ICYMI This Week at the Smart Buildings Center & Building Potential

Why It Matters

By lowering the barrier to advanced diagnostics, building owners can accelerate energy‑saving retrofits, cut operating costs, and support broader decarbonization goals.

Key Takeaways

• Webinar recorded; free access for on-demand viewing
• Diagnostic tools expose hidden building system inefficiencies
• Regional utility tool libraries offer free equipment lending
• Data analysis guides prioritization and validation of upgrades
• Speakers from SCE, ATS Automation, and SBC share best practices

Pulse Analysis

The commercial real estate sector is under increasing pressure to improve energy performance as utility rates rise and climate regulations tighten. Advanced diagnostic tools—such as infrared thermography, blower‑door testing, and data‑loggers—have become essential for pinpointing the often‑overlooked sources of waste in HVAC, lighting, and envelope systems. Unlike generic audits, these instruments generate granular, real‑time data that can be benchmarked against building models, enabling owners to prioritize interventions with the highest return on investment. As investors demand transparent ESG metrics, the ability to substantiate savings with hard data is turning from a nice‑to‑have into a competitive necessity.

The Smart Buildings Center’s third SBX Plus webinar, titled “How to Utilize Diagnostic Tools to Identify Energy Savings,” brought together experts from Southern California Edison, ATS Automation, and the Center’s own project team. Participants learned a step‑by‑step workflow: selecting the appropriate instrument, collecting baseline measurements, analyzing trends, ranking retrofit options, and validating post‑implementation performance. The presenters showcased case studies where infrared scans revealed insulation gaps and where power‑quality monitors identified motor inefficiencies that saved up to 15 % of annual electricity use. The full session is now archived for on‑demand access, extending its reach beyond the live audience.

To accelerate adoption, the Center highlighted a growing network of utility‑sponsored tool‑lending libraries spanning the West Coast, Idaho, and New York. Programs such as Pacific Gas & Electric’s online catalog, Southern California Edison’s consulting services, and the CUNY Building Performance Lab allow owners to borrow high‑cost equipment at no charge, reducing upfront capital barriers. This model not only democratizes access to sophisticated diagnostics but also fosters data sharing among participants, creating a feedback loop that refines best‑practice guidelines. As more regions replicate these libraries, the industry can expect faster diffusion of energy‑saving technologies and measurable reductions in carbon emissions.