Want Your Work to Have Real Impact? Smart Buildings is the Place for You

Are you tech-savvy? Are you looking for a place where your work can have a real, measurable impact? If you answered yes to these questions, then the Smart Building industry may just be the place for you. 

Here are two very simple facts that explain why.

 1.     Buildings represent 30% of US emissions.

2.     Smart Buildings reduce emissions.

 The amount of potential for environmental impact is staggering. While buildings are a huge source of GHGs, they also represent a massive potential for change. Beyond efficiency, integrated and optimized building control systems are essential for operating low-carbon and electrified heating systems. I would go so far as to say that effective smart building systems are essential to the transition to a low-carbon economy.  

We are poised to see an unprecedented investment in the building sector because of a confluence of factors:

 ·      Government incentives to meet ambitious national GHG reduction goals

·       New regulation of carbon intensity at the city level

·       Building owners recognizing the need to manage their carbon risk

If you need yet more convincing of the impact of smart buildings, consider smart technology’s role in improving the health, well-being, and productivity of occupants.

But these solutions will not design and install themselves, at least not yet. System integrators, smart building consultants, control system manufacturers, software providers, and HVAC contractors are all fighting for talent to meet growing demand. The industry needs to scale like never before for smart buildings to live up to their potential. To do that, we will need smart people who understand technology—a lot of them. So, if you are looking for a career where you can do interesting, rewarding work that helps to make the world a better place, look no further than the smart buildings industry.

Want to get started on your new career? Check out this interview, where I discuss what it’s like working in the industry and what SBI employers like myself look for in a new hire.

This article adds to my discussion.