Controllers and WEBs-AX Supervisors which is based on the Niagara AX framework. The MAXPRO driver has been tested and qualified on WEBs-AX 3.6.407.2, WEBs-AX 3.7.108.2, WEBs-AX 3.8.41.2, WEBs-AX 3.8.111 and on the latest MAXPRO NVR software version (v.3.5.0 build 81).
Lynxspring Announces Immediate Availability of the JENEsys® Edge 100 Controller. New Controller Delivers the Niagara Framework® to the Edge! Dear Lynxspring Business Partner: We are pleased to announce the release and availability of our new JENEsys® Edge 100 Controller (JENE-EG100). Purpose-built, this Niagara-based controller is the first of its kind. Delivering the Reliability of Niagara to the Edge! JENEsys® Edge products are a new generation of controllers combining the Niagara Framework® with Lynxspring’s Onyxx® platform.
Distech Announces New VP of Global Sales. Controls people never die they just change companies… This just in from Martin Villeneuve, President, Distech Controls: Acuity Brands continues to position itself as the global market leader to deliver high-performance and innovative solutions to our customers. Acuity Brands is committed to building an infrastructure designed to extend our leadership positon; intensifying our efforts around our tiered solutions strategy is an essential component to accomplish our breakthrough objectives. To successfully execute our strategy, I am pleased to announce Dan Flaherty as the new VP of Sales for Distech Controls reporting to me. Dan has over 20 years of experience leading sales and marketing organizations that go to market through distribution, contractor, and agent channels in the HVAC, Security, and Fire Suppression industries.
ControlTalk NOW interview with Martin Villeneuve, President at Distech Controls, Dan Flaherty, Distech’s VP Global Sales, and Eugene Mazo, Eugene Mazo, VP — IoT, Customer Experience. While Acuity is deciphering and translating all the possible value synergies it now has available, these three top industry experts will help to set new standards in the HVAC, BAS, and a host of other emerging markets. Each of these executives is a formidable expert in their fields and with their combined talents, they are confident that they will deliver the next generation of innovation and technology — because they have the talent, engineering, and the resources needed — to get it done. Don’t miss this great video interview!
How Intel is Influencing the way we do Smart Buildings. If you want to see how you might be doing smart buildings in the future, look at what Intel is doing using IOT strategies now…. once Pandora’s box is open… As human beings we like consistency …..”if it’s not broke ” …. and other adages that pass as wisdom, influence us whether we like it or not. This kind of thinking will get you killed in today’s smart buildings controls market. We have been doing building automation controls since the death of pneumatic controls. We know what works — and we don’t mess around with what works… because it works!
NexDefense SANS Institute – Fictional Cyber Attack. CAUTION: Regardless of your position in the world, this video should almost ruin your day, and linger long enough to bother you… for at least a week… but, will it motivate you to allocate the resources and processes your organization’s needs to deal with this kind of cyber incident? Therein lies the cyber security rub. This NexDefense SANS Institute module provides a demonstration of a fictional cyber attack against a control system reliant infrastructure. It is a learning tool for educational purposes and designed to help organizations better understand and develop exercise scenarios. While the module was played during a large industry exercise, it was utilized to provide cybersecurity training awareness for the participants.
BASSG — Getting Better all the Time! We saw the original “Young Gun”, Alper Üzmezler, managing partner and chief innovator at BASSG Graphics, showed us his new Edge controller at the 2016 Niagara Summit Product showcase. Alper, never one to sit still, has made some improvements since New Orleans. His Edge controller packs a powerful punch. Among other things it includes: Visualytik (HTML5 drag and drop visualization engine with block programming), EAC Engine (Optimization engine in which it will consume live, historical and analytics data and write to real-time controls), Analytics Engine, and a Sedona Realtime control engine.
ControlTalk NOW — Smart Buildings VideoCast|PodCast for week ending August 14, 2016 features interviews with two well-recognized industry leaders: Scott Cochrane, president of Cochrane Supply, a multi-award-winning distributor, and Acuity Brands, Inc’s. new VP — IoT, Customer Experience, Eugene Mazo, who updates the ControlTrends community on the exciting future of DGLogik. Learn about the upcoming SmartGrid.GOV meeting in Washington, DC; Webinars by Belimo, ACI, and Lynxspring; and EasyIO’s EasyStack, a software platform that leverages tagging and data modeling.
ControlTalk NOW first interview with Scott Cochrane, president of Cochrane Supply, an multi-award-winning company and a leading source of building controls products, technology,and information. Scott summarizes the evolving role of distribution and what the future might bring. Distributors need to remember that they deliver hardware, software, and knowledge in a people-to-people business, and serve as enablers in the market. Scott suggests, perhaps we are over-serving the building markets with technology as an industry, because the solutions are determined in the conversations that identify what the problems are and expectations are and “We’re still missing the right conversations with the right people.”
Please Help DOE Set Smart Grid Communications R&D Priorities August 30-31 in Washington, DC. The DOE Office of Electricity Smart Grid Communications R&D Roadmap meeting in Washington, D.C., on August 30-31, 2016, provides an opportunity for you and your organization to participate in the development of a roadmap intended to address gaps in research and development and current options that utilities have to solve their communications needs today.
Webinar on Belimo Energy Valve Data Analysis Tool, Wednesday, August 17 at 1:00 PM EDT. In this 30 minute webinar you will learn how the Energy Valve Data Analysis Tool is used in conjunction with the Belimo Energy Valve to provide analysis of stored data to deliver efficiency, and cost savings for your system. This tool can seamlessly import up to 13 months of trended data, along with performance metrics of a system—which all can be viewed graphically.
LIVEACI Gas Sensor WEBINAR August 24th, 10:00 AM, CST, with Brant Kasbohm. GAS SENSOR WEBINAR, 8/24/16 10:00 A.M. CST. Brant Kasbohm, ACI’s Webinar Presenter will conduct a brief, educational overview of ACI’s Gas Sensors including “How To” videos and product demonstrations. A “Q & A” session will conclude Brant’s 30 minute presentation. Questions? Send Brant an email: bkasbohm@workaci.com. Want more information?
What is EasyStack?EasyIO’s Software Platform that Leverages Tagging and Data Modeling. EasyStack is a complete BMS/EMS software platform that leverages tagging and data modeling based on the Project Haystack open source initiative. (If you’re not familiar with Haystack check it out here. The EasyStack Framework is agnostic in the sense that it incorporates built in drivers allowing for connection to BACnet, Modbus, sql, etc. You can pull in data from just about anywhere.
Change Ahead: Forget about Wire! The Pen that Draws Electric Circuits! Another example of the new technologies and trends that will change the way we design, build and run smart buildings. I am blown away by this technology from the Japanese from Kandenko. Kandenko has grown to become one of Japan’s leading general infrastructure firms, and earned high acclaim and a solid reputation for its contributions to the creation of comfortable living environments, pleasant yet cutting-edge workplaces, and safe and functional local communities.
.30 Minutes withLynxspring Webinar Series — A Look at Variable Frequency Drives The next “30 Minutes with Lynxspring”, our monthly webinar series featuring Lynxspring subject-matter experts and special guests, continues Wednesday, August 17th at 11:00 AM CDT. August’s Webinar looks at Variable Frequency Drives. Variable Frequency Drives play a critical role in the efficiency and performance of a building. They help increase system reliability, maximize equipment lifetime value, contribute to saving energy, lower maintenance costs and add to overall smoother operations.
An Excited Eugene Mazo, VP — IoT, Customer Experience at Acuity Brands,Inc., Explains DGLogik’s Future. During our second ControlTalk NOW interview with Eugene Mazo, VP — IoT, Customer Experience Acuity Brands,Inc. (Formerly CEO, DG Logik), the ControlTrends Community gets a firsthand update on the major developments and the future of DGLogik and its technology. In summary, it’s a win for Acuity Brands, Inc.; a win for DGLogik: and a win for DGLogik’s OEM partners, Distributors, Resellers, and Systems Integrators — as DGLogik moves forward with a lot more scale and resources.
ControlTalk NOW — Smart Buildings VideoCast|PodCast for week ending August 7, 2016 features interviews with Jenny Stentz, VP of Products & Distribution North America, at Johnson Controls, the world’s largest building controls provider and battery maker; Ken Sinclair, owner and editor of Automated Buildings, his August theme: Low Cost Powerful Hybrid Edge Controllers that move control and data analytics to the edge; and CityZenith’s Michael Jansen with amazing insight to big city solutions. Also this week: NexDefense’s call for action presentation at the Greater Atlanta Cyber Security for Control Systems Meetup; Lee Company deploys wearable technology for remote support; Vykon announces EOL for legacy JACEs, Honeywell’s Home Connectivity promo, and NREL’s Dylan Cutler uses Haystack tagging to reduce energy consumption.
Ken Sinclair’s Automated Buildings August Theme — Low Cost Powerful Hybrid Edge Controllers. In this August edition of Automated Buildings, owner and editor, Ken Sinclair, comments on how data will be alternating some its direction from the cloud to edge devices — where the data might be better served and for faster and greater effect. In Ken’s own words, “My five decades in the building automation industry have made it crystal clear that we are always moving towards or away from centralization and I love this month’s theme that sees us moving in both direction at the same time. This is important because the success of our industry and all other industries is embedded in the balance of cloud, edge and self learning devices.”
Control trends called the use of smart glasses in the smart buildings controls industry over 3 years ago
Tennessee’s Lee Company Technicians use Smart Glasses to Receive Remote Support. ControlTrends has been anticipating the adoption of smart glasses in our HVAC industry and learned that the Lee Company, a contracting firm servicing Middle Tennessee, has already fully adopted the innovative use of wearable technology, which is revolutionizing the Facilities Services Industry. As Lee Company’s marketing states, “Telepresence is not a thing of the future, it’s the way of today. Information is power. Move forward with Insight.”
Controltrends.com helps promote bringing young talent into HVAC and smart buildings industry
An HVACR Open Letter to Graduates: NEWS editor-in-chief Kyle Gargaro explains the benefits of an HVACR career to recent high school graduates. This is a great video that delivers a straightforward message to high school graduates. As we read in the Johnson Controls’ white paper written by Renee Joseph entitled “Elevating the HVACR industry: Promoting exciting careers to diverse prospects can help address staffing shortages,” we are facing a double whammy: While our HVACR Industry is experiencing a 21% increase in HVACR mechanic and installer jobs through 2022, a survey by The Friday Group, an international firm providing facilities management consulting services to commercial business and government, projected that up to 60 percent of facility management staff – electricians, plumbers, HVAC mechanics, operations and maintenance workers and others – will retire in the next five to seven years.
ControlTrends Interviews Johnson Controls on Solar Smart Buildings
ControlTalk NOW interview with Jenny Stentz, VP of Products & Distribution North America, at Johnson Controls, the world’s largest building controls provider and battery maker. Jenny gives ControlTrends fresh insight into Johnson Controls’ realigned sales and the leadership role Johnson Controls has taken in the building and energy storage space. Johnson Controls offers the latest innovations in renewable technology, efficiency technology, controls technology, and battery storage technology and is focused on the ease of doing business with its channel partners.
VYKON Announces End Of Line of Legacy JACE Platforms 700, 300E, and 600E. The performance, flexibility and range of accessory options offered by the JACE® 8000 surpasses that of the legacy JACE platforms, and components of the legacy platforms are becoming obsolete. With the introduction of Niagara AX version 3.8u1 featuring JACE 8000 support, VYKON‘s next-generation hardware platform that’s optimized for Niagara 4 now optimizes the features of Niagara AX.
SAVE NOW: Honeywell’s Make the Connection Fall Promotion. Grow Your Connected Home Sales! Take advantage of the industry’s hottest trend — home connectivity — with Honeywell’s Make The Connection promotion. You can save on Honeywell connected home products, and you’ll gain store traffic as contractors connect with you for their chances to win. Get all the details in the attached promo brochure.
Controltrends.com hosts cyber security event to educate smart building control professionals
Atlanta Cyber Security Meet Up: Breaking Down Two Major Control System Cyber Attacks. Thanks to our friend, Fred Gordy, we got to participate in an eye opening event.Stromquist & Company had the privilege of hosting the Atlanta Cyber Security meet up. The speaker, Doug Wylie, CISSP VP Product Marketing & Strategy at NexDefense was amazing. Doug explains several different types of cyber attacks and breaks down blow by blow two major cyber attacks on control systems that caused major disruptions. If you are interested in joining a cyber security meet up group on your area please let us know in comments and we will connect you.
“Bright Lights, Big City” Data Analytics for Big Cities, by CityZenith. “Bright Lights, Big City done gone to my baby’s head,” is a blues song by Jimmy Reed. If you are like me, somewhere along the line you had a break up that left you dazed and confused, hearing Jimmy’s song lets you know that there was someone who understood, could relate, and help you make sense of it all. When it comes to big cities, big data, and big time analytics, Michael Jansen and his team at CityZenith, understand, relate and can help city managers and planners make sense of the massive amounts of information and data that go into making a city run smoothly and efficiently.
NREL’s Dylan Cutler Works to Help the Navy Reduce Energy Consumption! NREL’s Dylan Cutler describes his work on NREL’s Energy Intelligent Campus project and ways that can translate to industry. Through an energy management and information system, Cutler looks at ways to bring together a variety of buildings data into a software platform where users can make intelligent decisions on how to manage their buildings and generation assets.
ControlTalk NOW — Smart Buildings VideoCast/PodCast for week ending July 31, 2016 offers a modified show, because of the excellent, but lengthy audio content. Our Podcast listeners get an extended bonus with the full interviews with industry expert and Lynxspring’s VP pf Marketing, Marc Petock, and Josh Bradshaw, the global-minded technologist and technical product strategist from Silicon Valley. Both, were too important and insightful to cut, hence, the extended Podcast. Additionally, more great product information, updates, and webinars from Alerton, Schneider Electric, EnTouch, Belimo, J2 Innovations, Loytec, Douglas Lighting Control, Siemon, and NEST PRO.
ACHR News FREE Webinar — Selling the Connected Home: How to Grow Your Business July 26, 2016 2pm EST. More than simply building connected products, Nest’s mission is to create a home that’s thoughtful – one that takes care of itself and the people inside it. Gene LaNois, general manager of Nest’s professional channel, will share his thoughts on the future of the connected home, what it means for the HVAC industry, and the important steps to becoming a smart home provider. During this webinar, attendees will: Gain an in-depth understanding of Nest products; Discover how the new “Connected Trade” removes seasonality; and Recognize how HVAC is best positioned to be the leader in this new “Connected Trade.”
ControlTalk NOW first interview is with industry expert and Lynxspring’s VP Marketing, Marc Petock — who takes the lid of IoT; reviews why edge devices will play an expanding role in the journey to a smart building and Lynxspring’s Edge 2 Enterprise products performing edge applications; remote connection using the secured wireless cellular option is on the rise as IT departments seek to reduce network vulnerabilities amidst the increasing number of cyber security threats; Project Haystack and Haystack Connect updates; and a preview of the 2016 ControlTrends Awards in Las Vegas.
Our second guest on ControlTalk NOW is Josh Bradshaw, a global-minded technologist and technical product strategist from Silicon Valley. Josh’s website worktechwork.com is a profusion of relevant technologies disrupting the world as we presently know it. Our one-of-a-kind discussion included an explanation of Blockchain; Building Robotic’s rebranded COMFY. coverage of SRI International researcher Roy Kornbluh, Interviews with Bertrand Piccard, who completed the first non-stop balloon flight around the world (1999), setting world records for aviation’s longest flight in both distance and duration. Interview with André Borschberg, Entrepreneur, Engineer and Explorer.
Siemon: A Unified Intellige(nt Smart Building Cabling Solution. Thanks to our friend Ted Houck, from Hepta Systems, for this video. As we look for ways to make buildings smarter and installations more affordable, Siemon provides a powerful new way to look at how we connect the devices in our Smart Buildings. Siemon ConvergeIT is a unified intelligent building (IB) cabling solution that combines Siemon’s proven quality with advanced copper and fiber cabling technology to create a structured cabling system that converges critical data, voice, video and low-voltage building systems onto a single unified physical infrastructure, providing significant cost savings and sustainability over the life of the facility.
EnTouch Shines at Stromquist Contractor Day. EnTouch is a very progressive company that produces very cool thermostats and light commercial building solutions. Check out what they had to say to the Atlanta HVAC contractors at Stromquist & Company. EnTouch, Founded in 2008, is a team of energy, services and telecomm industry veterans with a history of using technology to solve real-world problems. The EnTouch 360° offers the ultimate in facilities and energy management intelligence. Our turnkey installation, energy analysis and prompt resolution can simplify the lives of your facility management team while it delivers savings to your enterprise’s bottom line.
Mark Your Calendar: Easy Retrofit Solutions for Valves and Damper Actuators. Our man, Joe Carcare, Belimo retrofit master extraordinaire, will be sharing his knowledge on Wednesday, August 1 at 1 PM EST. Valves and actuators are responsible for ensuring reliable functioning hydronic and air control HVAC systems all over the world. Belimo Retrofit provides airside and waterside retrofit application solutions, with direct coupled or remote access linkages, and efficient actuators Here is the official notice, but I can tell you from experience, Joe is not to be missed. He has worked in the field, and his hands-on experience, makes him a great teacher. So, click here and register now! This might be the only class you ever need to take on retrofitting valves and dampers.
If You Like Lon… We have a Product for You. BACnet and Lon have been competing for years to win the hearts and networks of Smart Buildings and smart buildings systems integrators. Although BACnet seems to be in vogue in today’s smart buildings marketplace, many swear by the Lon protocol. We caught up with a company that makes outstanding smart building controls and specializes in optimizing the Lon protocol. Loytec, might be one of the best kept secrets in the United States, but globally they are a dominate force in building automation controls. Loytec’s Daryl Clasen walks us through the Loytech product portfolio that includes beautiful touch screen displays and wall sensors, and shows us how their mobile app works.
How to Reduce Your BACnet Troubleshooting Time by 100x. As I am fond of telling my three year old daughter, when she refuses to go to brush her teeth, “We can do this the easy way or the hard way.” The easy way is you brush your teeth, the hard way is you brush your teeth after a time out. The hard way takes way more time and way more effort. Until Opitgo introduced their really cool new product, there was only one way to troubleshoot a BACnet problem, the hard way.
Mark Your Calendar: Lighting Control Presented by Douglas Lighting. Our Friends at Lynxspring have a very special training session on lighting control planned. Douglas Lighting Control has been around for decades, but the latest lighting control advancements have only just recently gained traction. Now, lighting is becoming a platform for other applications. It’s creating an opportunity to provide services to the people in buildings that we couldn’t even dream of years ago. These new services are going to make building space more valuable, and ideally, make the building space more effective.
Can Your Smart Thermostat Start Your Toaster and Monitor Energy Consumption? Can a thermostat really turn on a toaster and monitor energy consumption? Not that you would want to use your thermostat to start a toaster, but you could. The bigger feature is having a smart thermostat that has the on board capacity to monitor electrical consumption and loads. We have had great success doing just this with a smart thermostat we sell by EnTouch.
Smart Buildings’ New Vocab Word: Muench’s Corollary. J2 Innovations‘ very own Scott Muench was recently featured on AutomatedBuildings.com with an article about the benefits and payoffs of tagging and data modeling. With the amount of connected devices increasing every day, potential value is also increasing exponentially. The reality is that it takes a lot of effort or mouse clicks to derive value from the data in the connected world. J2 Innovations has been focusing their efforts on great software and more efficient workflows to unlock this potential.
Intelligent Buildings’ Tom Shircliff: A Smart Buildings Perspective on Realcomm|IBcon. We had a chance to catch up with one of our favorite people at the 2016 Realcomm|IBcon show, Intelligent Buildings Tom Shircliff. Tom, the co-founder of Intelligent Buildings, gives us his thoughts on the show and the new trends he is seeing in Smart Buildings. Tom gives us a must do — regarding Cyber Security to make our smart buildings safer from cyber attack. Tom also shares with us the importance of water analytics as a way to make our buildings more energy efficient and safer (yes, I did say safer).
How is Your Body Like A Smart Building? Alerton Explains. Is your body really like a smart building? I never thought about it this way before, but it makes sense. Very cool video from the folks at Alerton, who are totally committed to helping you get the best performance from your buildings. Alerton is a pioneer and an industry leader in providing building management solutions for heating, ventilation and air-conditioning equipment for all types and sizes of buildings. Alerton can also help simplify building management by integrating fire, life safety, lighting, access management and other building systems. You’ll find Alerton’s proven solutions in thousands of buildings around the world, and their dealers are part a global independent dealer network, providing solid service and support that is second to none.
Schneider Electric Company Story: Our Technology is Everywhere. At Schneider Electric’s Innovation Summit 2016, the Keynote Highlight was CEO Jean-Pascal Tricoire’s explanation why Schneider Electric is the global leader in sustainable energy management and industrial automation. Schneider Electric’s mission is supply the technologies which permit, drive, and catalyze the transition to make the world of energy — more electric, more digitized, more decarbonated, and more decentralized. Schneider Electric’s five guiding principles: Customer Insights; Quality 1st; Simple & Easy; System View (Integratable); and Digital. Click here to find out all the information you need about Schneider Electric.
ControlTalk NOW — Smart Buildings VideoCast for week ending July 24, 2016 begins with Wired Magazine’s Cade Metz and his coming trends interview — citing Block Chain as the next single most disruptive technology. ControlTalk NOW’s special guest is Building Context.me’s Therese Sullivan, followed by coverage of Tridium Niagara Migration Path Webinar dates and information; Vykon’s latest software builds; DOE’s Future of Air Conditioning Report; Spotlight on Siemens’ Dave Rodela; ACI’s Sensor Webinar; Cylance’s uses Artificial Intelligence to keep ahead of hackers; and ProLon’s easy VAV/VVT zoning solution.
Cade Metz – Wired Magazine – Silicon Valley 2016 Trends for Smart Buildings and Homes. Cade Netz, the key note speaker at the 2016 RealComm/ Icon conference talks about the technology trends he is seeing in Silicon Valley and how these trends will effect the landscape of technology used in Smart Buildings. Cade Metz is a WIRED senior staff writer covering Google, Facebook, artificial intelligence, bitcoin, data centers, computer chips, programming languages, and other ways the world is changing.
ControlTalk NOW special guest is Building Context’s Therese Sullivan, Principal, BuildingContext.me, who gives us that unique Silicon Valley insight as she reviews 2016 Realcomm|IBcon, Social Media and Tweets with Meat, Block Chain’s potential impact on the HVAC and BAS industries, and more. Therese Sullivan is a writer/technologist and marketing professional providing news and analysis for commercial building system integrators, facilities managers and real estate professionals about innovations in building automation with emphasis on data analytics, mobile apps, cloud services and wireless networking.
What is a Block Chain and What You need to Know About it. We heard the term “block chain” for the first time at the 2016 RealComm/ IBcon show. Many believe the block chains could be the most disruptive technologies yet, some compare it’s impact to the fall of the Berlin Wall. As systems integrators and smart buildings professionals we need to be aware of it’s existence and how it will effect our industry.
Next TridiumTalk: How your Niagara Migration Path Just got More Straightforward. Join us as we overview recent product releases and various migration path scenarios. With the introduction of Niagara AX version 3.8u1 featuring JACE® 8000 support, our next-generation hardware platform that’s optimized for Niagara 4 now optimizes the features of Niagara AX.
ACI Temperature Sensor Training LIVE Tomorrow! TEMPERATURE WEBINAR, LIVE JULY 20TH You will hear from ACI’s Temperature Sensor Specialist, Brant Kasbohm, and our Sales Engineering Manager, Rob Kapinos. ACIs temperature sensors, housing types, and production types will be taught by our presenter. The presentation as a whole will last 30 minutes and the session is being recorded if you aren’t able to attend. A Live “Question and Answer” session with the presenter and tech support will take place at the end. Just click on this link tomorrow to watch the live event. ACI stands by its motto, “Engineering a Better Sensor Solution.”
ControlTrends Keeps an Eye on 2016 Events with Ken’s (Updated 7/20/2016) Calendar. While it has been an amazingly busy and productive year so far, many more events are on the horizon. ControlTrends will continue to post the event information as we receive notice or become aware of the event. Please note that the information is gathered from various sources, and the times, dates, and locations may have changed.
Siemens’ Dave Rodela, Talon Trainer Extraordinaire. While Dave Rodela’s official position is listed as Operations Manager at Siemens Building Technologies, working out of the Charleston, South Carolina area, the majority of us in the building automation business know Dave as another mild-mannered hero — for the outstanding training services and support he provides to the Siemens TALON Value Added Partner (VAP) channel.
DOE’s Building Technologies Office — The Future of Air Conditioning for Buildings. Another great publication from the Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy and Building Technology Office. The Building Technologies Digest provides a weekly roundup of the latest news, funding opportunities, reports, events, and webinars from DOE’s Building Technologies Office. The Future of Air Conditioning for Buildings Report provides invaluable insight into the next generation of Air Conditioning and Air Conditioning Equipment, a $100 billion industry that consumes over 4% of the world’s building site-energy.
VYKON Announcement: Previously Announced Software Builds Now Available. The previously announced VYKON AX Supervisor 3.8.111.2 and VYKON Enterprise Security 2.3.19.5 software builds are now available for download. Learn more by downloading the VYKON Enterprise Security FAQs. Sign into the Niagara Community website for access to release notes and test summary documentation. VYKON AX Supervisor 3.8.111.2 update includes: JACE® 8000 support, Java Web StarT, Windows 10 support, Auto-download of Java security policy files. VYKON Enterprise Security 2.3.19.5 update includes: Support and advantages of latest VYKON AX release, Niagara AX version 3.8u1, Enhanced database encryption, and Advanced threat level management.
Replay of ACI’s Live Temperature Training Event. If you missed the amazing Live training event from ACI on temperature sensing and sensors, no worries, we have a replay for you right here. You will hear from ACI’s Temperature Sensor Specialist, Brant Kasbohm, and our Sales Engineering Manager, Rob Kapinos. ACIs temperature sensors, housing types, and production types will be taught by our presenter. The presentation as a whole will last 30 minutes and the session is being recorded if you aren’t able to attend.
Cylance Offers Advanced Threat Prevention Built on Artificial Intelligence at 2016 Realcomm|IBcon. ControlTrends met up with Todd Radermacher, Regional Sales Director at Cylance, out of the San Francisco Bay Area, who specializes in Information Technology and Services. Todd tells us, “Trying to keep ahead of the bad guys is the business we’re in.” Cylance now offers the next generation antivirus protection — armed with artificial intelligence and mathematics (algorithms) to scientifically predict foul play — and prevent the loss of intellectual property or paying the ransom to get your seized database back.
ProLon: The Easy Way to Install a Zoning System. Stromquist & Company’s Dozier Mills breakdowns the products from ProLon and shows you how to install the Prolon solution for either VAV or VVT applications. As you can see this is a very powerful and easy to install solution. ProLon is a commercial/high-end residential HVAC zoning system designed specifically for retrofit and modern day rooftops and other air handling units along with their VAV zones. ProLon’s controllers are perfect for light to mid-sized commercial buildings, allowing you to group and prioritize zones to achieve the optimal performances and comfort from your equipment.
What is TESLA’s Power Wall and How Will it Affect the Smart Home?Forget about the gloom and doom we hear every day, check out one of the coolest new technologies to hit the street. Elon Musk unveils the Tesla Power Wall. Needless to say this will effect the way we look at Smart Homes. The Powerwall was unveiled on April 30, 2015, with a 7 kWh Powerwall model that would retail for US$3,000 and a 10 kWh model at US$3,500. The Power wall sold out in less than a week. Musk predicted the low price would cause other storage producers to follow and there are rumblings about a version 2.
ControlTalk NOW — Smart Buildings VideoCast for week ending July 10, 2016 gives special thanks to this week’s Platinum Sponsors — EasyIO and Neptronic, as we bring two of the industry’s top experts to front and center, first reviewing Ken Sinclair’s Automated Buildings July theme “Performance Software Evolving with Self Machine Learning,” followed by Fearless Phil Zito, owner and editor of Building Automation Monthly. Acuity acquires DG LOGIK; Automation Integrated introduces its game-changing GLIFF service via live streaming; Updated 2016 Event Calendar previews the road ahead, along with ACI’s Temperature Webinar; Atlanta’s Cyber Security Meet-up; a good look at Forest Rock’s EnergyVision; and Functional Devices’ release of a BACnet compatible UPS Kit.
New Products from Around the Globe: Forest Rock at the 2016 Niagara Summit. One of the great things about going to smart building conferences like the 2016 Niagara Summit is discovering new products from around the globe and then getting to introduce them to the ControlTrends Community. Michael Kirkland introduced us to their EnergyVision Package. This software tool automatically collects and analyzes all forms of energy consumption.
Mark Your Calendar and Get Smart About Water and Waste. Our friends at JJL can give you the 411 on Water and Waste and how to save money and energy with a very informative webinar. Friday, July 15, 2016, 12:30-2:00 p.m. EDT. Click here for more information and to reserve your spot. Water is the fastest growing utility expense. Water is the fastest growing utility expense, with long-term cost increases related to supply constraints and aging infrastructure. We’ll discuss the unique set of challenges and opportunities around water use outdoors, where an estimated 50% is wasted.
Automation Integrated Live Stream Today at 12 EST. Automation Integrated (AI), winner of the 2015 ControlTrends System Integrator of the year, announces the FREE Gliff Niagara backup service. AI is a Master Systems Integrator specializing in web scale solutions. AI provides enterprise wide building automation, access control, video surveillance, API level systems integration and software development. Our markets include multi-site, retail and critical infrastructure facilities.
ControlTalk NOW first guest interview with Ken Sinclair, owner and editor of Automated Buildings, is a great gatherer of information. It takes a lot of energy and perspicacity to rally an epic monthly battle cry for our industry and continuously call forth such an exceptional litany of industry experts. Ken judiciously sorts out for us, the IoT wheat from the IoT chaff, and then translates the fast and esoteric talk of our trade into slower more comprehensive reflections that generously reward the reading time invested. This July edition is no exception. Fresh off the trails of Silicon Valley, Ken captures the spirit of innovation from the 2016 Realcomm/IBcon show and gives us much deeper insight into performance software, machine learning, and portends the coming of our digital savior (perhaps) — Artificial Intelligence.
DG LOGIK Purchased by Acuity Brands (AYI. We trust that the data visualization dashboard lights at DG Logik are all on, and blinking bright GREEN — as it was announced today that Acuity Brands (AYI) (who added Distech Controls to their Building Automation portfolio in September, 2015) acquired IoT Software Solutions Provider DGLogik. Acuity Brands, Inc. (NYSE: AYI) announced it has acquired 100 percent of the equity interests of DGLogik, Inc., a San Francisco Bay Area-based provider of innovative software solutions that enable and visualize the Internet of Things (IoT).
ControlTalk NOW second guest interview is with Fearless Phil Zito, owner and editor of Building Automation Monthly, whose website’s motto is “You’ll Leave Educated.” Phil Zito has been in the smart building space since 2007 and has worked on almost every BAS system on the market. He has held roles as a service technician, operations manager, sales development engineer, and technical integration program manager. Phil runs his weekly blog and podcast around building automation and is deeply focused on exploring topics related to building automation and smart buildings. Phil has a Masters in Cyber Security, holds several IT, LEED, and Energy Manager Certifications and is a self-taught programmer.
Here is a link to the book Phil wrote called A Manager’s Guide to Building Automation
Be sure to follow Phil on twitter @TimGZito
ControlTrends Keeps an Eye on 2016 Events with Ken’s Calendar. While it has been an amazingly busy and productive year so far, many more events are on the horizon. ControlTrends will continue to post the event information as we receive notice or become aware of the event. Please note that the information is gathered from various sources, and the times, dates, and locations may have changed.
ACI PRESENTS TEMPERATURE WEBINAR, LIVE JULY 20TH, 10:00 A.M. CST. Brant Kasbohm, Temperature Sensor Specialist will conduct a brief, educational overview of ACI’s Temperature Sensors including “How To” videos and product demonstrations. A “Q & A” session will conclude Brant’s 30 minute presentation. Questions? Send Brant an email: bkasbohm@workaci.com. Want more information? Click here. Automation Components, Inc. presents a series of Live Video Webinars from our Sales Engineers and Product Line Specialists! Each month, ACI will feature one of it’s many product lines for 30 minutes to discuss some of the fantastic, cost effective, and reliable products ACI has to offer.
Functional Devices Takes BACnet Integration One Step Further: UPS Kit PSH550-UPS-BC – Now BACnet Compatible. Functional Devices, Inc. a leading manufacturer of high quality, contractor-friendly products since 1969,has just released their PSH550-UPS-BC, which is an Enclosed BACnet Network 550 VA UPS Backup Power Control Center that can be integrated into your BACnet network to monitor eight BACnet variables/integer values.
Greater Atlanta Cyber Security for Control Systems Meetup @ Stromquist – Aug 8 @ 6:30 PM. Doug Wylie will be speaking with us about two confirmed examples of attacks on ICS systems, with a wealth of information on each of them. Please join us to learn what took place, what can be done to prevent similar events happening in your ICS environment, and to share what you have seen as well. BOOM BOOM (OUT GO THE LIGHTS): A LOOK AT TWO CONFIRMED ATTACKS ON ICS AND HOW WE CAN PREPARE FOR THE FUTURE.
ControlTalk NOW — Smart Buildings VideoCast for week ending July 3, 2016 brings attention to the people-side of the Buildings Automation industry while manning the vendor shows at two of the industry largest and most significant shows: 2016 Tridium Summit and the 2016 Realcomm/IBcon. Interviews with these Industry superstars: Intellastar’s Terry Casey; Johnson Controls’ Dimitri Papadopoulos; Hepta Systems’ Ted and Jason Houck; Page Southerland’s Tim Howell; Viconics’ Matt Krueger; Interactive Energy, LLC’s James Burtch; along with ACI’s Barry Gordon webinar and a product review of Honeywell’s Lyric thermostat.
Honeywell Lyric: Redefining What a Thermostat Can Do. Honeywell keeps coming up with cool stuff. Yes, thermostats are cool, because there are different shapes, sizes, colors, and apps. But, look at this video to see how Honeywell takes the cool thermostat to the next level and makes it practical. No need to worry about coming home and finding out your pipe burst or a leak turned into a flood. The Honeywell Lyric will let you know before problems get out of hand. I wonder what else they will hang onto their residential thermostat network?
Catching Up with Intellastar’s Terry Casey. Lots of great people and Smart Buildings Controls Experts at the 2016 RealComm/IBcon show. I got a chance to be the “in the field reporter” for Realcomm Conference Live, and one of the people I interviewed was Intellastar’s Terry Casey. With the likes of controls superstars Terry, Steve Lynch, and Jerry, Andy, and Brian Frank, Intellastar has put together the “dream team” of the smart buildings controls industry.
Learn About the Most Current Current Sensors — Right Here, Right Now! Yes, I know it is a bit of a play on words, but Barry Gordon and the team at ACI do not play around — when it comes to making current sensors and other products for the smart buildings controls professional. ACI has started doing live video training! We announced the first one a couple of weeks ago. If you missed it, no worries, you can watch it right here, right now.
Johnson Controls’ Dimitri Papadopoulos at the 2016 Niagara Summit — Facility Explorer is Better than Ever! Dimitri Papadopoulos, Senior Product Manager explains why Facility Explorer® is better than ever! To celebrate Facility Explorer’s tenth anniversary, Johnson Controls released Facility Explorer 14. Featuring a cleaner, faster user experience, enhanced cybersecurity and new ways to improve user productivity. Dimitri was particularly excited about the Mobile Access Portal, which offers an excellent display on your iPad, smart phone, or laptop; serves as a great commissioning tool; and can be used as a main user interface for smaller-sized projects.
Mark Your Calendar for Digital Transformation 2016. Digital transformation is everywhere. We recently covered the 2016 Niagara Summit and Realcomm/IBcon and posted lots of videos showing how technology in the Smart Buildings and Intelligent Buildings space is evolving at a very rapid pace. And speaking of pace, this conference coming up in Portland in September looks interesting. Here is what they have to say about it: “Leaders facilitating the digital transformation within their companies converge to share best practices. This is the leading conference from digital game-changers for digital game-changers.”
Ted and Jason Houck Make Big Connections at Realcomm Conference Live. Ted and Jason Houck, from Hepta Systems, do one of the coolest demo’s I have ever seen, and they do it on a live stream at the 2016 Realcomm/IBcon Conference Live. Hepta Control Systems has won numerous awards, including being voted co-winner of the ControlTrends Awards Systems Integrator of the Year Award. They are a leader in integrated building automation and security controls. Hepta provide single driver seat solutions for energy efficiency, security, and tenant comfort systems. Watch this video to see what makes Hepta so special.
Enlightened Consulting Engineers at the 2016 Niagara Summit — Part 1. The man, the myth, the legend, Ken Smyers and I are constantly talking about the need for a new breed of consulting engineer for the Smart Buildings Controls industry. Cut and paste specifications are no longer acceptable. This new breed of engineer can be found at smart building conferences like the Niagara Summit and Realcomm/IBcon. They know that open is not just something you do to a can of beer on a hot summer’s day.
Matt Krueger and the Viconics VT8000 Series at the 2016 Niagara Summit. Matt Krueger is an integral member of the Viconics technologies sales team with a passion for providing excellent customer support. Matt does an outstanding 411 presentation of the VT8000 series controller, which provides a very cost-effective alternative to direct digital controls to control roof top units, heat pumps, and indoor air quality applications — dramatically reducing project delivery cost at the installation and commissioning phases.
Enlightened Consulting Engineers Part 2 — James M. Burtch at the 2016 Niagara Summit. ControlTrends had the opportunity to interview James M. Burtch, a young, up-and-coming Energy Sustainability Consultant. Actually, it’s James M. Burtch, C.R.M., C.D.S.M., C.B.C.P., C.L.E.P., C.E.M., and Honeywell EEO Certified. As evidenced by the host of certification designations following his name, Jim has dedicated much of his professional career pursuing and obtaining the professional expertise that enables him to write enlightened building automation systems specifications that ensure owners gets what they want and that the contractors meet the specification.
>Honeywell’s Larry Andriunas at the 2016 Niagara Summit. We had a chance to catch up with one of our favorite people at the 2016 Niagara Summit Product Showcase. Honeywell’s Larry Andriunas is the “Controls guy..Controls Guy”. Larry grew up working with his father’s HVAC and integrator business. Larry knows first hand how important quality products and great customer support are to systems integrators. Larry, winner of the 2015 ControlTrends PID Award, helps Honeywell stay on top of their Smart Buildings control game. Larry gives us the 411 on Niagara 4 and how Honeywell is making the most of this new version of Niagara.
ControlTalk NOW for week ending June 26, 2016 takes a deeper dive into Realcomm/IBcon 2016 with Marc Petock joining us as co-host. Our first special guest was Intelligent Buildings’ Co-founder, Intelligent Buildings, Tom Shircliff, who shares his insight into some of the new technologies displayed at the show — soon to impact the industry, and the increased emphasis on water. Cyber security must be elevated to an organization’s highest priority, and physical measures, often overlooked, are of extreme importance to an effective cyber security program.
Our next guest was Jeff Houpt, President and CEO at Automation Integrated, LLC, (AI) one of the premiere Master Systems Integrators in the country. The age of Analytics is upon us, in the very real sense, because analytics are the currency of the future that will provide so much value to the property managers. AI is launching Blue Forge its latest IoT application, which will change the analytic landscape.
Our next guest was Shaun Klann, Executive Vice President, Intelligent Buildings. Shaun clarified that the least expensive tenant to acquire is an existing tenant, and that by extended environmental control to occupants will enhance and improve their user experience.
ControlTalk NOW — Smart Buildings VideoCast for week ending June 19, 2016 continues its coverage of the 2016 Niagara Summit with interviews from Vendors Showcase featuring Blue Ridge Technology’s Bill Dunkleberger, Tridium’s Emily Weisenesale, DGLogik’s Arthur Alter, OME Engineering’s Rick Warner, Contemporary Controlss George Thomas, KMC’s Richard Newberry, Lynxspring’s Chris Ryan, and MRSoluciones’ Alfredo Melnik and Carlos Roman. Don’t miss ACI’s Barry “Flash” Gordon inaugural training event and DOE’s investment of $10 Million towards Efficient Lighting Research and Development.
Free Training from ACI This Wednesday. Our friend Barry ” Flash” Gordon will be sharing his knowledge about ACI current sensors and switches. This is the first in a series of monthly training sessions from the control pros at ACI, so be sure to check it out. Mark your calendar for Wednesday (6/15) morning at 9 a.m. CST. Just click on this link on the 15th.
Energy Department Invests More than $10 Million in Efficient Lighting Research and Development. Building on the new commitments to the Global Lighting Challenge announced last week during the Clean Energy Ministerial, the Energy Department is announcing funding for nine research and development projects that will support solid-state lighting (SSL) core technology research, product development, and manufacturing research and development.
Tridium’s Emily Weisensale Shines the Spotlight on Tridium’s Niagara Marketplace. Emily Weisensale, Product Manager for the Niagara Marketplace, updates the ControlTrends Community on the growth of Tridium’s newest innovation — the Niagara Marketplace — a groundbreaking website that connects businesses looking to harness the power of the Internet of Things (IoT), with the experts who make it happen.
BlueRidge Technologies Lights Up The Niagara Summit Product Showcase with a New Product. We caught up with our friend Bill Dunkleberger from Blue Ridge Technologies at the 2016 Vendor Showcase. Bill and his team provide a very powerful and easy to use lighting solution. Blue Ridge has developed an approach called Unified Lighting Control. Unified Lighting Control completes the BAS, incorporating lighting and HVAC controls on the same network. This network consolidation eliminates surplus hardware required for stand-alone and gateway lighting control.
Arthur Alter Previews DGLogik’s Project Assist 2.0: Making the Invisible Visible — Affordably. So what are you going to do with all that data that you can pump out of Niagara N4? How are you going to get it in a format that is easy to see, easy to understand, easy to normalize, easy to install, and easy to customize, at a cost that is easy on the budget? The “Men in Black” aka the DGLogik team have the products and answers to these questions, and they were out in full force at the 2016 Niagara Product Showcase. Take a look at their updated Project Assist 2.0.
Rick Warner “Insights from the Innovator” at the 2016 Niagara Summit. Always a ControlTrends favorite and provider of industry innovation and insight, Rick Warner, PE, LEED BC&D, CEM, DCEP, CXA, EBCP, President & Owner of OME Engineering, aka, The Innovator, shares a few of his takeaways from the 2016 Niagara Summit.
Contemporary Controls Distributor News, June 2016 — The BASautomation Force is Growing! George Thomas and the team at Contemporary Controls have developed one of the most powerful, open Building Automation Systems available in the BAS world — and with its continued investments in next-gen production, technical support, and marketing collateral, Contemporary Controls will keep growing its North American and global markets.
KMC Converges on the 2016 Niagara Summit. What do Dell and Intel have in common? Among other things they both are partners with KMC and the New Commander Smart Buildings Control System that is designed to win the “Race to the Small Space.” The Race to the Small Space is a term Kenny and I coined to describe the building automation control solutions, that companies, like KMC, are designing to provide affordable energy management and controls solutions for the over 5 million buildings in the United States that do not have energy management control systems.
Niagara Around the World: Alfredo Melnik and Carlos Roman from Mexico City. Smart Building and Building Automation Controls is taking off in Mexico. With the Building Automation and Smart Buildings Controls Market projected to reach upward of 55 Billion dollars by 2020, Mexico is poised to play a prominent role in this growth. In fact, Mexico’s most populous city, has been selected for the Ciudad Creativa Digital (CCD) smart-city development project, and is just one of the many Smart Building/ Smart City/ Smart Home initiatives in
Founder and president George Thomas demonstrates Contemporary Control’s updates product portfolio that he and his team make for the systems integrators across the globe. Contemporary Controls designs and manufactures the system building blocks for networking, integrating, and controlling automation processes where performance and reliability are critical. Contemporary Controls’ products are built upon open technologies such as ARCNET®, BACnet®, Controller Area Network (CAN), Ethernet, Modbus®, Niagara Framework®, Sedona Framework, and are typically found in building and industrial automation industries.
Richard McElhinney Presents Airmasters’ Plant Pro at 2016 Niagara Summit. We caught up with Richard McElhinney from Airmasters. Richard gives an in-depth demo of Plant Pro’s alluring and efficient chiller plant optimization controller. Richard McElhinney is a leading systems integrator from “down under” and our “unofficial official” ControlTrends correspondent. A veteran of many campaigns, Richard is a valuable source of information on the trends impacting building automation and the future of Smart Buildings.
Lynxspring’s Chris Ryan Flexes Integration Knowledge at the 2016 Niagara Summit. While the potential for using data to improve energy and operational efficiencies is significant, the difficulty of organizing and understanding the data can be challenging. One of the challenges of working with data is it can be very hard to organize and use across different applications. It is stored in different formats, has inconsistent naming conventions and lacks information to describe what it means.
ControlTalk NOW — Smart Buildings VideoCast for week ending June 12, 2016 features a rather deep and dark Cyber Security update from Fred Gordy, and an enlightening interview with Automated Buildings’ Ken Sinclair discussing his June edition; next, a look at new technology with Cisco’s Digital Ceiling and Optigo Networks’ solution to eliminate BACnet complexity; Lynxspring and SkyFoundry offer a combo webinar on Data and Analytics; Functional Devices released a pre-enclosed panel; and don’t miss out on Neptronic’s special product sample offering — available through ControlTrends!
Cyber Security Expert Fred Gordy Waives the Cyber Security Caution Flag! Censys Device Search Engine Picking Up Exposed Niagara 4 — Wake Up! Thanks once again to Intelligent Buildings’ Director of Cyber Security, Fred Gordy, who keeps the global ControlTrends Community and systems integrators current with his Cyber Security updates. Fred is calling for the widest dissemination of this information possible, and for responsible parties, at every level to take immediate actions to eliminate their exposure and safeguard their building against eminent attack. Fred Gordy: “I did a cursory search using Censys device search engine of building control systems and the first systems to pop up were Niagara 4 systems.”
Cisco’s Digital Ceiling WILL Change the Way You Do Smart Building Controls. Building Automation Systems Integrators, meet your new BAS partner — Cisco. That’s right, Cisco. Cisco just might be your new front end, and the ceiling in the building you are working in, right now, might be your new junction box to the future. The lighting world is evolving from the analog world to the digital world and soon, those lights connected to the network, not just for a data path, but also for power, will have temperature, occupancy, and daylight harvesting sensors in them — that will finally bridge the gap between building automation and connected lighting control.
ControlTalk NOW Interview with Ken Sinclair, owner and editor of Automated Buildings. Always an informative experience, Ken Sinclair reviews Automated Buildings’ June theme of Measured Variables; Health, Wellbeing, & Productivity. More insight into HVAC by engineers and HVAC by Behavioral Experts that are driving the $3-$30-$300 metrics, and the realization that the most promising potential value lies in building wellness that leads to greater productivity, greater tenant retention, and less absenteeism. Also, understanding the benefit differences between digital ceilings versus the 24 VDC ceiling (Edison wins the current war after all, though Tesla has scheduled a return bout) and much more!
30 Minutes with Lynxspring Webinar Series — Data and Analytics by Lynxspring and SkyFoundry. 30 Minutes with Lynxspring Webinar Series Presents: Data and Analytics. The next “30 Minutes with Lynxspring,” our monthly webinar series featuring Lynxspring subject-matter experts and special guests, is scheduled for Wednesday, June 15th at 12:00 PM CDT. This month’s installment looks at Data and Analytics. Data and analytics are changing the way companies in EVERY industry do business and manage business. And yes, it is changing ours — it’s changing the way buildings and facilities are managed and operated.
Optigo — The New Way to Cut through BACnet Complexity. As IoT continues to intersect with the Smart Buildings Controls Industry, more and more new players are showing up in our space with proven solutions that will work well in our applications. Ken and I had the chance to connect with just such a company, Optigo Networks. We had the privilege of speaking with their CEO Pook-Ping Yao. We were very impressed with Ping and his product solutions. Check out the video below to see the elegance and efficiency of the of the Optigo Connect network solution.
A Special Offer From Neptronic at the 2016 Niagara Summit. We had a chance to catch up with Biagio Delorenzio and Luis Melgares from Neptronic at the 2016 Niagara Summit. Great stuff from our innovative friends in Canada. As you can see in the video, the TUCB is a very flexible universal wall mount controller with built-in temperature sensor and scheduler. The unit is designed for simple and accurate control of a heat pump or other heating/cooling equipment. Its field configurable algorithms enable versatile implementation of required control sequences. but what is even more impressive is the new TRLG 24. The TRLG 24 takes al that is good about the TUCB and adds an on board humidity and CO2 sensor.
Functional Devices — Innovation at the Panel Level. Nick Walker at the 2016 Niagara Summit Vendor Show. Functional Devices — Innovation at the Panel Level 2016 Niagara Summit Vendor Show. Nick Walker, Strategic Account Manager for Functional Devices walks the ControlTrends Community through the new MHP pre-enclosed enclosure series that features a 100 VA (or (2) 100 VA) transformers along with with a convenience outlet and a polymetal or perforated back drop. Functional Devices products are a contractors’ best friend — offering savings in installation time and money for all of your building automation projects.
ControlTalk NOW — Smart Buildings VideoCast and Podcast for week ending June 5, 2016 provides a full range of HVAC and Building Automation events and information, beginning with the Roger Rebennack Experience, followed by industry updates, and interviews with SysMik’s Patrick McCurdy, BASSG’s Alper Üzmezler, sensorFact’s Matt Horton, ACI’s Mya Holzemer, Belimo Training, KMC Controls training, J2 Innovation’s FIN 4.0, Ken Sinclair’s Automated Buildings, June edition, EasyIO’s new FW14 and product road map, Brad White’s Trillion Dollar Opportunity, and Eagle Technology’s CMMS solution.
Honeywell’s Roger Rebennack Experience — held over the Memorial Holiday weekend at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway — where over 80 Honeywell customers from all parts of North America joined Roger, Honeywell, and 350,000 racing fans for the spectacular 100th Anniversary Run of the Indy 500. This 3-day extravaganza is unrivaled, mixing the thrill of the greatest race of the year with two concerts, the Indy 500 museum, celebrities, and life-long memories. Contact your Honeywell distributor or representative today and get your engines started for next year’s Roger Rebennack Experience at the incomparable Indy 500. Special thanks to Jackson Controls for their generous assistance in helping to host this fabulous event!
SysMik — Standing at the Forefront of Technology and Innovation — Delivering Control Products for Infrastructure, Buildings, and Energy. ControlTrends had the opportunity to interview one of the most impressive manufacturers at the 2016 Niagara Summit Vendor Showcase, SysMik GmbH. An established leader of control products for over 25 years, SysMik stands at the forefront of technology and innovation. Based in Germany, SysMik products are carefully designed by their experienced engineering team and manufactured under highest quality standards.
Free Belimo Training: Sizing and Selecting Control Valves Made Easy. Learn from the Control Pros at Belimo. Danielle Breece, Product Specialist, Sales Tools: SelectPro – Sizing and Selection Made Easy. In this 30 minute webinar, you will learn about the newly enhanced SelectPro version 3.2. SelectPro allows you to quickly and accurately size and select valves, actuators, and replacement solutions. New features for this tool include: updated valve module interface, new quote generator export option & reference documents tab, the ability to save contact profiles and more! Join Danielle on Wednesday, June 8 at 1:00 EDT.
Breaking News FIN 4.0 is Here! A very cool and powerful version of FIN has hit the streets. Check out FIN 4.0 and see just how the complete BAS/BOS Framework from J2 leverages tagging and data modeling. How it implements responsive web design and a mobile first focus utilizes browser based tools and embracing the HTML5 standard, allowing full application suite functionality across all devices Fin makes it faster, easier, and better than ever before. Click here to find out more.
Get to the Edge with the New Controller from BASSG.he original “Young Gun”, Alper Üzmezler, managing partner and chief innovator at BASSG Graphics, shows us BASSG’s new Edge controller at the 2016 Niagara Summit Product showcase. This powerful little controller packs a big punch. Among other things it includes: Visualytik (HTML5 drag and drop visualization engine with block programming), EAC Engine (Optimization engine in which it will consume live, historical and analytics data and write to real-time controls), Analytics Engine, and a Sedona Realtime control engine.
Ken Sinclair’s Automated Buildings June Theme — Measured Variables: Health, Wellbeing, & Productivity. Automated Buildings’ Ken Sinclair’s June theme delivers well-explained reasons why we need to re-zero our IoT aim towards the bigger target area: “There is a “3-30-300” rule of thumb that organizations typically spend approximately $3 per square foot per year for utilities, $30 for rent, and $300 for payroll. While these figures are just archetypes, they are useful in providing an order of magnitude between the three areas of expenditure.” Seems simple enough. The growing contextualization within the space, allows for greater productivity within the space, and our driven effort to emphasize and realize greater energy savings, while not misguided, is only the tip of the value iceberg.
EasyIO’s New FW 14 Controller and Product Road Map! EasyIO — Coming to a Building Near You! The product hits from EasyIO keep coming! Magic Mike Marston (aka, Mad Mike Marston) released this EasyIO product road map featuring the FW14 Controller, with live Wiresheets, BACnet, and P2P over WiFi, to update the ControlTrends Community on what EasyIO has in store for the remainder of 2016. And see below for what’s coming in 2017! Additionally, EasyIO will be releasing these new software features for 2016: Adapter Widgets, Dashboard, Support for Amazon Echo, and Support for Blynk (Android & IPhone).
KMC Controls Training Class. On June 20-24, 2016 KMC Controls in New Paris, IN will hold a KMC Connect with TotalControl training class. The objective of this 5-day course is to provide instruction on the installation, integration, and operation of KMC Connect and TotalControl software. KMC Connect will provide configuration and operator workstation options for Building Automation Systems using KMC Conquest hardware (and earlier versions) in a BACnet environment. TotalControl provides an enterprise level connectivity and Internet accessible facility management resource for customers.
Brad White, SES Consulting’s “The Trillion Dollar Opportunity in Transforming Existing Buildings.” The $3/$30/$300 sq ft rule was the predominant theme in the June, 2016 edition of Ken Sinclair’s Automated Buildings. Brad White, SES Consulting, offers yet another compelling economic case for directing more of our efforts to the $300 variable in the equation. A 5% improvement in productivity represents a tremendous savings, while making employees more comfortable and our buildings better. Truly, an emerging trend as IoT delivers more relevant contextualization into the Building Renaissance and the Smart, Connected, and Intelligent Building formula.
Take Control of your Manufacturing Maintenance with Proteus MMX CMMS (Comprehensive Maintenance Management Software) Solution. Proteus MMX is a web-hosted maintenance management software solution which integrates asset management, maintenance management, inventory, labor and purchasing functions for improved scheduling, cost reduction, resource planning and more. This powerful solution has mobile capabilities for users who want to access CMMS software anytime, from any location. SIGN-UP FOR LIVE WEBINAR June 8th @ 10am CT.
sensorFact’s Matt Horton at the 2016 Niagara Summit: Data Acquisition Solutions for Your Building Control Sensors. Making its debut appearance at 2016 Niagara Vendor Product Showcase, sensorFact is a cloud based data acquisition and storage service for sensor data. It allows you to send sensor data from your location, through our pointCollex technology or directly to their pointCollex API, to your account in sensorFact. Once there, you can name, organize, tag, monitor, and choose which sensors whose data you want to store long-term. Further, your sensor data is available for you to share or integrate with other systems.
ACI’s Sales Engineer, Mya Holzemer at the 2016 Niagara Summit Vendor Showcase. Mya Holzemer, Sales Engineer at Automation Components, Inc., reviewed some of ACI’s new contractor-friendly products designed to deliver a better sensor solution that shortens the installation time, as well as eases the effort necessary for installation. New products featured the sensor enclosure with a hinged cover that eliminates the need ofr screws, and the WPR2 wet-wet, differential pressure transmitter, that reduces the amount of copper needed and eliminates the manifold valve assembly. Visit ACI’s product and training videos for more information!
Another apex moment in the Smart Buildings Controls Renaissance movement, where over 1300 of the world’s top developers, programmers, building owners, engineers and executives have joined Nino DiCosmo and the Tridium staff to participate in forums, presentations and breakout sessions that will set the precedence and pace in the realm of smart, intelligent, and connected buildings. Over 300 developer partners participated in the future of Niagara 4 at the Boot Camp session. The evening Welcome Reception was kicked off in true Mardi Gras fashion with a police-escort led parade ending at the fabulous Champions Square.
Nino DiCosmo, President and General Manager, opened DAY 2 by delivering a compelling Keynote message on just how deep the technology disruption goes and his vision of the Niagara Communities’ opportunities to fully leverage technology, achieve operational excellence, and develop new revenue streams. John Sublett, Chief Technology Officer, was next up, commenting “We will be integrating the key technologies for you — that’s the power of an open system” and Pranay Prakash, Vice President, Product Marketing, followed with “Edge and cloud technologies will completely change the IoT game and we want to lead this transformation.”
ControlTalk NOW — Smart Buildings VideoCast and Podcast for week ending May 22, 2016 features video and interview coverage of the 2016 Niagara Summit held May 15th through the 17th, in New Orleans, where over 1300 of the world’s top developers, programmers, building owners, engineers and executives met to take the smart, connected, and intelligent building — and the Building Renaissance to its next level. Many more videos to follow. Congratulations once again to Nino DiCosmo, Jenny Graves, and the team at Tridium, as well as the vendors, breakout speakers, and the Niagara Community at large — for the professional enrichment and networking. We already look forward to the 2018 Niagara Summit.
ControlTalk Now — DAY 1 @ 2016 Niagara Summit Recap. ControlTalk NOW — Smart Buildings VideoCast and Podcast for week ending May 15, 2016 is all about DAY 1 @ 2016 Niagara Summit in New Orleans — and another apex moment in the Building Renaissance movement, where over 1300 of the world’s top developers, programmers, building owners, engineers and executives have joined Nino DiCosmo and the Tridium staff to participate in forums, presentations and breakout sessions that will set the precedence and pace in the realm of smart, intelligent, and connected buildings. Over 300 developer partners participated in the future of Niagara 4 at the Boot Camp session. The evening Welcome Reception was kicked off in true Mardi Gras fashion with a police-escort led parade ending at the fabulous Champions Square.
DAY 2 @ 2016 Niagara Summit — See the Niagara Community in Action! Nino DiCosmo, President and General Manager, opened DAY 2 by delivering a compelling Keynote message on just how deep the technology disruption goes and his vision of the Niagara Communities’ opportunities to fully leverage technology, achieve operational excellence, and develop new revenue streams. John Sublett, Chief Technology Officer, was next up, commenting “We will be integrating the key technologies for you — that’s the power of an open system” and Pranay Prakash, Vice President, Product Marketing, followed with “Edge and cloud technologies will completely change the IoT game and we want to lead this transformation.”
Catching Up with Ed Merwin at the Niagara Summit 2016. Ken and I catch up with Ed Merwin, one of our favorite people in the Smart Buildings Controls Industry. Ed gives us his thoughts on the 2016 Niagara Summit, N4, and how the future looks in a world connected by Niagara. Ed is one of the most recognized experts in the Building Automation and Integration industry, having introduced the Niagara Platform and the concept of system integration to many of North America’s earliest integration adopters.
Nino DiCosmo, Leadership Extraordinaire — DAY 3 @ 2016 Niagara Summit. In between all the excitement, networking, and learning at the 2016 Niagara Summit, Ken and I got a chance to catch up with Nino DiCosmo, President and General Manager at Tridium. Nino reviews the growth of the Niagara Community, the milestones already accomplished, and the global road map ahead. Hear what Nino has to say about the first three days of what is arguably the best Niagara Summit yet!
DAY 3 @ 2016 Niagara Summit Highlights — Keynote Speaker David Pogue — Out for a Funrun with Technology. DAY 3 @ 2016 Niagara Summit Highlight — Keynote Speaker David Pogue. David has over 3 million books in print, was founder of Yahoo Tech, and serves as the personal-technology columnist for the New York Times. David enlightened, entertained, challenged, and inspired the Niagara Community with his humorous, but piercing insight into the forces changing our lives and our careers. 80% of the new movies, new books and new technology will not be success stories, but the message wasn’t the math. Run with technology; not against it. Great job Tridium — on another great Niagara Summit.
ControlTalk NOW — Smart Buildings VideoCast and Podcast for week ending May 8, 2016 features interviews with Smart Buildings Controls Renaissance expert Ken Sinclair, owner editor of Automated Buildings, and Cyber Security expert, Fred Gordy, Director of Cyber Security at Intelligent Buildings, LLC. Register now for the June 21st Realcomm/IBcon Smart Building Integrators Summit in San Jose. Additionally, BASSG introduces Analytics at the Edge Device; Functional Devices offers a new Fan Safety Alarm Control; and Peter Greisinger from Intermatic talks about some great products to battle Light Litter.
ControlTalk NOW’s first interview is with Smart Buildings Controls Renaissance expert Ken Sinclair, owner editor of Automated Buildings. Ken Sinclair discusses Automated Buildings May Theme “Our Open IoT Centric Future,” Acquisition Impacts, and Open, Cheap, & Sexy Lighting Report. Ken Sinclair’s editorial in May’s Automated Buildings has a few Paul Revere like messages in the first two paragraphs. The first being that four relatively large control companies were bought recently, and the efficacious assimilation of their technologies will allow for much larger and more successful market penetration in the Building Automation arena from non-traditional directions.
The Smart Buildings Controls Renaissance Begins — Review of Global EasyIO Partner Event in Paris. The Smart Buildings Controls Renaissance began a year ago in Paris as the great minds of smart buildings and building automation controls gathered at the EASY IO Event to discuss and reinvent the way we save energy and make buildings smarter. That week marked the beginning, but not the end of innovation in the Smart Buildings Control space. The vendors and systems integrators that gathered at the Global EasyIO Partner Event — from six continents, all agreed that buildings are the common language and currency — and EasyIO is the common language spoken.
Pre-Con’s Smart Building Integrators Summit: Chart Your Next Moves from a Single Building to a Large Portfolio. Realcomm/IBcon 2016 Pre-Con Smart Building Integrators Summit provides a detailed map where the next-generation Master Systems Integrator is — and how you can get there. Today we are dealing with three different generations of smart building technologies: (1) Past (closed, proprietary, single system), (2) Current (more open and attempting to retrieve data and functionality of the older more closed systems) and (3) Future (IP-enabled, intuitive GUIs, analytics, edge devices pumping data directly to the cloud). But, with all of these new changes comes more and more involvement with IT technologies.
BASSG Joins The Smart Buildings Controls Renaissance Introducing Analytics Processed at the Edge Device! When people say that we are living in the post-PC era they mean that the personal computer is being eclipsed as the center of the IT universe by the smartphone. With the advent of the Smart Buildings Controls Renaissance, operations technology is experiencing a similar reordering. In this new era of the Internet of Things (IoT), compute resources equivalent to a PC or smartphone are being integrated into all sorts of equipment and devices. For commercial buildings, a new category of IoT device is emerging -— the BASSG Energy Analytics Controller (EAC). Smart building applications development may soon revolve around the enormous possibilities of these edge devices.
Functional Devices — A Much Simpler Decision Than Picking a 2016 Presidential Primary Candidate. Functional Devices does it again! The RIBMNLB-1 gives you a simple and effective FAN SAFETY ALARM CIRCUIT control. Functional Devices, Inc. has been designing and manufacturing quality electronic devices in the United States of America since 1969. Alarm Fault Application Explained: When the Latch/Fault Input is Closed (Normal state), the Relay is activated, and Red LED is Off. When Latch/Fault Input Opens (Alarm state), the Relay deactivates, and Red LED turns On. Until the Latch/ Fault Input is Closed AND either power is cycled or the RESET button is pressed, relay will remain in the Alarm state.
Light Litter is Costing 2 Billion Dollars a Year! Light Litter, a term Ken Smyers coined, wastes two billion dollars a year in energy. What is Light Litter? Light Litter is when you have a beautiful sunny day and outside lights are still on. To see examples of light litter you can go to The Green Marines Facebook Page. If you see examples of Light Litter, please go to The Green Marines Facebook Page and upload a picture. Change starts with awareness, and as they say, a picture is worth a thousand words. Reach out to your local politician and ask them to stop Light Litter. this is a problem the HVAC and Smart Buildings Control Community can easily solve. In this video, Ken reaches out to Peter Greisinger from Intermatic to learn about the easy to use affordable lighting timers and controls that Intermatic has to eliminate light litter.
ControlTalk NOW’s second interview is with Fred Gordy, Director of Cyber Security at Intelligent Buildings, LLC. Fred Gordy is one of the leading evangelists on Cyber Security, particularly as it applies to Operational Technology (OT) versus Information Technology (IT). In this interview, Fred delivers another critical collection of cyber security and cyber terrorism information — as it pertains the building management systems’ world. The threat is real and increasing, and the human variable in the equation is the most important. If you don’t have a policy or internal guidance yet, click here.
ControlTalk NOW — Smart Buildings VideoCast and Podcast for week ending May 1, 2016 highlights two of the most important and career-rejuvenating industry event dates that are coming fast: Niagara Summit 2016, May 15th-17th in New Orleans and 2016 Realcomm/IBcon, June 21st-24th in San Jose, CA., as well as coverage of Women in HVACR scholarship opportunities; 2016 CGNA Synergy Conference interviews with Mike Sackett and Honeywell’s Larry Weber; 3D Printed Heat Exchangers; DOE recognition of corporate leadership; Project Haystack announces three new members; Contemporary Controls and Siemens showcase new products; and Belimo offers May 11th steam valve sizing and selection webinar.
Ken and Eric continue discussing the Smart Buildings Controls Renaissance, the “race to the small space” and how to solve the global light litter epidemic.
Women in HVACR: 2016 WHVACR Scholarships DEADLINE is JUNE 1ST. Current industry estimates project a need for 86,000 employees over the next five years. One of WHVACR goals is to help the industry fill this demand now and going forward with deserving and qualified candidates. In 2016 Women in HVACR is delighted to be able to increase our scholarship award amount to: Two $2000.00 scholarships. Qualifications: Scholarship A) – Technical College or Trade School. Open to females, high school seniors or older preparing to enter into the HVACR industry either through a technical college or trade school with a GPA of 2.0 or greater, and completed application and essay (minimum of 500 words).
CGNA’s Mike Sackett: Together We Are Better. This is the first of several interviews from the 2016 CGNA Controls Conference. We caught up with Mike Sackett, the director of CGNA. Controls Group North America (CGNA) is an elite organization of the top distributors and manufacturers in the controls industry. The marketing, technology and networking opportunities provided through the group contribute to the undeniable pursuit of excellence for every member. Mike offers some valuable insights into what makes CGNA so special.
3D Printing Enables New Generation of Heat Exchangers — Modern Process Improves Performance, Reduces Waste. WASHINGTON — The University of Maryland, through a partnership with 3D Systems and the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Building Technologies Office, has used 3D printing to prototype a new heat exchanger. This next-generation heat exchanger weighs 20 percent less, is 20 percent more efficient, and can be manufactured much quicker, compared to current designs.
Energy Department Recognizes Organizations for Leadership in Rooftop Unit Efficiency. As part of the Administration’s strategy to increase energy productivity and cut energy waste in our nation’s buildings, today the U.S. Department of Energy recognized six organizations for their leadership in replacing and upgrading rooftop units as part of the Better Buildings Alliance Rooftop Unit Campaign (ARC). Combined, these organizations in a single year have saved an estimated 1 trillion British thermal units (Btu) or more than $11 million on utility costs with efficient rooftop unit (RTU) replacements, retrofits, and quality management and operations.
Contemporary Controls Enhanced JACE Performance and a Truly Open Controller Showcased at Niagara Summit. We’re looking forward to Tridium’s Niagara Summit, May 15-17 in New Orleans. The Summit provides us with the opportunity to demonstrate how our BASautomation products can enhance Niagara performance by off-loading MS/TP traffic handling from JACE controllers, by providing pre-defined Modbus device profiles to speed up commissioning, and by providing seamless connectivity to Sedona BACnet/IP field controllers using Workbench or our Sedona Application Editor for programming.
Project Haystack Adds New Members Demonstrating Continued Acceptance of the Organization’s Standards. RICHMOND, VIRGINIA (PRWEB) APRIL 28, 2016: Project Haystack Adds New Members Demonstrating Continued Acceptance of the Organization’s Standards for Semantic Modeling and Tagging of Device and Equipment Data. The Project Haystack Organization, a collaborative community addressing the challenge of utilizing semantic modeling and tagging to streamline the interchange of data among different systems, devices, equipment and software applications in order to lower the cost of intelligent building and IoT solutions, today announced three new Associate Member companies – Arup, Connexx Energy and Intellastar Technology.
Join Belimo’s 30 minute Steam Valve Sizing & Selection webinar and learn about steam applications including coil/heat exchangers and the proper technique on how to size a steam valve. In addition, we will demonstrate how easy it is to ensure the correct steam control valve is selected by using the Belimo SelectPro tool. Join Us on Wednesday, May 11 at 1:00 EDT. Click here to register.
Siemens’ New RDY2000BN with BACnet. Siemens Building Technologies has taken the already impressive RDY2000 commercial thermostat and added BACnet capability. This new thermostat is ideal for schools, medical offices, retail space, and restaurants and can now communicate with any BACnet system in the building. You can bring more buildings and zones under control, reduce energy costs and maximize comfort with this easy to install thermostat loaded with built-in features.
Honeywell’s Larry Weber on Light Commercial Smart Controls — Sustain and Maintain Small to Medium Size Buildings. At the 2016 CGNA Synergy Conference, ControlTrends caught up with Honeywell’s Larry Weber, General Manager Building Control Systems (BCS) Honeywell Environmental Control and Combustion. It is quite apparent that Larry and Honeywell have their hands directly on the pulse of the Smart Buildings controls renaissance. Hear how Honeywell has redoubled its efforts in the “race to the small space,” and learn about the new Light Commercial Smart Controls that Honeywell will be introducing later this year — that will reinvent how people will use data and provide service and maintain small to medium size buildings.
ControlTalk NOW — Smart Buildings VideoCast and Podcast for week ending April 24, 2016 features coverage on the 2016 CGNA Synergy Showcase meeting from Newport Beach and our preview interview with Realcomm’s Founder/CEO Jim Young. Jim is the leading visionary in the Smart, Connected, and Intelligent Buildings world, and the up-coming Realcomm/IBcon, June 21-26, 2016 in Silicon Valley, the epicenter of technology and innovation, is the most dynamic event in the industry (Register Now). Special thanks to ACI for the ControlTrends bobble heads!
ControlTalk NOW — Smart Buildings VideoCast and Podcast for week ending April 17, 2016 takes a good look at the technology driving Honeywell’s second generation Lyric thermostat — featuring geofencing that triggers a mobile device application when the device enters or exits the specified area, and Ecorithm’s use of Artificial Intelligence in Smart Buildings. Functional Devices asks why pay for more? Don’t miss the the latest Pub Talk with Mike Marston and the Easy IO partners from Australia, and of special note: Make your plans NOW to attend the RealComm/IBcon 2016 coming to San Jose June 21-24!
30 Minutes with Lynxspring Webinar Series: Lynxspring’s New E2E Cellular Data Service and Onyxx CE121 Cellular Router. The next “30 Minutes with Lynxspring,” our monthly webinar series featuring Lynxspring subject-matter experts and special guests, is scheduled for Wednesday, April 20th at 12:00 PM CDT. April’s Webinar looks at Lynxspring’s new E2E Cellular Data Service, a high-security, private cellular data network, and the new Onyxx CE121 Cellular Router. Register here!
Watch Out Nest: The Second Generation Lyric is Making Beautiful Music. Many think that Nest owns the “cool factor” when it comes to residential thermostats. Not so fast, the orginators of the round thermostat are coming on strong with their second generation Lyric thermostat. That’s right, Honeywell, the company that, as far as we know, has built more thermostats than any other company on the planet, and advanced thermostat technology since 1885, is showing that in addition to unsurpassed technology and engineering, they know a think to two about style. Don’t settle for another pretty face. With Honeywell you get style and substance.
Check out the Smart, Connected, High Performance Intelligent Buildings Conference. Where else can you learn about the latest trends in Smart Buildings and rub elbows with potential customers? RealComm/IBcon 2016 offers this unique opportunity, and is the place to be June 21-24. Click here to register. Act Now Early bird discount ends April 15th. IBcon has grown to become the world’s most comprehensive and leading edge discussion on the next generation of smart, connected, high-performance, green, sustainable, intelligent buildings. This event is not about the traditional one building, one system, one vendor smart building of yesterday, but rather the open architected, interoperable, integrated, IP, IT centric smart buildings of tomorrow. Register here!
Functional Devices Asks: Why Pay More Than You Need? Functional Devices, Inc. has been designing and manufacturing quality electronic devices in the United States of America since 1969. Our goal is to provide high quality products for the most reliable and economical solutions to the needs of our customers, along with world-class support from our sales and engineering experts. Current product offerings include relays, current sensors, power control, enclosures, power supplies, transformers, and accessories.
Ecorithm’s Dr. Igor Mezic and John Morris Explain True Analytics and Using Artificial Intelligence in Smart Buildings. This is next-gen analytics! Dr. Igor Mezic, Ecorithm’s Chief Scientific and Technology Advisor & Co-Founder, and John Morris, VP Marketing and Sales, tell ControlTrends about what inspired Igor to develop Ecorithm’s technology, why Ecorithm is able to provide faster and more accurate results that other analytics companies, and why Ecorithm’s SaaS is necessary for the entire lifetime of the system.
ControlTalk NOW — Smart Buildings VideoCast and Podcast for week ending April 10, 2016 reviews Ken Sinclair’s April Automated Buildings edition and features the wrap-up 2015 ControlTrends Awards video highlighting many of the HVAC and Building Automation heroes and superstars, as well as coverage of Therese Sullivan’s VizLore commentary, KMC Converge, and the NIST Smart Grid and CPS April Newsletter.
Build Something Incredible with the KMC Converge Niagara® Application. Are you maximizing your Niagara® experience with KMC’s latest innovative utility? The all-new KMC Converge Niagara application and KMC Workbench features mobile-friendly HTML5 graphics (KMC Converge GFX) and can be licensed to any open workbench. Converge compliments the new KMC Conquest line of BACnet direct digital controllers and appliances designed to connect building automation systems to the Internet of Things (IoT). The new suite of products provide system integrators and building owners with open, scalable, secure building automation solutions from a single building to enterprise-level installations.
A Final Look at The 2015 ControlTrends Awards. Once again, thank you to the sponsors of the 2015 ControlTrends Awards, and congratulations to all the winners and participants. We will see you at the 2016 ControlTrends Awards in Las Vegas! Special congratulations to the Young Guns Award winners, AHR EXPO receiving the ControlTrends Industry Service Award, ControlTrends India, Petock Award winner Ed Merwin and Hans Kranz’s Hall of Fame induction.
ControlTalk NOW guest interview with Ken Sinclair’s who discusses his April 2016 Automated Buildings Theme, which was “IoT Disruption Transforms and Opens Industry.” Ken tells how steady march of technical advances that have impacted our industry over the past 40 years might be cyclic in nature because they sometimes look familiar. “Transforming and Opening the Industry is a journey, not a destination, and will require consistent and constant attention.”
Therese Sullivan (VizLore Interview) How Will the IoT Create More Intelligent Buildings? VizLore platform is physically divided into two computational strata: a) Edge Computing is applied and distributed across connected devices and networking elements. It enables tactical data processing and serves to improve service resilience. b) Cloud Computing: Orchestration of distributed computing and service integration across the edge devices happens in the cloud, as well as more strategic oversight and workflow control. VizLore soft sensors and analytics derive insight and value from data sources that range from occupant personal devices, building infrastructure, and public-domain information.
NIST Smart Grid and CPS Newsletter: Global City Teams Challenge (GCTC): “Tech Jam” Features 60+ Presentations. IoT-Enabled Smart City Framework: U.S. Kick-off Held on March 24-25, 2016: The international technical public working group to help develop an IoT-Enabled Smart City Framework (IES-City Framework) was launched March 24-25 at a kick-off event on the NIST campus in Gaithersburg, Maryland. The U.S. event, held immediately following the GCTC Tech Jam, drew 70 participants. A parallel European kick-off event is planned for April 14-15, 2016, in Rome, Italy.
ControlTalk NOW — Smart Buildings VideoCast and Podcast for week ending March 27, 2016 reviews KMC’s New Conquest BACnet® Router; CABA’s Intelligent Buildings & Digital Home Forum; Contemporary Controls’ new BACnet Discovery Tool; Lynxspring’s Onyx BACnet to Haystack Data Pump; Johnson Controls Becomes Founding Building Automation Partner in Cisco® Digital Ceiling Program; DENT Instruments Announcement to Collaborate with Emerson; and Honeywell’s announces Pressure Independent Control Valve web training.
KMC’s New Conquest BACnet® Router Offers Time and Labor Savings. KMC Controls’ state-of-the-art Conquest BACnet® router features one MS/TP and one Ethernet port, an HTML5 web configuration interface requiring no additional software, a single cable for both power and communications, and an excellent set of network diagnostic tools for quick and easy network verification and troubleshooting. The router is optimized for temporary installation as a technician’s tool and for permanent installation increasing network efficiency. Additionally, the router acts as an enhancement to a supervisory controller or integration engine by offloading MS/TP and routing, freeing up greater internal resources for core functions.
CABA’s Intelligent Buildings & Digital Home Forum – April 26-28, 2016 in San Diego, CA. Will be held April 26 – 28, 2016 in San Diego, CA. The Continental Automated Buildings Association is pleased to announce that its next Intelligent Buildings & Digital Home Forum will be held April 26 – 28, 2016 in San Diego, CA. Program information and registration for attendees is now open online at: http://www.caba.org/forum and highly discounted early-bird pricing and hotel rates will be in effect for a limited time. Kevin Petersen, President of AT&T Digital Life, James Carlini, Author and Paul Campbell, VP Innovation, Head of Silicon Valley Innovation Center, Schneider Electric have been confirmed as keynote speakers.
Contemporary Controls Adds New Features to the BACnet Discovery Tool. March 2016 – Contemporary Controls is pleased to announce the release of the latest iteration of its BACnet Discovery Tool, commonly referred to as BDT. For those unfamiliar, BDT is a free BACnet/IP application for Windows that is easy to install and use. The tool is instrumental as a means of discovering and verifying communication with MS/TP devices that are being accessed through BACnet/IP routers such as the BASrouter or the BASrouterLX. To prove our routers operate with different equipment configurations, we here at Contemporary Controls use BDT with equipment from various BACnet vendors.
New Product Release: Onyx BACnet to Haystack Data Pump. This just in from our Friends at Lynxspring: Lynxspring is pleased to announce the availability of our new Onyxx BACnet to Haystack Data Pump. With the number of and variety of equipment, sensors, devices and building automation systems that are available to connect to, the amount of building data available has increased considerably. With this, comes value in having large amounts of data. But, the challenge lies in how to manage and get useful information out of the data; especially as these data sets often come with various formats, naming conventions, and syntaxes. It is one thing to have access to data. It is another to make it actionable.
Johnson Controls Becomes Founding Building Automation Partner in Cisco® Digital Ceiling. Partnership allows buildings to become smarter, more efficient and connected. MILWAUKEE, March 11, 2016 /PRNewswire/ — Johnson Controls announced today that it has joined the Cisco® Digital Ceiling community as a founding building automation partner. The Digital Ceiling framework provides a platform that delivers better user experiences through the convergence of the IT network and building technologies, including lighting, heating, cooling, security, motion detection, and other sensors and actuators.
DENT Instruments Announces Collaboration with Emerson. PRESS RELEASE: DENT Instruments Announces Collaboration with Emerson to Launch An Industry-First Wireless Power Meter. DENT Instruments, Bend, Oregon – DENT Instruments, a global leader in the design and manufacture of power and energy measurement instruments, along with Emerson, a recognized leader in bringing technology and engineering together, have announced a strategic collaboration, making wireless power measurement a reality.
ELearning: Honeywell Pressure Independent Control Valve Training. Honeywell has a broad Control Valve portfolio and will be offering a one-hour training that is open to all Distributors and Contractors on Pressure Independent Control Valves. This training will cover: Common Applications, Basic Technical Information, Key Advantages of Honeywell’s VRN and VRW valves, Savings Potential, Part Number Explanation & Ordering Process, Available Valve Resources, and Q&A. Honeywell will also be announcing a quarterly promotion for Control Valves at the end of training. Please join for more details. Web Meeting Access: https://honeywellintl.globalmeet.com/HoneywellAirAndWater
ControlTalk NOW — Smart Buildings VideoCast and Podcast for week ending March 20, 2016 includes RedLINK E-Learning from Honeywell; FIN Stack Webinar from J2 Innovation; White Paper and E-Zine release from Project Haystack; BAS Control PUB Talk with EasyIO’s Mike Marston; Josh Bradshaw’s Silicon Valley Smart Buildings coverage; 2015 ControlTrends Awards Red Carpet interviews and Hans Kranz’s Hall of Fame induction; and a guest interview with OpenBMCS General Manager Chris Schneider from Australia.
Honeywell E-Learning: Next RedLINK Tool. Free, Live Product Training! Join us to learn about the solution HVAC installers have been asking for. The Honeywell Equipment Remote Module (ERM) is designed for use whenever it’s too costly or time-consuming to run wires from a condensing unit or boiler to control devices. The ERM eliminates wiring needs and assists in the connection of hard to access pieces of equipment, making it ideal for most installations.
J2 Innovations: Bringing Equipment and Points from Niagara into FIN Stack! This week’s video focuses on just how quick and easy it is to bring data from a Niagara station into your FIN Stack server. The video starts off by demonstrating how to connect Niagara to FINStack, using the nHaystackService (Niagara) and Haystack Connector (FIN Stack). Once the connection is established, bringing the data into FIN Stack is simple. How it works: By utilizing the ‘Add Haystack Equip’ tool within the Haystack Connector, you can select multiple equipment folders from their Niagara Station to become haystack equipment.
New White Paper and E-Zine from Project Haystack. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE! New White Paper and E-Zine from Project Haystack Discuss the Benefits and Value of Tagging and Semantic Modeling for Today’s Smart Buildings and the Internet of Things. RICHMOND, VIRGINIA, March 15, 2016 — The Project Haystack Organization (www.project-haystack.org), a collaborative open-source community addressing the challenges of utilizing tagging and semantic modeling to streamline the interchange of data among smart devices and software applications, today announced two new publications supporting the organization’s work.
2015 ControlTrends Awards Red Carpet Interviews (Caution: Superstars and Super Heroes Entering Stage Right). Great ControlTrends Awards interviews with Ken Sinclair, Automated Buildings and Brad White, SES Engineering, discuss the Young Guns Awards (Climate Superheroes), the AHR EXPO Industry Service Award, the global growth of ControlTrends Community and Hans Kranz’s Hall of Fame induction; along with interviews with Johan Schakenraad, CEO, EasyIO Europe; Allion and Scott Cochrane, Cochrane Supply; Alerton’s Amy Doran and Kevin Callahan; BASSG’s Alper Uzmezler; McKinney’s Leroy Walden; Jason Briggs from J2 Innovation; Siemens’ Josh Felperin; Thermokon’s David Alliband; Chris Lane and Dimitri Papadopoulos from Johnson Controls (Congratulations on Facility Explorer’s 10 Year Anniversary); John and James Donahue from Control Consultants, Inc.; and Blue Ridge Technologies’ Bill Dunkleberger.
Smart Buildings: Silicon Valley Delivers Data-Driven Office Space. A new friend, Josh Bradshaw is worth paying attention to. Josh is a technology enthusiast and visionary. He coined the phrase “Don’t Work for Technology; Make Technology Work for You.” Check out his website WorkTechWork to get an idea just how broad his coverage of technology is, and how it is effecting us now and will in the future. Josh recently co-chaired a Smart Buildings Event with Jim Young, RealComm/Ibcon for the movers and shakers in Silicon Valley. As you can see from the video, some great perspectives and dialogue. Nice job Josh and Jim!
ControlTalk NOW guest Chris Schneider, General Manager, OpenBMCS. From sunny down under, Chris’ tells us about his latest focus, which is about producing a video support package for the OpenBMCS software package — a fully web based building automation head-end to manage everything about your Sedona site: graphical front end, programming, alarming, trending, and controller management. This step by step video guide walks you through installing a system, adding a new controller, and an in-depth review of the alarming package. OpenBCMS has recently launched two new modules, which can be added through their website: Tenant Billing and Maintenance Log. Visit OpenBMCS now to see more!
Episode 3: Mike Marston’s BAS Control Pub Talk with Brian Anderson. What do Jimi Hendricks, Mad Mike Marston, and saving energy have in Common? They all know Brian Anderson from Commtech Asia. On this episode of BAS Control Pub Talk with Mike Marston, Mike introduces us to the fascinating Brian, as they talk controls, rock and roll, and check out chicks in Thailand. Here is a bit of Brian’s history: Brian left school at 16 in 1961 and became a drummer in many several rock bands, playing rock an roll for over 2 decades. To put this in perspective 1961 was the year that Mike was born. Mike, how come Brian looks so young? Speaks well of the after effects of over 20 years of S__, D__-s, and Rock and Roll.
Hans Kranz, Fabled Controls Wizard from Landstule, Germany, Inducted into ControlTrends 2015 Hall of Fame. Perhaps the greatest highlight moment of the 2015 ControlTrends Awards was the special pleasure of watching Automated Buildings’ editor and owner, Ken Sinclair, induct Hans R. Kranz into the ControlTrends Hall of Fame. Hans’ incredible sixty year career in the HVAC industry began at the age of 14, and progressed with one achievement after another, becoming known as the father of Standard BACS Functions. Hans has served on the Presidial Board of DIN (German Standardization Institute), is a member of the DKE (German Electrotechnical Commission) and the VDI (Association of German Engineers with 150,000 members). For more on Hans Kranz’s outstanding life achievements and biography, please see below.
ControlTalk NOW — Smart Buildings VideoCast and Podcast for week ending March 13, 2016 does a hasty review of Week Ending March 6th and features special guest Ken Sinclair, owner and editor of Automated Buildings, who talks about this month’s theme — Project-Haystack Open for Mashing, and Johnson Controls’ Whitepaper: Changing Demographics in the HVACR Industry. Six ControlTrends Award Winner videos; Lynxspring and Belimo webinars; and the March TridiumTalk.
EasyIO FG-32+ BACnet Listing Update and EasyStack Training — March 2016 in Melbourne and Sydney. MC Cheah, Senior Development Engineer at EasyIO was delighted to announce that EasyIO received official confirmation from BTL that the FG-32+ passed the BTL test with 100% results and the FG-32+ and the FG-20+ will be listed on the BTL website in the very near future.
KMC Controls — The Next Generation of Building Automation — Training Opportunities. March 1, 2016: Take Advantage of the Latest Training Availability from KMC Controls! Visit the KMC Controls Partner Portal to sign up for KMC training in New Paris, IN. Current course offerings include: TotalControl with KMC Connect: Course Description: The objective of this 5-day course is to provide instruction on the installation, integration, and operation of KMC Conquest hardware using KMC Connect Lite, KMC Connect, and TotalControl software.
2015 ControlTrends Award Highlight: Patrick Dumas of Viconics Wins Best Technical Support Person Small Manufacturer. Patrick is a Senior Technical Support Representative at Viconics (Schneider Electric) Canada. Viconics Technologies Inc. headquartered in Montreal, Canada was founded 30 years ago in the field of industrial process controls. Viconics quickly became a leader in embedded micro controller-based technology and developed factory programmed, field-configurable stand-alone PI wall mounted temperature controllers. Congratulations once again, Patrick!
2015 ControlTrends Awards Highlight: John Hutchey, Honeywell Wins Best Technical Support Person Large Manufacturer. As a Product Support Specialist at Honeywell John’s role involves supporting channel partners in sales, design, and commissioning of open-system projects, and his primary focus is supporting contractors to insure successful integrations on the Niagara platforms. Congratulations John!
ControlTalk NOW featured guest Ken Sinclair, who discusses his March, 2016 Release: “Project-Haystack Open for Mashing.” March, 2016’s edition gives recognition and congratulates Project-Haystack and the Sedona Community by featuring the E-zine launch of Project-Haystack Connections, a seminal work by Therese Sullivan, and Ken’s Open Sedona Evolution editorial. In Ken’s own words: “We are extremely pleased to deliver to you Project-Haystack’s new e-zine “Connections” as a supplement/insert to our March issue.
Ken Sinclair’sAutomated Buildings March, 2016 Release: “Project-Haystack Open for Mashing.” In his March 2016 edition, Ken Sinclair, owner and editor of Automated Buildings, gives recognition and congratulates Project-Haystack and the Sedona Community in meaningful ways featuring the E-zine launch of Project-Haystack Connections, a seminal work by Therese Sullivan, and Ken’s Open Sedona Evolution editorial. In the words of Ken Sinclair: “We are extremely pleased to deliver to you Project-Haystack’s new e-zine “Connections” as a supplement/insert to our March issue. We have been involved with the project from its inception and are proud and pleased to have the honor of helping present this first issue. This issue provides an amazing overview of the achievement and resource collection in place today.”
ControlTrends India Interview with Pankaj Dharkar at ACREX 2016 Mumbai. Direct from ACREX 2016, Sameer Pradhan, Director ControlTrends India, interviews the venerated Pankaj Dharkar, founder of Pankaj Dharkar & Associates, and ex-President of Indian Society Of Heating, Refrigerating & Air-conditioning Engineers (ISHRAE). Pankaj Dharkar, a legend in HVAC and Building engineering, a smart city visionary and front leader for Fire & Security Association of India (FSAI), in an exclusive interview with Sameer Pradhan, talked about his active role in forming and nurturing several societies aimed towards Safety, Security and Building services.
DG Logik’s DGLux5 Takes Data Center Infrastructure Management to a New Level. DGLogik’s Modern Toolsets: One Workspace. Data-Driven. All Yours. Create a first-class application that will take your Data Center Infrastructure Management solution to a whole new level. With DGLux5, users can quickly identify problems, find out where to investigate and make faster, well-informed decisions to cut costs, save time and manage large amounts of data more efficiently.
2015 ControlTrends Awards Highlight: The PID Award. Watch as the electrifying Roger Rebennack, winner of the first ever ControlTrends PID Award, presents the 2015 ControlTrends PID Award to Mike Marston from EASY IO, and Honeywell’s Larry Andriunas. Larry and Mike were recognized by the Global ControlTrends community for their Passion, Integrity and Dedication. Congratulations, and thanks for making our Smart Buildings and Building Automation Controls Industry better.
2015 ControlTrends Award Highlight: Ed Merwin Receives The Coveted Petock Award. Congratulations to Ed Merwin, from Tridium, who received the 2015 Petock Award. The Petock Award is named for smart buildings industry pioneer and veteran Marc Petock. In addition to his business success, Marc is known for giving to and helping others make themselves and our Industry better. It is in this spirit that the Petock Award was created. Great job Ed! You are very deserving of this honor!
2015 ControlTrends Award Highlight: The System Integrator of the Year. Congratulations to Hepta Control Systems and Automation Integrated, co-winners of the 2015 ControlTrends System Integrator of the Year Award. Hepta Control Systems and Automation Integrated were voted by the global ControlTrends Community for their outstanding work in the HVAC and Smart Building and Building Automation Controls Industry.
March’s TridiumTalk: What Can Intelligent Alarming Do for You? Find out through a live demo in this month’s TridiumTalk. You won’t want to miss our next TridiumTalk, “Intelligent Alarming with the Niagara Analytics Framework.” Join Sales Engineer Ross Schwalm for a live demo to learn how to capture real-time data, and build and manage intelligent alarms. The Niagara Analytics Framework is purposefully designed for the Internet of Things (IoT) — turning data into actionable information and enabling faster, smarter business decisions. Register today!
2015 ControlTrends Award Highlight: ACI Wins Vendor of the Year — Small Manufacturer. Since its founding in 1991, ACI has been dedicated to excellence and has grown from seven employees to over 170 quality individuals, and has facilities that total over 78,000 square feet, with global offices in Hong Kong, and China. ACI’s products include temperature, relative humidity, current, pressure, gas and wireless related sensors. ACI has maintained its deep commitment to its core values: service, integrity, pride, and loyalty — and it has paid off handsomely, well done ACI!
30 Minutes with Lynxspring – The New BACnet to Haystack Data Pump. The next “30 Minutes with Lynxspring”, our monthly webinar series featuring Lynxspring subject-matter experts and special guests, is scheduled for Wednesday, March 16th at 12:00 PM CDT. March’s “30 Minutes with Lynxspring” will look at our new BACnet to Haystack Data Pump. With the number of and variety of equipment, sensors, devices and building automation systems that are available to connect to, the amount of building data available has increased considerably.
2015 ControlTrends Awards Highlight: Belimo Wins Vendor of the Year Large Manufacturer. Belimo is a listed technology company with a staff of close to 1400 worldwide. Belimo has developed, manufactured, and distributed electric actuators for air dampers and valve technology for heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems since 1975. With thier comprehensive range of products, Belimo has become world leaders in this specific market. Congratulations once again to Belimo, winner of the 2015 ControlTrends Vendor of the Year Large Manufacturer! . Belimo Fire & Smoke Product Release and Essential Retrofit Applications Webinar. Fire & Smoke Product Release and Essential Retrofit Applications. In this webinar, you will learn why the new Belimo FSAF A Series of Fire & Smoke actuators are the perfect retrofit solution. The discussion will provide information on key applications and about the optimized functionality that provides maximum safety. Join Us on Wednesday, March 23 at 1:00 EST. Click here to register.
2015 ControlTrends Award Highlight: Jason Briggs Wins Executive of the Year Small Manufacturer. Congratulations to Jason Briggs from J2 Innovations. Jason was awarded the 2015 Executive of the Year Award by the global ControlTrends Community. J2 Innovations is an emerging software and technology company specializing in the human experience as it relates to smart devices. FIN (Fluid Integration) framework is the core enabling technology for creating software solutions ranging from device programming to enterprise visualization.
2015 ControlTrends Awards Highlight: Lars van der Haegen Wins Executive of the Year Large Manufacturer. Congratulations to Lars van der Haegen from Belimo. Lars van der Haegen has been the President of Belimo Americas and Member of the Executive Committee since November, 2010. Prior to that, he was employed by Belimo in various positions since 2000. Lars van der Haegen has a strong HVAC application and industry knowledge paired with master degrees in business from Columbia Business School in New York and the London Business School. Accepting the Award, on Lars’ behalf, is Gary Weber, an Industry great in his own right.
Johnson Controls’ White Paper: Changing Demographics in the HVACR Industry. ControlTrends is delighted to present this Johnson Controls’ white paper written by Renee Joseph entitled “Elevating the HVACR industry: Promoting exciting careers to diverse prospects can help address staffing shortages.” This seminal piece is a profoundly informative and factual accounting that serves us all well — as the current State of the Union Address for our HVAC industry.
The Changing Demographics in the HVACR and Facility Management Workforce. The Changing Demographics in the HVACR and Facility Management Workforce. In this session, hear from seasoned industry experts, their perspectives on how the demographics have changed over the last ten years in the facility management and the HVACR industries. For example, there are now more women in the facility management and HVACR industry than there ever was before. The presentation will be on these stats and will describe the reasons for this demographic shift.
ControlTalk NOW — Smart Buildings VideoCast and Podcast for week ending February 29, 2016 features interviews with Ed Merwin and Therese Sullivan and ControlTrends Awards video coverage of J2 Innovations, Belimo, Blue Ridge Technologies, Siemens, and EasyIO receiving their awards, as well as Red Carpet action and an interview with Scott Muench. Drone update from Eagle Technology; Niagara Summit 2016 registration Early Bird Deadline; and Sameer Pradhan, Director, ControlTrends India coverage of ACREX 2016 from Mumbai.
CoR Advisors February Web Cast: Redefining the Modern Workplace Experience. Friday, February 26, 2016, 12:30-2:00 p.m. EST, The workplace of the future is the Smart Building. One that leverages the latest in mobile and the Internet-of-Things (IoT) technologies to collect and analyze data – providing insight into what and where things are happening in the building, and how people are actually using space. This data allows building owners to offer a suite of personalized services and location-based amenities to the occupants, while improving security, provide better space utilization, and energy optimization.
2015 ControlTrends Awards Highlight: J2 Innovations Wins the Visualization Product of the Year. Congratulations to FIN Builder, the one graphic tool to do it all. You can now train employees in FIN Builder (who don’t need to understand details about Niagara, Sedona, etc.) to build the entire Graphical User Interface (GUI), lowering your total direct costs on the job.
Trend Spotter: Eagle Technology. From Eagle Technology: Trending Topics — The Internet of Drones has Landed and Why Drones Are the Next Internet. Drones are a game changer and hold vast potential for streamlining and reducing the cost of inspection and monitoring tasks associated with reliability and asset performance. Drone technology has been democratized and it’s now fast, cheap and out of control. It’s like the Internet all over again.
On the Red Carpet at the 2015 ControlTrends Awards. Beautiful women, super heroes, style, and grace under pressure. Watch as the Super Heroes of the HVAC and Building Automation Controls walk the Red Carpet and have their big night of celebration at the 2015 ControlTrends Awards. This video captures a little bit of the excitement of this year’s Event. A special Thanks to all our Sponsors, who make the ControlTrends Awards possible.
Register Now For the 2016 Niagara Summit in New Orleans! This year’s Niagara Summit will bring the opportunity to attend information-packed breakout sessions led by Niagara experts, a robust trade show filled with BAS and IoT industry leaders, and networking with others in the Niagara Community. We’ve just announced breakout sessions for the Developer Bootcamp, and the Business and Applications tracks.
ControlTalk NOW’s first interview guest is Director, Vykon Automation Energy Security at Tridium, Ed Merwin. Ed is one of the most venerated Building Automation and Smart Building Solutions experts in the industry (2013 ControlTrends PID Award Co-winner and 2015 Petock Award winner). Ed reviews the Technical, Developer, and Business Tracks planned for the upcoming 2016 Niagara Summit to be held at Champions Square in New Orleans — one of the best venues in the country. Early Bird registration ends the evening of February 29th, 2016. Register NOW!
2015 ControlTrends Awards Highlight: Blue Ridge Technologies and Siemens Gamma Win the Lighting Integration Solution of the Year. Congratulations to Blue Ridge Technologies and Siemens Gamma for winning the 2015 ControlTrends Lighting Integration Solution of the Year Award. Blue Ridge Technologies’ Unified Lighting Control completes the BAS, incorporating lighting and HVAC controls on the same network. Siemens Gamma is a new, integrated control system that can achieve significant energy savings, providing precisely what your building’s occupants need.
2015 ControlTrends Awards Highlight: Belimo Wins Best Technical Support Award. Congratulations to the technical support team at Belimo for being chosen by the global ControlTrends Community for the ControlTrends Best Technical Support Large Manufacturer Award. Belimo continues to be a trusted partner across the globe for its customers, offering them the added value they expect. Research and market-relevant innovation as well as rapid and customized execution are key to success.
ControlTalk NOW’s second interview guest is with BuildingContext editor, Therese Sullivan, the eyes and ears of Silicon Valley, who previews with us Project Haystackers, the first issue of Project Haystack Connections, Spring Edition that will also be featured in Ken Sinclair’s March Automated Buildings edition “Project Haystack” special. BuildingContext is a marketing partner that understands data-driven buildings.
Day One Interviews from the ACREX Show in India. Sameer Pradhan, Director, ControlTrends India at the ACREX 2016 in Mumbai, interviews Sanjay Bhandarkar, Managing Director, N M Rothschild & Sons, a global investment banking company. This in-depth interview gives a very insightful and current perspective of the Indian Economy and the vital role that innovative trends in automation that will play in building India’s amazing infrastructure.
2015 ControlTrends Awards Highlight: Blue Ridge Technologies Wins Best Technical Support — Small Manufacturer. The Global ControlTrends Community has spoken, amidst fierce competition from other fantastic small manufacturers, building automation controls lighting solutions provider, Blue Ridge Technologies, was awarded the 2015 Best Technical Support Company Award. Click here to learn more about Blue Ridge Technologies and why members of the ControlTrends Community across the Globe look to Blue Ridge Technologies for their lighting control needs.
2015 ControlTrends Awards Highlight: EasyIO FG-32+ Wins the Building Automation Plant/Equipment Controller of the Year! Congratulations to four-time ControlTrends Building Automation Plant/Equipment Controller of the Year winner EasyIO and their FG-32+ plant controller. The ControlTrends Global Community expressed its continued recognition EasyIO’s powerful Open Automation and Combined Area Controller capabilities and features, as well as built in I/O and huge data logging capacity — all packaged as the future solution for the Internet of things in Energy and Building Facility Control.
2015 ControlTrends Awards Highlight: On the Red Carpet with J2 Innovation’s Scott Muench discussing their new application server called FIN Stack, combined with the custom graphic tool FIN Builder, and the FIN Mobile app. You can now build your entire customer’s solution using a unified toolset optimized for efficient workflow. The technology leverages powerful tagging and data modeling which means you can use queries to access data and eliminate time consuming linking. FIN was designed to encourage community collaboration and seamlessly supports add-on applications such as automated analytics.
ControlTrends Keeps an Eye on 2016 Events with Ken’s Calendar. Keep an eye on 2016 Events with Ken’s Calendar! First up: Sierra Monitor Corporation Webinar: Taking Advantage of the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) Opportunity. The 2016 AHR Expo was a huge success with the introduction of our IIoT On-Ramp Suite! For those who were not able to see us in Orlando, this webinar will explain how you can use the IIoT to improve how you deliver remote service and support, drive product innovation, and develop new business models by take advantaging of the emerging IIoT opportunity.
ControlTalk NOW — Smart Buildings VideoCast and Podcast for week ending February 21, 2016 delivers another 2015 ControlTrends Awards highlight reel with videos of EasyIO, SkyFoundry, and Tridium receiving their trophies in Orlando. Product updates include DG Logik’s Project Assist 2.0, EasyIO’s EasyStack, and Honeywell WEB-8000 Controllers are now available. Fred Gordy uses the Jurassic Park goat attention-getter to illustrate a control system’s vulnerability; Lynxspring announces CICC Automation Technologies PVt. Ltd. as their premiere partner in India; the DOE releases a $25 million funding opportunity; and don’t miss the 2016 Niagara Summit’s early bird (2/29/2016) registration deadline.
EasyIO Europe’s EasyStack Update and Congratulations to EasyIO Europe B.V. on Your 10th Year Anniversary. EasyStack is a software technology that combines the core functionality of a Building Automation System (BAS) for connecting and controlling devices, with the added benefits of a Building Operating System (BOS) to manage and leverage data. The technology uses tagging and data modeling to provide unprecedented capabilities and functionally. The Haystack open standard also provides options and choices for the best combination of solutions from the wider collaborative Haystack community.
DG Logik Adds Data DVR Widget to Project Assist 2.0 for Facilities. Project Assist 2.0 has many features and benefits. One of the many features is the Data DVR Widget. This smart widget allows operators to easily rewind historical data and playback equipment performance exactly as it was at that point in time. By eliminating guesswork from identifying issues, Project Assist enables facility managers to minimize development time, reduce energy consumption, increase facility performance and save money. Click here for more information.
Lynxspring, Inc. Reaches Out to India, Announces Partnership with CICC Automation Technologies Pvt. Ltd. Lee’s Summit, MO and Mumbai, India — February 16, 2016 — Lynxspring, Inc., a premier developer and provider of open, IP-based control solutions for intelligent buildings, energy management, cyber protection and device-to-enterprise integration, today announced the appointment of CICC Automation Technologies Pvt. Ltd, as a Lynxspring Business Partner (LBP). The partnership extends Lynxspring’s enabling technologies in building automation, energy management and IoT to meet new opportunities provided by the infrastructure sector within India and the Middle East markets.
2015 ConttolTrends Awards Highlight: EasyIO Wins Wireless Product Solution of The Year. Congratulations to EASY IO and their EnOcean Product Solution of the Year Award! EasyIO’s EnOcean-based products, room and temperature sensors have been successfully incorporated into EasyIO’s BAS portfolio and perform without batteries and are engineered to operate maintenance-free. The radio signals from these sensors and switches can be transmitted wirelessly over a distance of up to 300 meters in the open and up to 30 meters inside buildings.
Where’s The Goat? If you’ve seen Jurassic Park you probably know what this line. If you haven’t, the scene is this… There is a goat that is tied to a stake on a platform with a cage around it and raised up from the ground inside the T-Rex cage. The goat is tied to the stake and of course the T-Rex eats the goat. So what in the world does this have to do with control systems? I have had the fortune of being able to speak at different events over the past couple of years and in an effort to explain to IT and OT how to protect control systems I used the Jurassic Park goat example in this context…
Honeywell WEB-8000 Controller is Now Available. Honeywell is pleased to introduce the WEB-8000 controller supported by the WEBs-N4.1 software. This next generation controller features a new design and the ability to scale for future needs. The WEB-8000 series controllers are easy to install and expand due to its flexible capacitive licensing. This controller is very secure as all data is encrypted, including the data stored in the microSD cards. Easy to scale and upgrade the capacity via licensing, without giving up more real estate. The controller can be used as WiFi access point or as a Client and all software and security updates are included with the software maintenance agreement.
2015 ControlTrends Award Highlight: SkyFoundry Wins Energy Savings Solution of the Year. Congratulations to SkyFoundry for winning the 2015 ControlTrends Energy Savings Solution of the Year. Paul Bergquist was on hand to receive the award. SkyFoundry’s SkySpark® Analytics Software automatically analyzes building, energy and equipment data to identify issues, faults and opportunities for improved performance and operational savings.
DOE Notice of Intent to Issue a $25,000,000 Funding Opportunity for Next Generation of Electric Machines. The Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) intends to issue, on behalf of the Advanced Manufacturing Office (AMO), a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) entitled “Next Generation of Electric Machines: Enabling Technologies.” The goal of EERE’s AMO is to partner with industry, small business, universities, regional entities, and other stakeholders to identify and invest in emerging clean energy technologies.
Niagara 2016 Summit Breakout Sessions Posted! This year’s Summit will bring the opportunity to attend information-packed breakout sessions led by Niagara experts, a robust trade show filled with BAS and IoT industry leaders, and networking with others in the Niagara Community. We’ve just announced breakout sessions for the Developer Bootcamp, and the Business and Applications tracks. Visit NiagaraSummit.com today for an overview and description of all breakout sessions. And, don’t forget… time is running out to take advantage of Early Bird registration! Register before February 29 to take advantage of discounted pricing.
2015 ControlTrends Awards Highlight: Tridium Niagara 4 Wins Innovative Product of The Year. Congratulations to Nino DiCosmo and the team at Tridium for winning the 2015 ControlTrends Innovative Product of The Year! Niagara 4 builds on the legacy of the Niagara Framework® in new and exciting ways. It’s less reliant on browser plug-ins, faster and easier to use. A truly open framework, Niagara 4 delivers a variety of notable improvements to help businesses take full advantage of the Internet of Things, including advanced visualization and new search, security and navigation tools. Well done, Tridium!
ControlTalk NOW — Smart Buildings VideoCast and Podcast for week ending February 14, 2016 is a highlight reel of Siemens, ACI, and KMC receiving their 2015 ControlTrends Awards. In-depth interviews with Sierra Monitor Corporation’s President and CEO, Varun Nagaraj, and Director of ControlTrends India, Sameer Pradhan. Take a look at KMC’s time and labor saving Conquest BACnet Router and Ken’s Calendar previews upcoming webinars and industry related events.
2015 ControlTrends Awards Highlight: Siemens’ BT300 Wins VFD of the Year! With its Onboard kWh Meter, Mulitpump/Fan Application. and Fire Mode features, the Siemens BT300 took their VFD portfolio to the next level of efficiency. The BT300 is well-suited for demanding HVAC environments and can deliver 20-50% of energy compared to equipment with little or no control. Built-in features – like a real-time clock, energy savings optimization programming, and a sleep function – help measure energy savings — and the BT300 VFDs are ready to communicate with Building Management Systems via embedded RS485 and Ethernet HVAC protocols.
Varun Nagaraj Introduces Sierra Monitor’s On-Ramp Suite at AHR 2016. Varun Nagaraj, Sierra Monitor Corporation (SMC) President and CEO, tells the ControlTrends Community about SMC’s new IIoT On-Ramp Suite. SMC is an industry leading provider of Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) solutions that connect and protect high-value infrastructure assets. At the AHR 2016, SMC announced a comprehensive and secure IIoT On-Ramp Suite for Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) of commercial and industrial controls devices and systems.
2015 ControlTrends Awards Highlight: ACI Wins the Peripheral Product of the Year. Congratulations to Automation Components, Inc. (ACI), who prevailed in one the of the most heavily competitive ControlTrends Awards categories: Peripheral Product of the Year. Since its founding in 1991, ACI has been dedicated to excellence and has grown from seven employees to over 170 quality individuals, and has facilities that total over 78,000 square feet, with global offices in Hong Kong, and China. ACI’s products include temperature, relative humidity, current, pressure, gas and wireless related sensors.
2015 ControlTrends Awards Highlight: KMC Controls Wins VAV Controller of the Year. Congratulations to KMC Controls for winning the 2015 ControlTrends VAV of the Year. (Again!) KMC won this category last year as well). SimplyVAV is easy to set up, with no software needed, this controller is powerful and functions equally as well as a stand-alone solution or the VAV controller of choice on a BACnet full-blown control system. The controllers feature simple, menu driven setup choices when used with a SimplyVAV digital sensor. No special programming skills or software tools are required to choose applications, enter setpoints, set network addressing,and balance airflow.
Save Time and Labor with KMC’s New Conquest BACnet® Router. KMC Controls’ state-of-the-art Conquest BACnet® router features one MS/TP and one Ethernet port, an HTML5 web configuration interface requiring no additional software, a single cable for both power and communications, and an industry-leading set of network diagnostic tools for quick and easy network verification and troubleshooting. The device is optimized for temporary installation as a technician’s tool and for permanent installation increasing network efficiency.
ControlTrends Keeps an Eye on 2016 Events with Ken’s Calendar. 30 Minutes with Lynxspring Webinar Series: Cyber Security from a Business Perspective. The next “30 Minutes with Lynxspring”, our monthly webinar series featuring Lynxspring subject-matter experts and special guests, is scheduled for Wednesday, February 17th at 12:00 PM CDT. February’s “30 Minutes with Lynxspring” will look at Cyber Security from a Business Perspective.
ControlTalk NOW Interview with Sameer Pradhan, Director of ControlTrends India. ControlTrends was excited to announce that ControlTrends India has been formed and was absolutely delighted to introduce Sameer Pradhan as Director of ControlTrends India. The announcement took place at the 2015 ControlTrends Awards held the evening before the start of the AHR Expo 2016, in Orlando Florida. The global ControlTrends Community, particularly those located in the India and Southeast Asia regions, will be greatly enriched by Sameer’s visionary leadership and executive capabilities.
ControlTalk NOW — Smart Buildings VideoCast and Podcast for week ending February 7, 2016 features interviews with Dr. Igor Mezic and John Norris of Ecorithm and Ken Sinclair, owner and editor of Automated Buildings, and Neptronic’s VP of Sales and Marketing, Luis Melgares, along with Andy McMillan’s presentation at the Connected Community Collaboration, a product update from Vykon. Of special note was the announcement of Sameer Pradhan as Director of ControlTrends India.
ControlTalk NOW interview with Dr. Igor Mezic, Chief Scientific and Technical Advisor, Co-Founder and John Morris, VP of Sales and Marketing of Ecorithm, a firm from Santa Barbara that is reshaping what it means to benchmark, showcase, and ensure occupant comfort, operational efficiency, and building health. Dr. Mezic is a world-renowned expert in the field of building energy efficiency. He is a Professor of Mechanical Engineering at University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB). His major scientific contribution has been the development of operator-theoretic methods for analysis of complex dynamical systems, that led to a massive number of applications in “Big Data Dynamics” – a term he coined.
Ken Sinclair’s Automated Buildings February, 2016 Release: “Making it Mashable.” Ken Sinclair, owner and editor of Automated Buildings, applies the word mashable to the building automation world. Mashable, which the Urban Dictionary defines as “a term used to describe two or more online applications that work together and/or within each other.” February’s AB theme, “Making it Mashable,” addresses then, a very relevant concern — that as we sort through the maelstrom of exponential IoT technology impacting our industry, an industry that seeks optimality in every aspect of smart building control, data integration, and the maximum realization of energy and operational efficiencies — the question becomes, are we there yet? The technology certainly is, but our “mashability,” will ultimately answer yes or no for us.
VYKON Integrated Analytics Available Now on JACE Hardware. Latest version 1.1 includes advanced data visualization module! VYKON Integrated Analytics broke new ground when it was introduced. This innovative product uses real-time analytics at the edge (device level) to harness the enormous power of the Internet of Things. Today, Niagara users are even better positioned to capitalize on the IoT data explosion. Niagara AX Supervisors and select JACE® controllers now feature the latest version of VYKON Integrated Analytics with advanced data visualization.
Luis Melgares Details Neptronic’s New Multi-App Controller at 2016 AHR EXPO. Luis Melgares, VP of Sales and Marketing, updates the ControlTrends Community on Neptronic’s versatile Multi-App controller, able to provide stand-alone or networked control for all packaged AC RTUs, Heat Pump, Fan Coil Unit, and heating and cooling equipment applications, using a configuration set up with a greatly improved menu structure. No programming is required! Neptronic now manufactures the industry’s first Smart Duct Heater, which is networkable via BACnet and Modbus — a game-changing addition to their industry-leading portfolio of ball valves, actuators, and humidifiers.
2015 ControlTrends Awards Highlight: The Thermostat of the Year. Congratulations to Siemens. Their RDY 2000 Thermostat was voted the best commercial thermostat of the year by the global ControlTrends Community. The RDY 2000 can control conventional systems with up to three stages of heating and three stages of cooling, as well as heat pumps with up to two compressors and up to two stages of auxiliary heat. The RDY2000 also features outputs that control humidification/dehumidification equipment, maintain indoor air quality with optional CO2 sensor, and maximize energy savings with interface to economizer controls. Click here to see what makes the Siemens RDY 2000 so special.
Andy McMillan, president BACnet International (recently returned from China) opened the collaboratory discussions with an insight into how global transformation impacts all walks of life and summoned building automation professionals to be open, connected, collaborative, and receptive to transformation. As president of BACnet International, Andy works with users and suppliers to expand and enhance the BACnet community.
ControlTrends Introduces Sameer Pradhan, Director of ControlTrends India. ControlTrends was excited to announce that ControlTrends India has been formed and was absolutely delighted to introduce Sameer Pradhan as Director of ControlTrends India. The announcement took place at the 2015 ControlTrends Awards held the evening before the start of the AHR Expo 2016, in Orlando Florida. The global ControlTrends Community, particularly those located in the India and Southeast Asia regions, will be greatly enriched by Sameer’s visionary leadership and executive capabilities. ControlTrends India’s website www.controltrends.in is now fully operational.
ControlTalk NOW — Smart Buildings VideoCast and Podcast for week ending January 31, 2016 reviews the 2015 ControlTrends Awards including the AHR Expo’s Industry Service Award, the BACnet Award, the Cyber Security Award, the Young Gun Awards, the Petock Award, and the Hall of Fame recipient. A teaser video previews many of the highlights, with much more video and posts to follow. New product releases from Functional Devices and Lynxspring; Belimo webinar registration; Ken Sinclair’s 4th Connected Community Collaboration video; and DGLogik CEO, Eugene Mazo’s interview message interview from Informed Health 2016.
Young Guns Rob Allen and Brad White get Ready for the 2015 ControlTrends Awards. What do young BAS professionals talk about when they are not texting or using the latest forms of communication that don’t involve actual verbal communication? To find out we hooked up 2014 Young Guns Rob Allen and Brad White with a good Skype connection and turned the recorder on. Among other things, Rob and Brad discuss the upcoming ControlTrends Awards and what it means to be a Young Gun and why it’s so very important for our industry. See the next Young Gun class at the 2015 Control Trends Awards Sunday January 24th at 6:30 PM at The Hard Rock Live @ Universal Studios.
ControlTrends Awards Announces the 2015 CTA Award Winners, Young Guns, Petock Award Recipient, and Hall of Fame Inductee. The 2015 ControlTrends Awards were held yesterday evening at Orlando’s Hard Rock Live, located at the door step to the amazing Universal Studios. Hard Rock Live was a most befitting venue to celebrate the heroes and superstars of our HVAC and the Building Automation industries. Marc Petock and Kimberly Brown co-hosted the awards ceremony that recognized the 2015 ControlTrends heroes and superstars of the HVAC and Building Automation industry.
Functional Devices is All Ears When it Comes to Product Suggestions from its Customers! Functional Devices is excited to announce its new prepackaged power supply – now with a perforated steel sub-panel! This product is great for mounting a controller along with peripheral devices. Product features: Sturdy 14 gauge NEMA 1 metal enclosure with overall dimensions of 12.5″ (W) x 24.5″ (H) x 6.5″ (D). Available with one or two 100 VA enclosed power supplies with a 10 Amp on/off circuit breaker switch, two convenience outlets, and 24 Vac output terminal strip(s).
2015 ControlTrends Awards Teaser Video — Lots More to Come! Special thanks to Vladimir Chaloupka, videographer extraordinaire, who produced this immediate teaser video of the 2015 ControlTrends Awards Show, held January 24th, 2016, at the Hard Rock Cafe in Orlando, FL. ControlTrends Awards congratulates the winners and superheroes that make our HVAC and Building Automation industry so great. And many thanks once again to our sponsors who make ControlTrends Awards possible!
Lynxspring Launches New Product at AHR! The Onyxx BH311 Data Pump provides BACnet to Haystack network communication and data exchange. The Onyxx BH311 Data Pump is part of Lynxspring E2E, an edge-to-enterprise ecosystem for the Internet of Things, that enables collaboration between smart systems, smart devices, intelligent equipment and Cloud services. The Onyxx BH311 handles the BACnet to Haystack protocol translation, translating BACnet points to manageable Haystack points. Acting as a BACnet client device, the Onyxx BH311 manages all BACnet/IP, BACnet/Ethernet or BACnet MSTP devices connected to it.
Belimo’s Free Webinar on Dynamic Balancing — Wednesday, February 3, 1:00 EST. Don’t miss Belimo’s free Webinar on Dynamic Balancing! Belimo Energy Valve Pressure Independent Valves can offer system stability, improved efficiency and overall versatility that can only be achieved in a dynamically balanced hydronic system. During this webinar you will learn how partial loads can wreak havoc on statically balanced systems and how static balancing devices underperform the majority of the time.
Ken Sinclair’s 2016 Connected Community Collaboratory. Ken Sinclair, owner and editor of automatedbuildings.com did it again! The 4th CCC was a wonderful education session and discussion. Ken led a panel of industry experts who addressed how to approach creating and selling connection to the world. It was an open fun Collaboratory atmosphere that allowed attendees to learn and share their opinions. The concept of connected communities was created by Marc Petock and Ken at the 2012 AHR Expo in Chicago. They were working together and fueling new ways to extend the value of our building systems, while exploring the best of breed in change and innovation.
Evangelizing Open Source —DGLogik’s CEO Eugene Mazo at Informed Health 2016 UCSF. At Informed Health 2016, hosted by University of California, San Francisco, CEO Eugene Mazo sent DGLogik’s message out to two target audiences: first to manufacturers — to implement and support more open source products and services, and to developers — to build more applications and bring more brilliant cases to the markets, in this particular case, the health care industry, where dashboards for doctors could make huge improvements to patient care, while dashboards would also improve the patient experience.
ControlTalk NOW — Smart Buildings VideoCast and Podcast for week ending January 17, 2016, includes Drone Enthusiast and J2 Innovation’s VP of Marketing, Scott Muench; Systems Integrator of the Year nominees Brian Allen from ATS Automation, Seattle, WA and Fred Rotella and Brent Bernardi from Alpha Controls and Services, Rockford, IL. Additionally, we have a great interview with Marc Bergeron, President of ProLon, a leading manufacturer of HVAC control systems designed specifically for zoning systems in commercial applications. Please ensure to cast your 2015 ControlTrends Awards Vote by Tuesday, January 19th!
ATS Automation is centered in Renton, Washington, and is partnered with Alerton Technologies, Phoenix Controls, Aircuity, and Convergint Technologies. ATS Automation is a distributor for Alerton, Phoenix, and Aircuity in our respective marketplaces. Convergint Technologies partners with ATS on key projects to provide a greater scope and depth to our building solutions. ATS Automation has a deep history with all four companies in delivering quality product installations and support. ATS also has strong business relationships with Tridium through Controlco and Honeywell, Belimo Valves and Actuators, S4 Integration, and SkySpark through SkyFoundry.
Marc Bergeron, President of ProLon Inc, out of Montreal, Canada, and leading manufacturers of HVAC control systems designed specifically for zoning systems in commercial applications. ProLon provides efficient solutions to HVAC contactors in North America and around the world at a very competitive cost. ProLon offers its solutions through its network of North American distributors to commercial contractors. ProLon has a team consisting of the industry’s best professionals. ProLon aims to develop efficient systems and reliable products that meet the expectations of an increasingly demanding market. With over 2000 completed projects to date, ProLon’s team offers a zoning system that will suit you as well as your commercial projects.
Alpha Controls & Services LLC specializes in temperature-control solutions, Building Management Systems, Energy Management Systems, and Access Control solutions for industrial, commercial, and institutional buildings. It installs new systems and retrofits existing ones through a full-service organization that helps clients maintain their facility systems and operations at optimal levels. With offices in Rockford, Springfield, and Champaign, Illinois, Alpha Controls & Services is a field office for Schneider Electric – one of the most extensive suppliers of integrated Building Management Systems and a leader in automated information technology for today’s and tomorrow’s intelligent buildings.
Meet drone Captain Scott Muench, aka B.Scott Muench, Vice President of Marketing and Business Development at J2 Innovations. In this video we get to see Scott as Drone Pilot Extraordinaire, and hear how he became a drone enthusiast while working as a systems integrator at Technical Building Services. in upstate New York. Scott also discusses the very serious parallels that exists between drones and PID and tuning used in building automation, and how the benefits of drones, soon to be realized, will become integrated with our day-to-day lives.
Excitement continues to build as the 2015 ControlTrends Awards event grows near! As a reminder the 2015 ControlTrends Awards will be held January 24, 2016, from 6:30PM to 9:30PM, at Orlando’s Hard Rock Live, located at the door step to the amazing Universal Studios. Join us is celebrating the heroes and superstars of our HVAC and the Building Automation industries. VOTE NOW!
ControlTalk NOW — Smart Buildings VideoCast and Podcast for week ending January 10, 2016 begins our direct focus on those people, products, and solutions — that you, our ControlTrends Community, have nominated for the 2015 ControlTrends Awards. We have three guest interview with Honeywell’s Larry Andriunas, Tridium Vykon’s Ed Merwin and Systems Integrator of the Year nominee McKenney’s. Next, we review the Executive of the Year category for both large and small manufacturers and the new Systems Integrator category, featuring seven of the top systems integrators. To ensure maximum dissemination and response, the 2015 ControlTrends Awards voting deadline has been extended till January 19th, 2016.
ControlTalk NOW’s first interview guest is Director of Commercial Sales at Honeywell and PID Nominee Larry Andriunas. Larry’s extensive HVAC experience as contractor installing and servicing systems give him a second perspective and understanding into the multitude of challenges facing the distribution and contracting industries. Additionally, Larry shares Honeywell’s philosophy on customer service and technical support and highlighting a few of the major contribtors, as well reviewing Honeywell’s next generation product platform.
ControlTalk NOW’s second interview guest is Director, Vykon Automation Energy Security at Tridium and PID Nominee Ed Merwin, one of the most venerated Building Automation and Smart Building Solutions experts in the industry (2013 ControlTrends PID Award Co-winner). Ed reviews the hardware platform and the built-in features of the JACE-8000 Vykon’s next generation controller, the Niagara 4 Platform, Tridium’s latest innovation — the Niagara Market Place, and the upcoming 2016 Niagara Summit to be held in New Orleans.
ControlTalk NOW’s third interview guest is McKenney’s Inc, with offices in Atlanta, GA and Charlotte, NC. Featuring Single-Source Reliability, McKenney’s has developed a wide-range of services for every stage of a building’s lifecycle — from Design and Build to Manage and Maintain. For over six decades, we’ve combined superior mechanical construction expertise and proven processes with professional engineers and skilled tradesmen to provide high-quality solutions and exceptional performance. We’re uniquely positioned to deliver single-source, full-service accountability for every project, every time.
About McKenney’s: Since 1948, we have been developing services and expertise to serve you at every stage of your building. Self-performance of all trades, in-house shops and over six decades of experience have made us the top choice in mechanical contractors, providing highly efficient mechanical systems and a full range of services that meet your unique needs.
ControlTalk NOW — Smart Buildings VideoCast and Podcast for week ending January 3, 2016 welcomes the ControlTrends Community into 2016! Featuring an insightful interview with Automated Buildings’ Ken Sinclair and product information with Dwyer Instruments’ EWDP wireless differential pressure switch and Honeywell’s Smart Solution WEBs-AX Smart with N4. Therese Sullivan wraps things up with her interview with CONNEXX’s Anno Shelton — six ways to Smart Building Adoption. Happy New Year once again, and if you have any questions about the 2015 ControlTrends Awards, please email us at controltrends@gmail.com.
ControlTalk NOW interview with Ken Sinclair, owner and editor of Automated Buildings.com. Ken Sinclair’s Automated Buildings January, 2016 Release: “Our Role in the Transformation.” In Ken Sinclair’s Automated Buildings January, 2016 Release: “Our Role in the Transformation,” we are reminded of the instrumental roles we each will play as stewards in this industry grown gray. Creating viable and working endowments of industry knowledge, is not just necessary to transition successfully with the avalanche of technology being introduced, but critical to HVAC and BAS future generations — finding and holding their participation rights in the IoT world to come.
Dwyer’s Series EWDP Wireless Communications Adjustable Differential Pressure Switch. The Dwyer Instruments SERIES EWDP Wireless Communication Adjustable Differential Pressure Switch uses EnOcean® wireless technology to monitor pressure, vacuum, and differential pressures. The dual scaled adjustment knob in inches of water column and pascals allows changes to the pressure set point to be made without a pressure gage. The battery-powered switch is equipped with radio module for frequencies of 902 MHz or 868 MHz.
Smart Solutions for Intelligent Buildings — WEBs-AX from Honeywell. Smart Solutions for Intelligent Buildings — WEBs-AX from Honeywell is an open system building automation platform that allows you to connect all of your building’s systems rather than operate them independently – maximizing energy efficiency, reducing maintenance costs and giving you centralized control. Your Building, Only Smarter.
Therese Sullivan Interviews CONNEXX Energy’s Anno Shelton: 6 New Routes to Market for Smart Building Technology. ix New Routes to Market for Smart Building Technology (by therese554). Anno Scholten, President of Connexx Energy, has had a very busy year extending his company’s ‘last mile’ energy solutions for Smart Grid and Smart Buildings. But, I caught up with him during the waning days of 2015 and asked him the existential questions on the minds of many in the industry. “You may feel that you keep hitting a brick wall trying to convince some customers to adopt data analytics strategies for better building performance. But, ‘take heart,’ the route to Smart Building success may be just around the next turn.”
Happy New Years to the World-Wide ControlTrends Community! Afrikaans,Gelukkige Nuwejaar, gha-likkikga-neeva-yaarr, Albanian Gëzuar Vitin e Ri, gu-zoo-ar vi-tin e ri, Arabic, سنة سعيدة, sana sa’eedah, Azerbaijani Yeni iliniz mübarək ye-ni i-li-niz myu-ba-rack, Bahasa, melayu Selamat tahun baru selamat tahun aru, Basque, Urte berri on err-te berr-rri on, Bosnian, sretna nova godina, sr-et-na no-va go-din-a, Bulgarian, Щастлива Нова година, sh-tast-liva No-va go-din-a, Catalan, Feliç any nou, fe-LEES A-nee n-Ou, Cebuano (Philippines), Mabungahong Bag-ong Tuig kaninyong tanan, ma-boon-ga-hong bag-ong too-eeg kan-een-yong tan-an, Czech, šťastný nový rok, SHTU-stnee NO-vee rrr-ok…
solution and SmartStruxure Lite solution. The critical information delivered by the actuator helps the BMS operate at optimal efficiency. 
Our next ControlTrends Interview is with Bill Dunkleberger, President of Blue Ridge Technologies, a manufacture of proven energy management solutions with a focus on Unified Lighting Control. 
Congratulations to the 2016 CONTROLTRENDS AWARDS CATEGORY FINALISTS who will competing for awards in 24 Categories. The winners will be announced live from the stage of the Hard Rock Cafe, January 29, 2016. Special Award presentations will include: BACnet International, Project Haystack, ControlTrends Hall of Fame Inductee, Petock Award, and 2016 ControlTrends Young Guns.
ControlTalk NOW’s first guest, Schneider Electric’s Channel Development Leader, Stacey Kimbell tells us about 
Ask a Controls Expert with Stromquist’s own David Cates who answers an inquiry on a combination gas valve. A combination gas valve is used to control gas pressure and provide safety features. Controlling the pressure is required to avoid fires and explosions caused by too much pressure. If the pressure is not high enough, though, the appliance will not get the amount of ignited gas required for it to function properly.
ControlTalk NOW interview with Therese Sullivan of 
ControlTrends’ second guest is Josh Bradshaw, who tracks the newest technology coming out of Silicon Valley. Josh’s blog 
ControlTrends’ third guest is Fearless Phil Zito. One of the sharpest knives in the building automation drawer, Phil is owner and editor of 
ControlTrends coverage of the 
ControlTalk NOW’s first interview is with Fred Gordy, Intelligent Building’s Director of Cyber Security. As our industry’s leading cyber security expert, Fred focuses on the specific vulnerabilities concerning Operational Technology, controllers on building networks that control the HVAC equipment and building systems and equipment versus Information Technology. Operational Technologies were designed for availability and comfort, which was suitable at the time, but when the need to share information across subnets made Broadcast BACnet Management Devices necessary, as well as using a public IP address, the security imperative was not factored into the equation. Watch this video! and, visit the NIST Cyber Security Framework website for basic recommendations to protect your Operational Technology.
ControlTalk NOW’s second interview is with Director, ControlTrends India, Sameer Pradhan. Sameer Pradhan is also the Managing Director of CICC Automation Technologies, a leading international building automation systems provider. Sameer recently chaired a panel discussion on Smart Connected Intelligent Buildings — The Foundation for Smart Cities,” that discussed in great detail, the critical aspects of the smart city standard and its core component, the intelligent building. India has presently identified 60 cities that will be included in this massive initiative. Great update!
Josh Bradshaw Interview: Fans of tech meet fans of Harry Potter. This clock is the closest thing to the Weasley clock technology can provide. I just signed up as a backer on Indegogo and so should you! In this video Anton Zriashchev, CEO at 
Stromquist’s Young Gun Rob Allen gives us a tour of Eric’s office and his fashionable standing desk. ControlTrends update: Rob Allen and Chris White are about to launch the Next Generation Innovation series, which is all about our industries’ bright young superstars and their careers — and their insights into the evolution of our industry and what we need to do — to enhance the image of the HVAC and BAS as an important and meaningful career.
CTP 2 ControlTrends People, Life Stories of the People that Make Smart Buildings Smart. ControlTrends People presents inspiring and motivational stories that open our eyes to the many paths taken to the prominent positions in our industry. Many accounts offer endearing insights and self-told anecdotes about the triumphs and setbacks that molded their careers and shaped ControlTrends People throughout their professional journeys. 
ControlTalk NOW interview with Martin Villeneuve, President at Distech Controls, Dan Flaherty, Distech’s VP Global Sales, and Eugene Mazo, Eugene Mazo, VP — IoT, Customer Experience. While Acuity is deciphering and translating all the possible value synergies it now has available, these three top industry experts will help to set new standards in the HVAC, BAS, and a host of other emerging markets. Each of these executives is a formidable expert in their fields and with their combined talents, they are confident that they will deliver the next generation of innovation and technology — because they have the talent, engineering, and the resources needed — to get it done. Don’t miss this great video interview!
ControlTalk NOW first interview with Scott Cochrane, president of 
— Selling the Connected Home: How to Grow Your Business July 26, 2016 2pm EST. More than simply building connected products, 
ControlTalk NOW first interview is with industry expert and Lynxspring’s VP Marketing, Marc Petock — who takes the lid of IoT; reviews why edge devices will play an expanding role in the journey to a smart building and 
What is TESLA’s Power Wall and How Will it Affect the Smart Home?Forget about the gloom and doom we hear every day, check out one of the coolest new technologies to hit the street. Elon Musk unveils the 
ControlTalk NOW first guest interview with 
ControlTalk NOW second guest interview is with Fearless Phil Zito, owner and editor of 
Cyber Security Expert Fred Gordy Waives the Cyber Security Caution Flag! Censys Device Search Engine Picking Up Exposed Niagara 4 — Wake Up! Thanks once again to 
The Smart Buildings Controls Renaissance Begins — Review of Global EasyIO Partner Event in Paris. The 
2015 ControlTrends Awards Red Carpet Interviews (Caution: Superstars and Super Heroes Entering Stage Right). Great ControlTrends Awards interviews with Ken Sinclair, Automated Buildings and Brad White, SES Engineering, discuss the Young Guns Awards (Climate Superheroes), the AHR EXPO Industry Service Award, the global growth of ControlTrends Community and Hans Kranz’s Hall of Fame induction; along with interviews with Johan Schakenraad, CEO, EasyIO Europe; Allion and Scott Cochrane, Cochrane Supply; Alerton’s Amy Doran and Kevin Callahan; BASSG’s Alper Uzmezler; McKinney’s Leroy Walden; Jason Briggs from J2 Innovation; Siemens’ Josh Felperin; Thermokon’s David Alliband; Chris Lane and Dimitri Papadopoulos from Johnson Controls (Congratulations on Facility Explorer’s 10 Year Anniversary); John and James Donahue from Control Consultants, Inc.; and Blue Ridge Technologies’ Bill Dunkleberger.
ControlTalk NOW guest Chris Schneider, General Manager, OpenBMCS. From sunny down under, Chris’ tells us about his latest focus, which is about producing a video support package for the OpenBMCS software package — a fully web based building automation head-end to manage everything about your Sedona site: graphical front end, programming, alarming, trending, and controller management. This step by step video guide walks you through installing a system, adding a new controller, and an in-depth review of the alarming package. OpenBCMS has recently launched two new modules, which can be added through their website: Tenant Billing and Maintenance Log. 
Hans Kranz, Fabled Controls Wizard from Landstule, Germany, Inducted into ControlTrends 2015 Hall of Fame. Perhaps the greatest highlight moment of the 2015 ControlTrends Awards was the special pleasure of watching Automated Buildings’ editor and owner, Ken Sinclair, induct Hans R. Kranz into the ControlTrends Hall of Fame. Hans’ incredible sixty year career in the HVAC industry began at the age of 14, and progressed with one achievement after another, becoming known as the father of Standard BACS Functions. Hans has served on the Presidial Board of DIN (German Standardization Institute), is a member of the DKE (German Electrotechnical Commission) and the VDI (Association of German Engineers with 150,000 members). For more on Hans Kranz’s outstanding life achievements and biography, please see below.
ControlTalk NOW’s first interview guest is Director, Vykon Automation Energy Security at Tridium, Ed Merwin. Ed is one of the most venerated Building Automation and Smart Building Solutions experts in the industry (2013 ControlTrends PID Award Co-winner and 2015 Petock Award winner). Ed reviews the Technical, Developer, and Business Tracks planned for the upcoming 2016 Niagara Summit to be held at Champions Square in New Orleans — one of the best venues in the country. Early Bird registration ends the evening of February 29th, 2016. 
ControlTalk NOW Interview with Sameer Pradhan, Director of ControlTrends India. ControlTrends was excited to announce that ControlTrends India has been formed and was absolutely delighted to introduce Sameer Pradhan as Director of ControlTrends India. The announcement took place at the 2015 ControlTrends Awards held the evening before the start of the AHR Expo 2016, in Orlando Florida. The global ControlTrends Community, particularly those located in the India and Southeast Asia regions, will be greatly enriched by Sameer’s visionary leadership and executive capabilities.
ControlTalk NOW interview with Dr. Igor Mezic, Chief Scientific and Technical Advisor, Co-Founder and John Morris, VP of Sales and Marketing of 
Andy McMillan, president 
Marc Bergeron, President of 
Meet drone Captain Scott Muench, aka B.Scott Muench, Vice President of Marketing and Business Development at 
Excitement continues to build as the 2015 ControlTrends Awards event grows near! As a reminder the 2015 ControlTrends Awards will be held January 24, 2016, from 6:30PM to 9:30PM, at Orlando’s Hard Rock Live, located at the door step to the amazing Universal Studios. Join us is celebrating the heroes and superstars of our HVAC and the Building Automation industries. 
ControlTalk NOW’s first interview guest is Director of Commercial Sales at 
ControlTalk NOW’s second interview guest is Director, 
