Episode 222: ControlTalk NOW — Smart Buildings VideoCast|PodCast for week ending Apr 23, 2017 features interviews with DLR Groups’ Ruairi M. Blackwell; Drew Mire, CEO of Computrol; and Scott Cochrane, CEO of Cochrane Supply. Big, big week in the HVAC Industry — several new products and releases from Honeywell, Belimo, Sierra Monitor Corporation, and KMC Controls reminds of their last order date. Johnson Control named 16th Best Corporate Citizen and Lynxspring receives Frost & Sullivan Excellence Award; Memoori – Cimetrics Podcast: Creating transparency from Building Analytics; and Fulham acquires Control Network Solutions.

ControlTalk NOW’s first guest interview is with Ruairi M. Blackwell a principal with DLR Group’s Chicago location. Ruairi leads the Building Optimization enterprise within the firm. In this role, Ruaiari is responsible for growing Building Optimization as a distinct DLR Group service area while contributing his expertise in high performance building design to benefit clients in the firm’s core market sectors. Ruairi is a respected high-performance building design expert and his aim is to elevate the built environment and restore order to the climate for future generations. Additionally, Ruairi specializes in commissioning services for new and existing buildings, building energy assessments, high performance building design, energy modeling/advanced building simulation, and measurement and verification consulting.

Frost & Sullivan Applauds Lynxspring’s Strategic Thought Leadership and Technical Excellence, Making it a Top Contender in the Smart Buildings Market. SANTA CLARA, Calif., April 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ — Based on its recent analysis of the Internet of Things (IoT)-enabled smart buildings market, Frost & Sullivan recognizes Lynxspring with the 2017 North American Award for Competitive Strategy Innovation and Leadership.

KMC Controls REMINDER – End of Life – Last order date May 1st! “As announced last year, end of life for the KMC Controls legacy BACnet controllers BAC-58XX and VAV’s BAC-7XXX is less than 2 weeks away. I know you may already be using the next generation Conquest controllers…but I wanted to send one last reminder. If you need to order these devices you must place your order no later than May 1, 2017…or sooner.”

Belimo Proudly Announces New Products and Innovations for 2017 — Get Your Access to New Pricing and Media Files. For over 40 years, Belimo has successfully focused on the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning markets. Our relationships with you and our employees are based on trust and adding value with a focus on sustained prosperity rather than short term gains. Our innovative products have always been designed to help you achieve your objectives better, faster and more economically. Investing in new technology has been a key to our success and Belimo proudly announces these new products and innovations for 2017.

Sierra Monitor Corporation Launches Cloud-Connected Network Discovery and Management Appliance for Facility Automation. BACnet Explorer NG appliance enhances device and network commissioning and integration for installers and system integrators. MILPITAS, Calif., April 18, 2017 — Sierra Monitor Corporation (OTCQB:SRMC), a provider of Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) solutions that target facility automation and facility safety requirements, today announced the availability of the BACnet Explorer NG, the industry’s first cloud-connected network discovery and management solution for BACnet networks.

Creating Transparency From Building Analytics. Great stuff from Memoori. Our friend Therese Sullivan, from Building Context, turned us on to this great Smart Buildings Resource. Here is the Audio Stream from the 4th Free Webinar in the 2017 Smart Buildings Series, sponsored by Project Haystack. Creating Transparency From Building Analytics. This was an in-depth Q&A Webinar with James Lee CEO & President of Cimetrics. We discus Jim’s recent article “Analytics Creates Transparency” and his thoughts on why he thinks analytics is the key that the industry has been waiting for to unlock the true business value from building technologies.

Honeywell Introduces New and Improved Variable Frequency Drives. Honeywell is pleased to announce the introduction of the SmartVFD HVAC2 line of Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs) available to all Commercial Distributors. This new offering provides a reliable, high-performing VFD that minimizes HVAC energy consumption on fans and pumps. Honeywell’s SmartVFD HVAC2 provides maximized energy savings and monitoring capabilities at an affordable price, with quality products backed by a strong 3-year warranty and solid technical support.

Fulham Acquires Control Network Solutions to Bring DALI® Control to Customers for Emerging Smart Lighting Products. CNS’s Smart Light Management Software and Technical Expertise Helps Fulham Meet Growing Demand for DALI-enabled Clever LED Drivers and Smart Lighting Controls. HAWTHORNE, Calif. – April 19, 2017 – Fulham Co., Inc., a leading supplier of lighting components and electronics for commercial and specialty applications, today announced the acquisition of the assets of partner company Control Network Solutions (CNS), the UK-based creator of the elitedali™ smart lighting control and management system.

ControlTrends Award Highlight: 2016 Peripheral Product of The Year. Catch all the excitement as Smart Building Controls Powerhouses Contemporary Controls and Functional Devices are Awarded the Peripheral Product of The Year. Contemporary Controls designs and manufactures the system building blocks for networking, integrating and controlling automation processes where performance and reliability are important. Functional Devices, Inc. has been designing and manufacturing quality electronic devices in the United States of America since 1969.

ControlTalk NOW second guest interview is with Computrols’ CEO, Andrew Mire, who took the helm of VP of operations in 2014, and was promoted to Chief Executive Officer in 2017, where he manages corporate operations, Computrols’ dealer program, and remote job operations. In 1983 Computrols began providing first-rate professional technical service for large building automation systems. A complete dedication and commitment to customer satisfaction has provided valuable lessons that have carried the company for years. Simplicity, flexibility, and power are the Computrols cornerstones of success, and it is this first-hand knowledge of what’s important to customers that drives product development even today.

Hanging Out with Scott Cochrane at the 2017 AHR Show. I had a chance to catch up with one of the smartest people in Smart Buildings controls at the Distech booth. Check out what Scott Cochrane had to say about Building Automation Controls, why Cochrane is now handling Distech Controls, and the CONTROL-CON 2017 Event hosted by Cochrane Supply & Engineering, CONTROLS-CON will take place June 8th and 9th, 2017 at the MotorCity Casino Hotel in Detroit, Michigan. This fast-paced, education-packed event will bring together hundreds of integrators and end users from throughout the United States and Canada to explore the latest technologies and possibilities of Building Controls and the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT).

Future Shock: Something to think about! Excerpt: Artificial Intelligence: Computers become exponentially better in understanding the world. This year, a computer beat the best Go player in the world, 10 years earlier than expected. In the US, young lawyers already don’t get jobs. Because of IBM Watson, you can get legal advice, (so far for more or less basic stuff), within seconds. With 90% accuracy, compared with 70% accuracy when done by humans. So, if you are studying law, stop immediately. There will be 90% fewer generalist lawyers in the future; only specialists will be needed.